Paper Jams

Bigmumzie80 · ‎04-13-2025

Hi all, today I've gone to try to scan and print a few pages of a document but for some reason the paper that I've had sitting in the paper tray keeps tilting to an angle when it's fed into the machine causing it to jam. I have had a look in the paper feeding area and there isn't any paper stuck in there or anything else. I have changed the paper to new paper but it's still happening, the virtual assistant isn't any help either as when I put in my printer model the page refreshes and I have to start again. This is the first time this has happened to me so its frustrating since ive never had any problems with it in the past.

My printer in question is a HP Smart Tank Plus 551.

Any help would be appreciated.

Hawks_Eye · ‎04-14-2025

Hi @Bigmumzie80

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

It sounds like your HP Smart Tank Plus 551 is experiencing a paper feed alignment issue. Here are some steps to help resolve this:

1. Check and Adjust the Paper Guides

Ensure the paper guides in the input tray are snug against the edges of the paper stack.
Misaligned guides can cause the paper to tilt as it feeds into the printer.

2. Inspect and Clean the Rollers

Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source.
Open the input tray and locate the paper feed rollers.
Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water to clean the rollers.
Allow the rollers to dry completely before reconnecting the printer.

3. Fan and Align the Paper Stack

Remove the paper from the input tray and fan the stack to separate the sheets.
Align the edges of the stack on a flat surface before reloading it into the tray.
Ensure the stack is not overfilled and is within the tray's capacity.

4. Reset the Printer

With the printer turned on, unplug it from the power source.
Wait for 60 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on.
This can help clear any temporary errors.

5. Update Printer Firmware

Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support
Install any available updates to ensure optimal performance.

6. Run HP Print and Scan Doctor

Download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor tool to diagnose and fix paper feed issues.
Follow the tool's prompts for additional troubleshooting.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

I am an HP Employee.

Bigmumzie80 · ‎04-21-2025

Hello, sorry for the delay in replying.

I checked everything that you had mentioned but I was still having the paper tilting.

My adult son was having a look at it and had a flashlight looking in where the printing happens and he found a bird seed that had gotten into it and was caught up under one of the rollers causing the paper to jam up.

He was able to carefully remove the seed and it now works perfectly again.

Thank you for your help.

Hawks_Eye · ‎04-22-2025

@Bigmumzie80

That’s fantastic news! I love that a flashlight and some detective work led to the perfect fix—who would’ve thought a tiny bird seed could cause all that trouble?

Your son's quick thinking saved the day! I'm so happy your printer is back to working perfectly.

Thanks for keeping me updated, and if you ever need help again, I’m here. 😊✨

Take care, and stay fantastic!