Carriage jam

[LarryHDC]

I have the message Carriage Jam The print cartridge cannot move.

The carriage is stuck in the rightmost position and I cannot move it. The toner cartridge on the far left of the carriage appears to be popped out and is resting against the front of the printer. It pops back out when I try to reseat it in the carriage. How can I either get the cartridge to stay in place or move the carriage so the cartridge can be replaced?

[Max3Aj]

@LarryHDC, Welcome to the HP Support Community – it’s great to have you here!

I appreciate you taking the time to share your question. I'm more than happy to assist with this and provide a solution that works for you.

A Carriage Jam error typically means the printhead carriage is unable to move freely across the printer. Since you've mentioned the carriage is stuck on the right and a cartridge is popping out, here are some steps to help resolve this:

Power Reset the Printer

This can sometimes clear mechanical jams.

• Turn off the printer using the Power button.
• Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer and the wall outlet.
• Wait 60 seconds.
• Plug the power cord back in and turn on the printer.

Check if the carriage moves during startup.

Check for Obstructions

Open the printer access door and inspect the carriage path:

• Look for any paper scraps, foreign objects, or broken plastic pieces.
• Use a flashlight if needed.
• Gently remove any debris you find.

Reseat the Ink Cartridges

The cartridge popping out may be misaligned or damaged.

• Open the ink cartridge access door.
• Gently press down and remove all cartridges.
• Inspect the cartridge that pops out, check for:
  • Bent or broken plastic tabs.
  • Ink leakage or damage.
• Reinsert the cartridges firmly until they click into place.

If one cartridge keeps popping out, it may be defective and need replacement.

Manually Move the Carriage (if safe)

If the printer is off and unplugged, you can try gently nudging the carriage:

• With the printer off, open the access door.
• Try to gently slide the carriage to the left.
• Do not force it,if it resists, stop immediately.

Update Firmware and Drivers

Sometimes firmware updates fix mechanical issues.

• Visit the Official HP® Support
• Download and install the latest firmware and full feature software for Windows 11.

I hope your issue is now resolved. If not, feel free to reply and we’ll continue helping until everything’s sorted!

If the post helped, please click “Accepted Solution” to help other users easily find it. And if you’d like to say thanks, just tap the “Yes” button!

Cheers,

Max3Aj

HP Support

[LarryHDC]

Thanks for reaching out @Max3Aj. Unfortunately, the solution you offered didn't work. As I said in my original post, one of the toner cartridges (the one on the far left) is popped out and will not reseat when I push it in. The first message I get when I restart the printer is that a cartridge is missing, and then I get the message that the carriage cannot move. I cannot move the carriage manually and so cannot remove/replace the cartridges because the front of the carriage is blocked by the front of the printer.

[Max3Aj]

@LarryHDC, Thank you for your response,  

I'm sending a private message to assist you with the next action. 

  

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link. 

  

I hope this helps! 

  

Max3Aj

HP Support