My Colour Laserjet Pro MFP 3301dw won't duplex and says there is no paper in the tray

[Heather555]

I have a brand new Colour Laserjet Pro MFP 3301dw. Yesterday it did duplex printing and today it does not. It thinks that tray 2, where the paper is, is empty. It is full. I have removed paper, adjusted all of the guides, etc. It keeps asking me to put the paper in the manual feed tray 1. Do I have a lemon??!!

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Heather555 ,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you are facing an issue with your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw is having issues detecting paper in Tray 2, which could be caused by a sensor issue, a misalignment in the tray, or a firmware/software glitch. Here are steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Confirm Tray 2 Setup

Paper Size and Type: Ensure the paper loaded in Tray 2 matches the size and type set in the printer's settings. To check:

1. Go to the printer's control panel.
2. Navigate to Setup > Paper Handling.
3. Ensure the correct paper size and type are selected for Tray 2.

Adjust Paper Guides: Ensure the guides are snug against the paper without bending or pinching it.

2. Check for Sensor or Obstructions

• Inspect the Tray and Feed Rollers: Remove Tray 2 and check for any debris, small pieces of paper, or dust blocking the tray sensors or feed rollers.
• Clean Sensors: Use a soft, lint-free cloth to gently clean the paper sensor inside Tray 2.

3. Test Duplex Printing Settings

Ensure that duplex printing is enabled:

• On the printer control panel, navigate to Settings > Printing Preferences.
• Verify that Two-Sided Printing (Duplex) is enabled.

When printing from your computer:

1. Open the print dialog.
2. Select your printer and click Preferences or Properties.
3. Confirm that duplex printing is enabled and correctly configured.

4. Perform a Reset

• Power Reset: Turn off the printer, unplug it from the power source, wait for 2-3 minutes, and plug it back in. Power it on and test again.
• Factory Reset: If the issue persists, reset the printer to factory settings (refer to the user manual for instructions).

5. Update Firmware

• Check if your printer firmware is up to date:
  1. Download and install the HP Smart App on your computer or mobile device.
  2. Use the app to update the firmware to the latest version.

6. Test Manual Tray 1

• Load paper into Tray 1 (manual feed) and try printing. If this works but Tray 2 still does not, it further indicates an issue with Tray 2's sensors.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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