Why Does My Printer Say Out of Paper When It's Not? (Fix It Fast)

Last updated: November 9, 2026

Short answer: When a printer says it's out of paper but the tray is full, it's almost never really out of paper. The usual causes are paper loaded past the guides or too loosely, the job being sent to a different tray, a dirty or stuck paper sensor, worn pickup rollers that can't grab the sheet, or a paper-size mismatch between the driver and the tray. Reload, check the tray setting, clean the rollers, and most printers clear the error.

A full paper tray shouldn't trigger an "out of paper" error, and yet it happens more often than you'd expect. Here's what actually causes it, how to fix it fast, and brand-specific fixes for Canon, HP, Epson, Brother and label printers.

The 60-Second Fix

1. Take all the paper out, fan it, and tap it square. Reload no more than about 3/4 of the tray's capacity.
2. Slide the side and front guides snug against the stack — touching, not squeezing.
3. Push the tray (or cassette) in until it clicks fully home.
4. Check that your print dialog is sending to the tray you loaded and the paper size matches (Letter vs A4).
5. Cancel the job, power the printer off with its button, wait 60 seconds, power on and print again.

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Paper Isn't Loaded Correctly

Most trays have side guides that need to sit snugly against the paper stack. If the guides are too loose, the stack is uneven, or the tray is overfilled, the pickup roller can't grab the top sheet and the printer reports "no paper." Curled or humid paper causes the same thing — try a fresh sheet from a new ream.

For step-by-step loading instructions by brand, including which side faces up in each tray, see how to put paper in a printer.

A Dirty or Faulty Paper Sensor

Dust and paper fibers build up on the small optical sensor or lever inside the tray area, especially in dry or dusty rooms. Power off the printer and wipe the sensor gently with a dry, lint-free cloth, or use compressed air if you'd rather not touch it directly.

Quick Way to Test the Sensor

Remove the tray completely, then slowly slide a single clean sheet back in by hand while watching where the paper's edge lines up with the small lever or optical window near the back of the tray. If the printer only clears the error once the paper is pushed in slightly farther or at a different angle than feels natural, the sensor itself (not the amount of paper) is the problem, and cleaning or a service call is the next step.

Worn or Dirty Pickup Rollers

If you can hear the printer try to pull paper and then give up, the rubber pickup rollers have lost their grip. They don't move the sheet far enough to reach the sensor, so the printer concludes the tray is empty. Wipe the rollers with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water, let them dry, and try again. Our guide to when a printer won't pick up paper covers roller cleaning and replacement.

Wrong Tray, Paper Size or Paper Type Selected

If your printer has more than one paper source — a rear tray and a front cassette, or a manual feed slot — the driver may be sending the job to the empty one. In the print dialog, set Paper Source to the tray you loaded (or "Auto Select"). Also confirm the paper size: a job set to A4 sent to a tray of Letter paper can trigger "load paper" on many models.

A Software or Firmware Glitch

Restart the printer and check for a firmware update. HP, Epson and Canon periodically release fixes for sensor-reading bugs, and this resolves the issue on a surprising number of models without touching any hardware.

Canon Printer Says Out of Paper but Has Paper

Many Canon PIXMA models have both a rear tray and a front cassette, and Canon errors like 1000 (rear tray) and 1300/1303 (paper source or feed) point straight at this problem. Make sure the paper is in the source selected in the driver or on the printer's screen, and register the loaded paper size when the printer asks after you close the cassette. If the error persists, clean the rear-tray rollers using the printer's Roller Cleaning function in Maintenance. Our Canon printer error codes guide lists the related codes.

Why Does My HP Printer Keep Saying Out of Paper?

On HP printers, check that the output tray extender and input tray are fully seated, then reset the printer: with it on, unplug the power cord from the back for 60 seconds and plug it back in directly to the wall. HP models are also sensitive to paper-width guides set too tight. HP's official troubleshooting steps for out-of-paper errors cover more model-specific checks.

Epson and Brother "Load Paper" or "No Paper" Errors

On Epson printers, make sure the paper is loaded short-edge first against the right-side guide and that the paper size you set on the control panel matches what's loaded. On Brother printers, a "No Paper Fed" or "No Paper" message often means the paper is pushed past the triangle mark or the separation pad is worn; reload below the mark and clean the pickup roller.

Label Printer Out of Paper Error (DYMO, Zebra)

Label printers such as the DYMO LabelWriter 4XL use a sensor that looks for the gap between labels. A red/blinking light with labels loaded usually means the roll isn't seated against the guide, the first label is torn or misaligned, or the sensor is dusty. Reload the roll so the first label feeds straight, clean the sensor with compressed air, and run a feed test. Using a non-matching label size can also trigger it.

Laser Printers: Samsung, Brother and HP LaserJet

Compact lasers like the Samsung Xpress M2020 flag "out of paper" when the paper-feed sensor flag sticks or the pickup roller glazes over. Open the tray area, check that the small plastic flag moves freely, and clean the roller. If you're due for supplies anyway, see what toner the Samsung Xpress M2020W uses.

Printer Status "Out of Paper" on Windows or Mac

Sometimes the computer shows "Out of paper" even after you've reloaded, because the error is stuck in the print queue. Cancel all jobs, restart the print spooler (here's how to restart the print spooler), then send the job again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the wrong paper cause an out-of-paper error?

Yes. Very thin, glossy, curled or heavy paper may not be picked up, and the printer reports it as missing. Try standard 20–24 lb copy paper to test.

Can too much paper in the tray cause this?

Yes. An overfilled tray presses the stack against the roller so it can't separate a sheet. Stay below the maximum fill line.

Does a cartridge or ink problem cause "out of paper"?

No — paper errors come from the feed path. If the printer won't print at all rather than misreading the tray, start with our complete troubleshooting guide.

When should I replace the pickup roller?

If cleaning doesn't help and the rollers look shiny, cracked or smooth, they're worn. Roller kits are inexpensive for many laser printers; for inkjets, compare the repair cost to a new printer.

Still Says Out of Paper?

If none of the above works, a worn feed roller or failed sensor is the likely cause, especially on a printer that's a few years old. If the feed problem turns into an actual jam, our paper jam guide shows how to clear it without damaging the rollers. And when it's time for ink or toner, use our find ink by printer guide to get the right cartridge for less.