HP OfficeJet 3830, DeskJet 3830 Printers - Paper Jam Error

This document is for HP OfficeJet 3830, 3831, 3832, 3833, 3834, 3835, and DeskJet Ink Advantage 3835, 3836, 3838 All-In-One printers.

During a print job, the printer stops feeding pages, and a Paper Jam or Document Feeder Jam error message displays on the printer control panel. This indicates that paper might be jammed inside the printer.

note:
Paper jams can be real or false. The printer might report a paper jam even when there is no jammed paper. The following steps apply to both real and false paper jams.

How to Fix a Paper Jam in the HP OfficeJet 3830 Printer

Learn how to fix a paper jam in your HP OfficeJet 3830 printer when the printer displays a Paper Jam or Document Feeder Jam error message.

Step 1: Look for jammed paper

Paper jams can occur in multiple areas of the printer. If you cannot find the paper jam in one area, continue to the next area until the jam is located.

Clear jammed paper from the input tray

Remove any jammed paper that is accessible from the input tray.

Gently remove any jammed paper and bits of torn paper from the input tray. To avoid tearing any whole sheets of paper, pull the paper with both hands.

note:
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the input tray. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.
Make sure there are no foreign objects in the paper path, and then reload the input tray with new paper.

note:
The input tray shield prevents foreign debris from falling into the paper path and causing paper jams. Do not remove the input tray shield.
Touch OK on the printer control panel to continue the current print job.

Try to print. If the error persists, check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Clear jammed paper from the output tray

Remove any jammed paper from the output tray.

Gently remove any jammed paper and bits of torn paper from the output tray. To avoid tearing any whole sheets of paper, pull the paper with both hands.
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the output tray.

If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.
Touch OK on the printer control panel to continue the current print job.

Try to print. If the error persists, check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Clear jammed paper from the ink cartridge access area

Remove any jammed paper from the ink cartridge access area.

Turn off the printer.
Disconnect the USB cable from the rear of the printer, if it is not already disconnected.
Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.

warning:
You must disconnect the power cord before reaching inside the printer to avoid risk of injuries or electric shock.
Close the output tray extender, and then push the output tray into the printer.
Open the exterior door.
Open the ink cartridge access door.
If the print carriage is in the center of the printer, gently slide it to the right.
Gently remove any jammed paper from inside the printer.

note:
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the printer. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.
Close the ink cartridge access door.
Close the exterior door.
Pull out the output tray, and then the tray extender.
Connect the power cord to the rear of the printer.
Connect the USB cable to the rear of the printer if necessary.
Press the Power button to turn on the printer.

Try to print. If the error persists, check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Clear jammed paper from underneath the printer

Remove any jammed paper from underneath the printer.

Turn off the printer.
Disconnect the USB cable from the rear of the printer, if it is not already disconnected.
Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
Lower the paper input tray back into the printer, close the output tray extender, and then push the output paper tray into the printer.
Turn the printer so that you can access its underside (base).

caution:
Before turning the printer, use your hands to hold the scanner lid and the paper input tray.
Pull the tabs on either side of the cleanout door to open it.
Gently remove any jammed paper from inside the printer.
Close the cleanout door. Gently push the door forward until it snaps into place.
Turn the printer over to its normal position.
Open the ink cartridge access door, and then look inside the printer for any loose objects that might have shifted when the printer was turned over. Remove any loose objects found.

note:
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check for any objects that might remain inside the printer. If any items remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.
Close the ink cartridge access door.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.
Reconnect the USB cable if necessary.
Press the Power button to turn on the printer.

Try to print. If the error persists, check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Clear jammed paper from the ADF

Remove any jammed paper from the ADF.

Lift the ADF cover.
Lift the tab on the left edge of the ADF to raise the ADF mechanism.
Gently pull out any jammed paper from the ADF. To avoid tearing any whole sheets of paper, pull out the paper with both hands.

note:
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the tray. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.
Close the ADF.
Touch OK on the printer control panel to continue the current print job.

If you have checked and removed any jammed paper from each printer area and the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 2: Make sure the ink cartridge carriage moves freely

To make sure there are no foreign objects or paper in the printer, move the carriage across the width of the printer.

Turn on the printer.
Open the exterior door.
The carriage moves to the center of the printer. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you continue.
Open the ink cartridge access door.

Figure : Open the ink cartridge access door
With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
Unplug the power cord from the power source or electrical outlet.

warning:
You must unplug the power cord to move the carriage by hand and reset the paper feed mechanism without the risk of electrical shock.
Use a flashlight to check for any paper or objects that might be restricting the carriage, and then remove any paper or objects that you find.

caution:
If the paper tears when you remove it from the rollers, check the rollers and wheels for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the printer. If pieces of paper remain in the printer, more paper jams can occur.
Reach inside the printer through the ink cartridge access door, and then manually move the carriage.
- If the carriage is stuck on the right side of the printer, move the carriage to the left side of the printer.
- If the carriage is stuck on the left side of the printer, move the carriage to the right side of the printer.
- If the carriage is stuck in the middle of the printer, move the carriage to the right side of the printer.
Remove any loose paper or obstructions you find.
Make sure the carriage can move freely across the width of the printer. Firmly push the carriage to the left side of the printer, and then to the right side.
Close the ink cartridge access door.
Close the exterior door.
Pull out the output tray, and then the tray extender.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer, and then turn on the printer.

Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 3: Use an automated tool to clean ink smears

Cleaning ink smears can help clear paper jams and optimize print quality.

Turn on the printer.
Load paper into the input tray.
On the printer control panel, swipe the display to the left, and then touch Setup.
Touch Tools.
Touch Clean Page Smears and then touch OK.

The printer feeds one page slowly. The printer might make some noise for approximately one minute. Wait until the page is out of the printer before you remove it.
Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 4: Manually clean the paper rollers inside the ink cartridge access area

Dust, paper fiber, and other debris might accumulate on the paper feed rollers and cause paper jams and paper feed issues.

Turn off the printer, and then disconnect the power cord.

warning:
Disconnect the power cord before reaching inside the printer to avoid risk of injuries or electric shock.
Disconnect the USB cable, if it is not already disconnected.
Raise the input tray.
Lift and hold the input tray shield.

note:
Do not remove the input tray shield. The input tray shield prevents foreign debris from falling into the paper path and causing paper jams.
Look down through the open input tray and find the gray paper pick rollers. You might need a flashlight to illuminate the area.
Dampen a long cotton swab with bottled or distilled water, and then squeeze any excess water from the cloth.
Press the swab against the rollers, and then rotate them upward with your fingers. Apply a moderate amount of pressure to remove dust or dirt buildup.
Lower the input tray shield.
Allow the rollers to dry for 10 or 15 minutes.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer, and then turn on the printer.
Reconnect the USB cable to the printer if necessary.

Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 5: Manually clean the paper rollers inside the ADF

Dust, paper fiber, and other debris might accumulate on the paper feed rollers and cause paper jams and paper feed issues.

Lift the top cover of the ADF. This provides easy access to the rollers and separator pad.
Lightly dampen a clean, lint-free cloth with bottled or distilled water, and then squeeze any excess liquid from the cloth.
Press the cloth against the rollers, and then rotate them upward with your fingers. Apply a moderate amount of pressure to remove any dust or dirt buildup.
Rollers

Separator pad
Lift the tab on the left edge of the ADF to raise the ADF mechanism.
Clean the rollers in the ADF mechanism.
Allow the rollers to dry completely (approximately 10 minutes).
Close the ADF.

Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 6: Reset the printer

Sometimes a paper jam error persists even though there is no jammed paper (false paper jam). Reset the printer, which might clear a false paper jam error, and then try to print again.

With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the printer.
Unplug the power cord from the power source.
Wait 60 seconds.
Reconnect the power cord to a wall outlet and to the printer.

note:
HP recommends plugging the printer directly into a wall outlet.

Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 7: Service the printer

Service or replace your HP product if the issue persists after completing all the preceding steps.

Go to Contact HP Customer Support to schedule a product repair or replacement. If you are in Asia Pacific, you will be directed to a local service center in your area.

To confirm your warranty status, go to HP Product Warranty Check. Repair fees might apply for out-of-warranty products.

HP OfficeJet 3830, DeskJet 3830 Printers - Paper Jam Error

Step 1: Look for jammed paper

Clear jammed paper from the input tray

Clear jammed paper from the output tray

Clear jammed paper from the ink cartridge access area

Clear jammed paper from underneath the printer

Clear jammed paper from the ADF

Step 2: Make sure the ink cartridge carriage moves freely

Step 3: Use an automated tool to clean ink smears

Step 4: Manually clean the paper rollers inside the ink cartridge access area

Step 5: Manually clean the paper rollers inside the ADF

Step 6: Reset the printer

Step 7: Service the printer

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