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HP Deskjet F4280 All-in-One Printer Troubleshooting

'Paper Jam or Misfeed' Message Displays on the Computer

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Issue

A 'Paper Jam or misfeed ' message appears on the computer.
Experiencing frequent or recurring paper jams?

If you are looking for information on preventing a paper jam from recurring, you can skip to the prevention and cause sections in this document.

How to use the solutions in this document

To resolve the issue, try each solution in this document, and then use the steps in this section to print a self-test report. This step determines if the product hardware functions correctly. When you have resolved the issue, and the product successfully prints a self-test report, there is no need to continue troubleshooting.

Print a self-test report

Print a self-test report
  1. Press and hold the Power button ( ) and the Cancel button ( ).
  2. Release both buttons. The extended self-test report prints.
    Figure 1: Example extended self-test report
    Illustration of the extended self-test report

Video of clearing a paper jam

The following video demonstrates the steps explained on this page. The outside of the product might look different, but the steps are the same for your product.
If you have trouble viewing the video or to view the video in a different size, click here to play the video on YouTube.

Solution one: Clear any paper jam

Follow these steps in the order presented to resolve the issue.

Step one: Remove any loose paper

Remove any loose sheets of paper from the input tray and the output tray.
CAUTION:Do not remove jammed paper at this stage. Trying to clear jammed paper from the front of the product can damage the print mechanism.
Figure 2: Do not pull jammed paper
Graphic: Do not pull jammed paper

Step two: Clear the jam from the back of the All-in-One

CAUTION: Never pull jammed paper from the front of the product. If you can pull it from the rear of the product or the tray, always try the rear first. Pulling paper from inside the front cover can cause mechanical damage to the product.
  1. Press the handle to the right, and then pull out the rear access door.
    Figure 3: Open the rear access door
    Open the rear access door
  2. Gently remove any jammed paper or bits of torn paper from the rollers inside the product. Use both hands to pull out any whole sheets of paper to avoid tearing them.
    Figure 4: Remove the jammed paper
    Photograph of removing jammed paper
    CAUTION:Use a flashlight to thoroughly check the rollers and wheels for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the product. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the product, more jams are likely to occur.
    Figure 5: Remove scraps of paper
    Illustration of removing scraps of paper
  3. If you do not see jammed paper in the rear access area, push the buttons on the latch on the back of the duplexer, and then lower the cover.
  4. Remove any jammed paper from inside the duplexer.
  5. Close the duplexer cover
  6. Replace the rear access door.
    Figure 6: Replace the rear access door
    Replace the rear access door

Step three: Clear the jam from the front of the product

  1. Pull the input tray down to open the front access door.
    Figure 7: Open the front access door
    Open the front access door
  2. If you see jammed paper, gently pull it out.
    CAUTION: Carefully remove paper from the front of the product. Pulling too hard on jammed paper can damage the print mechanism.
  3. Replace the front access door.
    Figure 8: Replace the front access door
    Replace the front access door
  4. Close the front access door.
  5. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  6. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.

Step four: Print a self-test page

Print a self-test report. See the section on how to use these solutions at the beginning of this document.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , and the test page prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue with the next solution.
  • If the test page does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution two: Clean the rollers

Dust, paper fiber, and other debris might accumulate on the paper feed rollers and cause paper jams and paper feed issues. Follow these steps to clean the paper feed rollers.

Step one: Clean the rollers in the rear access area

  1. Gather the following materials:
    • A clean, lint-free cloth, or any cloth that will not come apart or leave fibers
    • Distilled, filtered, or bottled water (tap water might damage the product)
  2. Turn off the product and unplug the power cord from the back of the product.
  3. Press the handle to the right and pull out the rear access door.
    Figure 9: Open the rear access door
    Open the rear access door
  4. Lightly dampen a clean, lint-free cloth with bottled or distilled water, and then squeeze any excess liquid from the cloth.
  5. Press the cloth against the rollers in the product, and then rotate them upwards with your fingers. Apply a moderate amount of pressure to remove any dust or dirt buildup.
    Figure 10: Clean the rollers in the product
    Photograph of cleaning the rollers in the product
  6. Allow the rollers to dry for 10 or 15 minutes.

Step two: Check the rollers in the duplexer

  1. Press in the buttons on the latch on the back of the duplexer, and then lower the cover.
  2. Check the paper feed rollers on the duplexer to make sure that they are clean, free of paper bits, and rotate freely.
  3. Clean the surface and the rollers of the duplexer the same way you cleaned the large rollers inside the product.
  4. Allow the rollers of the duplexer to dry for 10 or 15 minutes.
  5. Replace the rear access door.
    Figure 11: Replace the rear access door
    Replace the rear access door
  6. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  7. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.

Step three: Print a self-test page

Print a self-test report. See the section on how to use these solutions at the beginning of this document.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , and the test page prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue with the next solution.
  • If the test page does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution three: Reset the product

Follow these steps to reset the product.

Step one: Perform a power reset

  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  2. With the product turned on , disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
  3. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
  4. Wait at least 15 seconds.
  5. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
  6. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  7. If the product does not turn on by itself, press the Power button ( ) to turn it on.

Step two: Print a self-test report

Print a self-test report. See the section on how to use these solutions at the beginning of this document.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. Connect the USB cable to continue the print job.
  • If the issue persists , continue to the next step.
  • If the self-test report does not print , skip to the next solution.

Step three: Search for more information

If you are still experiencing issues, see the HP Product Support Home Page, and then search for another document that relates to the symptoms you are experiencing.
Right-click this link, Product Support Home Page , and then click Open in New Window .
NOTE:If the page displays in the wrong country/region or language, click the Region - Language link in the upper right corner of your browser. Then you can select the correct country/region and language.

Solution four: Service the All-in-One

If you have completed all the preceding steps and are still experiencing a problem, service the product.
Determine if your product is in warranty or out of warranty. If you need help determining your product’s warranty status, go to HP’s Warranty Check Tool .
  • If your product is in warranty , contact HP.
  • If your product is out of warranty , click here to view additional printer support options starting as low as $20.

Preventing paper jams

The following recommendations can help prevent recurring paper jams in your HP product.
  • Before loading paper in the tray, hold the stack of paper, and then tap the bottom edge on a flat surface so that the stack is even on all sides.
  • Make sure that the length and width adjusters on the tray are correctly positioned, and then push the stack of paper forward until it stops in the tray.
    CAUTION:Do not force the paper to move too far forward in the tray.
  • Do not overload the tray with paper.
  • Only add paper to the tray when the product is not printing.
  • Make sure the HP product supports the paper type. See the documentation that came with the HP product for more information.
  • Do not print on paper with paper clips or staples attached.
  • Do not use paper that is bent, torn, dusty, damp, wrinkled, curled, or paper that does not lie flat.
  • Use only one type of paper at a time. Do not mix different types, weights, or sizes of paper.
  • Do not use paper that is too thin, too thick, or too glossy for the product.

Cause

The following factors can cause paper jams:
  • Paper loaded incorrectly in the paper tray.
  • Damaged or dirty paper rollers.
  • Torn, wrinkled, or damp paper loaded in the paper tray.
  • The rear access door or two-sided printing accessory (duplexer) might not be closed or is not locked into place.
  • Paper was added to a stack already in the tray while the HP product was printing.
  • The tray contains more than one type of paper.
  • The paper is jammed inside the HP product where you cannot see it.
  • An obstruction is blocking the paper path.
  • Torn pieces of paper from a previous jam are stuck in the product.
  • The tray is too full.
  • If printing on an envelope, the edges of the envelope are bent.