If your printer won't pull paper in at all, worn rollers or a tray sensor issue are the most common causes.

Quick Answer

Clean the feed rollers, confirm the paper guides are snug against the stack, and check that the tray is inserted fully.

On This Page
  1. Common Reasons This Happens
  2. Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting
  3. 1. Reseat the Paper Tray
  4. 2. Adjust the Paper Guides
  5. 3. Clean the Feed Rollers
  6. 4. Reduce the Paper Stack Height
  7. What If It's Still Not Fixed?
  8. Frequently Asked Questions

Common Reasons my printer not feeding paper

Worn feed rollers

Over time, rollers lose the grip needed to pull paper into the printer.

Loose paper guides

If the side guides aren't snug against the paper, sheets can shift and fail to feed.

A tray not fully seated

A partially inserted tray can prevent the printer from detecting paper at all.

Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting

Before you start:
  • Confirm the tray is pushed in completely.
  • Check that paper guides are touching the edges of the stack, not loose.

1. Reseat the Paper Tray

1

Remove the tray completely and slide it back in until it clicks into place.

2. Adjust the Paper Guides

2

Slide the side and length guides snugly against the paper stack without pinching it.

3. Clean the Feed Rollers

3

Use a lightly dampened cloth to remove dust buildup that reduces roller grip.

4. Reduce the Paper Stack Height

4

Fewer sheets can improve feeding on printers with weaker rollers.

What If It's Still Not Fixed?

If you've worked through every step above and the problem continues, it's worth checking a nearby cause rather than repeating the same steps. The guides below cover the most common related issues.

Still stuck? Try describing the problem in your own words using the search bar — different symptoms of the same root cause are often covered on a related page.

Frequently Asked Questions

If cleaning doesn't restore reliable feeding and the printer is several years old, roller replacement kits are available for most models.

People Also Ask

  • Clear the spooler folder of temporary files, then update or reinstall the printer driver, which is the most common cause of repeated crashes. Read the full guide →
  • Uninstall the current driver from Device Manager, download the latest version from the manufacturer's site, then install and restart your computer. Read the full guide →
  • From the printer's screen, open network settings, select your WiFi network, enter the password, then add the printer on your computer or phone. Read the full guide →
  • Restart the print spooler service through Windows Services — this is the most reliable way to force-clear a job that won't delete. Read the full guide →

Related Guides

Why Does My Printer Keep Jamming? Why Does My Printer Grab Multiple Pages at Once? Why Does My Printer Say Paper Jam When There Is No Paper?