Before we get to what you have to do, let’s understand what’s on inside your HP printer that’s causing all the jams.Your HP printer has a carriage assembly inside that holds the ink cartridges. As per the type of HP printer you have, the printhead follows a systematic and automated movement to transfer the ink from the cartridges to the paper.
A printhead transfers ink to the paper by firing ink droplets on paper by its nozzles. The clogging of these nozzles can cause the print to become streaked or faded.
When your printer stops printing abruptly, something within the carriage likely got disturbed. And it’s usually the actuator arm that jams.
Now, to determine if your model is facing one of the common HP printer ink cartridge problems, you’ve to look for any of the following:
- HP printer gives a Carriage Jam or Carriage Blocked message
- HP printer says the cartridge is not installed properly
- Grinding Noise
These occurrences confirm that the ink cartridge got stalled, and now the printer cartridges won’t move.
If you do not identify any of the above and your printer says something else like one or more cartridges missing or damaged, you might want to look up a solution here in this list of all possible HP printer issues.
How to Fix Ink Cartridge Stuck in HP Printer?
The problem in your printer came up because either you were pushing the paper past the first resistance, i.e., when the printer pushes back the paper. Or perhaps your HP ink cartridges have been installed improperly.
Whichever the case, here’s a quick way of fixing it all up:
Step 1: Rebooting the Printer
System restart. That’s the very first approach you should run to whenever facing any sort of HP printer ink cartridge problems. Turn off your printer and give it 10-15 minutes to cool down. If the power button doesn’t work well, plug out the main cord (connected to the power outlet).
After 15 minutes or so, turn it on. If the grounding noise persists, give it some time to lower.
Then, insert a page for print to check if the jam message pops up again.
Step 2: Clear any Paper Jam.
If it does, check for the paper jam. Switch off the printer and open the rear access door. You will find it at the back of your HP printer.
Pull out any paper that’s jammed in the rollers. If the paper tears while pulling out, pick out the torn pieces from the wheels and rollers. Any remaining pieces will cause a jam again.
Step 3: Check if the Print Tray Moves Smoothly
In case there’s no paper issue, you might want to check the print tray or carriage. With your printer switched on, open the cartridge access door. When you do so, you will notice that the print carriage will try to get to the access area. Check if the tray can move across the width of the printer (slightly towards the right and slightly towards the left). If it does, your HP printer’s print carriage is perfectly fine.
However, if it stutters, switch off the printer. And then set the tray in its right position manually. Simultaneously, peek through the output paper tray or the cartridge access door and check if the cartridges are in place. If they are loose or misplaced, you might have to go to the next step.
Step 4: Remove & Reinstall Ink Cartridges
Now, open the cartridge access door & press each cartridge slightly to release and remove it. Place them outside the printer body on a fresh sheet of paper.
Give a couple of minutes to your printer and reinstall the ink cartridges by placing each cartridge in its respective slot. Snap it in and align via the control panel. If the printer still gives an error message, proceed to step five.
Step 5: Check the Control Panel Faceplate
Improper installation of the control panel faceplate can also cause your HP printer Ink problems. Since it’s not advisable to change the faceplate if the printer has been in your use, press it slightly to check if it’s placed well. When setting for the first time, read the manual, and ensure you get it all in place.
Step 6: Plug the All-in-One directly into a Wall Outlet
If nothing above works, then the problem lies in the power connection. Ensure that a three-prong power plug connects your printer to relevant electricity and power sources.
Plug everything out, and connect the printer and the computer to the power source with the power outlet using a reliable three-pin plug.
Step 7: Do a Partial Reset
A partial reset is similar to rebooting the printer. Just plug out the power cord when you switch it off. Plug it back in when switching it on.
Step 8: Print a Self-test Page
The last method you can give a try is to print a self-test page. Load a clean sheet in the printer, and hold the setup button until it shows Print Report. Next press Ok. A self-test report will show up on display. Proceed with Ok to get it printed.
Once you have it in your hands, it’s time to get your HP printer serviced.
Go to HP Product Warranty Check
Nearly all HP printers come with a warranty of at least one year. If your warranty period is still valid, you’re in luck.
Make a call to the HP support service and report your issue. They will direct you to a local service center where the printer will either get replaced or repaired. However, if you’ve run out of your warranty period, you may have to pay some extra charges.
Summary
We hope you have all your queries regarding how to fix the ink cartridge stuck in the HP printer answered. We hope you don’t come across more HP printer ink cartridges problems. But if you do, feel free to refer to our directory of printing solutions. Good luck!