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A paper jam can occur when a sheet becomes stuck inside the printer and tears during removal. As a result, part of the paper remains inside the printer, preventing normal printing operations.
The HP Smart Tank 7001 All-in-One Printer running macOS 26.0 Tahoe, where a sheet tore while being pulled out and the remaining portion stayed lodged inside the printer.
Paper jam error displayed on the printer or computer.
Torn paper remains inside the printer.
Printer cannot pick up paper.
Printing stops unexpectedly.
Grinding or paper-feed noises during printing.
Repeated paper jam messages even after removing visible paper.
Troubleshooting steps
1: Remove Any Accessible Jammed Paper
Note
Always remove paper slowly with both hands.
Avoid using excessive force to prevent additional tearing.
Remove loose pieces of paper completely before printing again.
Turn off the printer.
Disconnect the power cord.
Remove all paper from the input tray.
Check the output tray and paper path for visible jammed paper.
Gently pull any accessible paper in the direction of paper travel.
Remove all loose fragments before continuing.
2: Inspect the Cartridge Access Area
Small pieces of torn paper often remain hidden inside the printer.
Open the cartridge access door.
Wait for the carriage to stop moving.
Using a flashlight, inspect the paper path carefully.
Check around:
Printhead carriage area
Paper feed path
Roller assemblies
Sensor areas
Carefully remove any remaining pieces of paper.
Note
Even very small piece can trigger recurring paper jam errors and prevent printing.
3: Check the Rear Access Area
If accessible on your printer model, inspect the rear paper path.
Disconnect power from the printer.
Open the rear access door or service area.
Look for jammed paper or debris.
Remove any paper found.
Reinstall the rear access door securely.
4: Clean the Paper Feed Rollers
Dust, paper fibers, and debris can contribute to repeated paper jams.
Turn off the printer and unplug the power cord.
Access the paper-feed rollers.
Use a slightly damp, lint-free cloth to clean the rollers.
Rotate the rollers manually to clean the entire surface.
Allow rollers to dry completely before reconnecting power.
5: Reset the Printer
After removing all paper fragments, perform a printer reset.
Leave the printer powered on.
Disconnect the power cord from the printer.
Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
Wait at least 15 seconds.
Reconnect the power cord.
Turn on the printer.
6: Verify Paper Loading
Improper paper loading can cause recurring jams.
Check the Following
Do not overload the input tray.
Use only supported HP paper sizes and types.
Align the paper stack properly.
Adjust paper-width guides so they lightly touch the paper stack.
Do not mix different paper types or weights in the tray.
