Tango printer not pulling paper

[Kittybell]

My HP tango has been working great until today. It wouldn’t pull in the paper. I reset it and aligned it after doing that a few times, it seamed to pull paper through for the diagnostic printing. Then I noticed the print lines weren’t good and cleaned the print head. I did it a couple of times. Then back to square one. It won’t pull the paper. It pulls a little bit and then stops. The paper has a roller indent in it but it won’t pull the paper through the printer. Any fixes? I’ve tried cleaning it with a damp cloth and it’s still not working. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Kittybell,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP Tango is not pulling paper correctly and stops after grabbing just a little bit, even after cleaning and running alignment. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Check the paper stack and size
• Make sure you’re using clean, fresh, dry paper — no curled edges or mixed types.
• Fan the stack, align it, and load only 10–15 sheets at a time.

Adjust the paper guides
• Slide the guides so they just touch the paper without bending it.
• Loose guides cause the rollers to grab unevenly and stop halfway.

Clean the pickup rollers manually
• Turn the printer off and unplug it.
• Open the paper area and wipe the grey rubber roller with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water.
• Rotate the roller with your fingers while cleaning to ensure full coverage.

Clean the separation pad
• Directly under the paper path is a small rubber/foam pad.
• Wipe it with the same damp cloth — dust on this pad causes partial feed and stopping.

Perform the printer’s “Paper Path Clean” if available
• In HP Smart → Settings → Tools → Paper Path Cleaning.
• This runs a sheet through to restore roller grip.

Load a different type of paper for testing
• Try HP-branded 75–90 gsm plain paper.
• Very thin, thick, glossy, or slightly humid paper can cause intermittent pickup on Tango models.

Check for hidden obstructions
• Shine a light inside the paper path and look for tiny scraps, labels, or dust buildup.
• Even a small piece of paper can cause the rollers to stall after first contact.

Restart the printer to reset the feed mechanism
• Turn it off → unplug for 20 seconds → plug back in and restart.
• This resets the pickup motor sequence.

If you want, sweetheart, I can also guide you through a deeper roller check — just tell me if the paper is stopping right at the start or halfway through the path.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Kittybell]

Hi. I did all of these things except for “Perform the printer’s “Paper Path Clean”” because I don’t have that option. The paper stops right at the beginning. Please advise. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Kittybell,

I understand your HP Tango is still not pulling paper, and it stops right at the beginning of the paper path. Since the usual cleaning steps haven’t fixed it, let’s go through a few targeted checks.

Inspect the pickup roller closely

Turn off and unplug the printer.

Look at the grey rubber roller at the paper tray.

Check for dust, debris, or signs of wear (flat spots or shiny areas reduce grip).

Wipe it with a lint-free damp cloth and rotate it fully by hand to clean all surfaces.

Check the separation pad

Directly under the paper path is a small rubber or foam pad that prevents multiple sheets from feeding.

Even a tiny amount of dust or residue can stop the first sheet from feeding.

Wipe gently with a damp cloth.

Test with a single sheet

Load only one fresh sheet of plain HP paper and adjust the guides so they barely touch the paper.

This helps determine if the issue is due to multiple sheets or misaligned guides.

Check for any hidden obstructions

Shine a flashlight into the paper path and look for tiny paper scraps, labels, or bits of debris.

Even small obstructions near the start can prevent the first sheet from feeding.

Reset the printer feed mechanism

Turn off the printer, unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and power it on.

Sometimes the pickup motor sequence gets stuck and needs a reset.

Inspect roller condition

If the roller appears worn, shiny, or flat, it may no longer grip the paper properly.

In this case, replacing the roller is usually required to restore normal paper pickup.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,