Printer not recognizing 5X8 paper size

[Grapette]

HP Laserjet Pro MFP M2831dw is not recognizing card stock paper size 5X8 (a folded note- printing on the bottom half of card).  Printer either does not print at all or tells me the paper size is incorrect and to change it or says there is no paper.  

I keep going into settings and changing it from letter to A5 and it immediately goes back to letter size.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Margins are very small and the printer reminds me each time to press ok.

Anybody been able to fix this problem?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Grapette 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for describing the situation clearly. The printer is not recognizing the custom 5x8 card stock size, and the settings keep reverting to Letter. 

Let’s go through recommended steps to ensure the printer accepts the paper correctly:

Load the paper properly in the tray

• Place the 5x8 card stock in the input tray.
• Adjust the paper guides so they are snug against the paper without bending it.
• Confirm the paper is flat and not curled.

Set the paper size in the printer control panel

• On the printer’s front panel, go to Settings > Paper Setup > Tray [number] > Paper Size.
• Select Custom if available, then enter the dimensions (Width: 5 in, Height: 8 in).
• Save the setting.

Update the paper size in the HP App or driver

• Open the HP App on your computer or mobile device.
• Go to Print Settings > Paper Size.
• Choose Custom Size and enter 5x8.
• Apply the changes before printing.

Check the application’s print dialog

• In Word, Publisher, or your design software, go to File > Print > Printer Properties.
• Under Paper/Quality, select the custom 5x8 size.
• Ensure margins are set within the printable area (avoid edge‑to‑edge if the printer does not support borderless).

Confirm card stock compatibility

• In the printer’s specifications, verify that the selected tray supports card stock of 5x8 dimensions.
• If the printer prompts for confirmation, press OK to accept the custom size.

By setting the paper size both in the printer’s control panel and in the HP App/driver, the printer should stop reverting to Letter and recognize the 5x8 card stock correctly.

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye