Brother Printer Paper Jam: How to Clear Jammed Paper and Fix the Error Fast

A **Brother printer paper jam** can stop printing suddenly, 👉 1-866-490-0338(USA/UK) ☎️ even when you only see a small corner of paper or no paper at all. The printer may show messages like **Paper Jam**, **Jam Tray**, **Jam Inside**, **Jam Rear**, or **Jam 2-sided**, depending on your Brother model.

The fastest fix is to turn off the printer, remove the paper tray, gently pull out jammed paper, check the rear cover, inspect inside the machine for small scraps, reload the paper correctly, and restart the printer. Brother’s official support also advises checking the tray area, inside cavity, rear jam-clear cover, and small leftover paper pieces because even tiny scraps can keep the jam error active. ([Brother Support][1])



.. Quick Answer: How Do You Fix a Brother Printer Paper Jam? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

To fix a **Brother printer paper jam**, turn off and unplug the printer, remove the paper tray, gently pull out jammed paper, open the rear cover or jam-clear cover, check inside the printer with a flashlight, remove torn scraps, reload flat paper, close all covers firmly, and turn the printer back on. If the message stays, inspect rollers, sensors, and tray alignment.



.. Common Brother Printer Paper Jam Messages

Brother printers may show different paper jam messages depending on where the paper is stuck. The wording may vary by model, but these are common examples:

| Error Message | Likely Meaning |
| - | -- |
| Paper Jam | Paper is stuck somewhere in the paper path |
| Jam Tray | Paper is jammed near the input tray |
| Jam Inside | Paper is stuck inside the printer body |
| Jam Rear | Paper is jammed near the back cover or fuser area |
| Jam 2-sided | Paper is stuck in the duplex printing path |
| No Paper Fed | Paper may be misloaded, curled, or not feeding correctly |

Brother’s official support pages note that illustrations and steps can differ by model, so use your printer’s model-specific guide if the cover, tray, or jam-clear panel looks different. ([Brother Support][1])



.. How Difficult Is It to Clear a Brother Printer Paper Jam? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Most Brother paper jams are easy to fix and take **5 to 15 minutes**. A simple tray jam is usually quick. A rear jam, duplex jam, or “paper jam but no paper” issue can take longer because you may need to search for torn scraps, inspect the rollers, or check inside the machine carefully.

The key rule is simple: **do not pull paper aggressively**. Pull slowly and evenly. Torn paper is harder to remove than a full sheet.



.. Before You Start: Safety and Preparation

Before removing jammed paper, do these quick safety checks:

1. Cancel the print job from your computer.
2. Turn off the Brother printer.
3. Unplug the power cable.
4. Let the printer cool if it is a laser model.
5. Keep a flashlight ready.
6. Remove loose paper from the tray.
7. Avoid using sharp tools inside the printer.

For laser printers, Brother warns that some internal parts can become extremely hot after use, especially around the rear/fuser area. Wait before touching internal parts. ([Brother Support][2])



.. How to Fix Brother Printer Paper Jam Step by Step

Follow these steps in order. Stop when the jam message clears.



.. 1. Remove the Paper Tray and Check the Tray Area

Start with the paper tray because many jams happen near the input area.

1. Pull the paper tray completely out.
2. Look inside the empty tray cavity.
3. Slowly pull any visible paper toward you.
4. Remove small paper pieces.
5. Check that paper is not folded, curled, or overloaded.
6. Fan the paper stack gently.
7. Reload the paper below the maximum fill line.
8. Slide the tray back in firmly.

Brother’s support instructions for paper jam errors include pulling the tray out completely and checking the cavity where the tray was installed for remaining paper. ([Brother Help Center][3])



.. 2. Open the Rear Cover or Jam-Clear Cover

If the paper is not in the tray area, it may be stuck at the back of the printer.

1. Turn the printer around carefully.
2. Open the back cover or jam-clear cover.
3. Look for folded or stuck paper.
4. Pull the jammed paper out slowly using both hands.
5. Make sure no torn pieces remain.
6. Close the rear cover firmly.

Brother support guides for several models include opening the rear jam-clear cover and pulling the jammed paper out from the back of the machine. ([Brother Support][4])



.. 3. Check Inside the Printer Body

If the error says **Jam Inside**, the paper may be under the scanner cover, near the print head, or inside the main paper path.

For many Brother inkjet all-in-one printers:

1. Lift the scanner cover carefully.
2. Wait until it locks open if your model supports that.
3. Look inside with a flashlight.
4. Remove visible jammed paper.
5. Check the left and right corners.
6. Look under the print head area.
7. Remove tiny torn scraps.
8. Close the scanner cover gently.

Brother’s official guidance says users may need to lift the scanner cover, check the print head area, and carefully remove small pieces of paper remaining inside the machine. ([Brother Support][1])

Important: If the print head is stuck at the far right side and cannot be moved safely, do not force it. Brother’s guidance says users should not force the print head and may need Brother Customer Service if it cannot be moved. ([Brother Support][1])



.. 4. Clear a Rear Jam on a Brother Laser Printer

Laser printers often have a rear paper path near the fuser. Be careful because this area may be hot.

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Wait for it to cool.
3. Open the rear cover.
4. Open the fuser cover if your model has one.
5. Pull jammed paper out with both hands.
6. Close the fuser cover.
7. Close the rear cover.
8. Turn the printer back on.

Brother’s laser printer documentation says to open the back cover, fold down the fuser cover on supported models, and gently pull the jammed paper out with both hands. It also warns users not to touch hot internal parts right after printing. ([Brother Support][2])



.. 5. Clear a Duplex or 2-Sided Printing Jam

If the message says **Jam 2-sided**, the jam may be in the duplex path.

Try this:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Remove the paper tray.
3. Check underneath and behind the tray area.
4. Open the rear cover.
5. Look for paper trapped in the duplex path.
6. Pull paper slowly in the direction it naturally feeds.
7. Close all covers.
8. Reload paper and restart.

Do not use curled, damp, thick, or mixed paper when duplex printing. Two-sided printing needs smoother paper movement, so poor paper quality can trigger repeated jams.



.. 6. Remove Torn Scraps of Paper

A Brother printer may still show **Paper Jam** even after you remove the main sheet. This often happens because a tiny torn piece is still blocking a sensor or paper path.

Check these places:

* Paper tray cavity
* Rear cover area
* Under scanner cover
* Near rollers
* Left and right inside corners
* Duplex path
* Output slot
* Under the print head area on inkjet models

Brother’s official support specifically advises checking carefully inside the machine and looking for pieces of paper that may remain after the main jam is removed. ([Brother Support][4])

A flashlight helps a lot here. Small scraps can hide in dark corners.



.. 7. Reload Paper Correctly

Poor paper loading is one of the most common reasons Brother printers keep jamming.

Use this checklist:

* Use clean, flat paper.
* Do not overload the tray.
* Do not mix paper sizes.
* Do not mix paper types.
* Adjust paper guides snugly.
* Do not push guides too tightly.
* Avoid wrinkled or damp paper.
* Fan the paper stack before loading.
* Make sure the tray is fully inserted.

Brother’s support guidance also notes that using multiple kinds of paper in the tray at the same time can contribute to paper jams. ([Brother Support][1])



.. 8. Restart the Printer and Clear the Error

After removing the jam:

1. Close all covers properly.
2. Reinsert the paper tray.
3. Plug the printer back in.
4. Turn it on.
5. Wait for the printer to initialize.
6. Print a test page.

If the message clears, the problem is fixed. If the message returns immediately, the printer may still detect paper, a sensor may be blocked, or a cover may not be closed properly.



.. Brother Printer Says Paper Jam But No Paper: What to Do

If your Brother printer says **paper jam but no paper is visible**, the cause may be a tiny scrap, dust near a sensor, a stuck actuator, a roller issue, or a tray alignment problem.

Try this:

1. Turn off and unplug the printer.
2. Remove the paper tray.
3. Use a flashlight inside the tray cavity.
4. Open the rear cover.
5. Check the full paper path again.
6. Look for torn paper near rollers.
7. Clean accessible rollers gently with a lint-free cloth.
8. Reload paper correctly.
9. Restart the printer.

Brother’s U.S. support guidance for clearing a paper jam message includes checking the cavity where the paper tray was installed and checking that the PE actuator is in place and not damaged. ([Brother Help Center][3])

If you are not comfortable checking small internal parts, use official Brother support or a trained technician.



.. Why Brother Printer Paper Jams Keep Happening

Repeated paper jams usually mean there is an underlying feeding problem.

Common causes include:

* Too much paper in the tray
* Paper guides set too tight or too loose
* Curled, damp, or low-quality paper
* Mixed paper sizes in the same tray
* Torn paper still inside the printer
* Dirty pickup rollers
* Wrong paper type setting
* Damaged tray
* Foreign object inside the printer
* Worn rollers on older printers

If the same jam message appears every time, note the exact message. **Jam Tray**, **Jam Rear**, and **Jam Inside** point to different areas.



.. How to Prevent Brother Printer Paper Jams

Use these habits to reduce future jams:

* Store paper in a dry place.
* Keep the paper stack flat.
* Do not refill the tray while printing.
* Use paper supported by your Brother model.
* Avoid bent, curled, or sticky paper.
* Clean the paper path occasionally.
* Keep the printer on a stable surface.
* Remove printed pages before the output tray overfills.
* Match the paper size in printer settings and tray settings.
* Use the rear/manual feed slot for envelopes or special media if your model supports it.

Paper jams are often caused by small loading mistakes. A neat paper stack and correct tray guides prevent many repeat issues.



.. When Should You Contact Brother Support? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Contact Brother support or a printer technician if:

* The jam message does not clear after careful inspection.
* You see broken plastic inside the printer.
* The paper tears every time it feeds.
* The rollers look damaged.
* The printer makes grinding noises.
* The print head cannot move safely.
* A sensor or actuator appears broken.
* The rear cover or tray does not close correctly.

Brother’s support pages state that if the jam message continues after following the clearing steps, the machine may require service. ([Brother Support][1])



# People Also Ask: Brother Printer Paper Jam FAQs

.. How do I clear a paper jam in a Brother printer? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Turn off and unplug the printer, remove the paper tray, pull out jammed paper slowly, open the rear cover, check inside the machine with a flashlight, remove torn scraps, reload paper correctly, close all covers, and restart the printer. If the message stays, check for hidden paper pieces or sensor blockage.

.. Why does my Brother printer keep saying paper jam? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Your Brother printer may keep saying paper jam because small paper scraps remain inside, the tray is overloaded, paper guides are misaligned, rollers are dirty, or a sensor is blocked. The error can also stay if a rear cover, scanner cover, or tray is not fully closed.

.. What should I do if my Brother printer says paper jam but there is no paper? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Check the paper tray cavity, rear cover, inside corners, rollers, and output path with a flashlight. Tiny scraps can trigger the jam sensor even when no full sheet is visible. Also check that the tray is inserted correctly and the paper guides are aligned.

.. Can I pull jammed paper from the front of a Brother printer? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Yes, if the paper is clearly visible in the tray or front area, pull it slowly and evenly. However, if the paper resists, open the rear cover or scanner cover and remove it from the direction that causes the least tearing.

.. Why does paper tear inside my Brother printer? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Paper may tear because it is damp, curled, too thin, overloaded, or pulled too quickly during removal. It may also tear if it is stuck near rollers or the fuser area. Always pull jammed paper slowly with both hands.

.. How do I fix Jam Rear on a Brother printer? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Turn off the printer, let it cool if it is a laser model, open the rear cover, open the fuser cover if available, gently pull the paper out with both hands, close all covers, and restart the printer. Be careful because internal laser printer parts can be hot. ([Brother Support][2])

.. Can wrong paper cause Brother printer paper jams? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Yes. Curled, damp, mixed-size, thick, or poor-quality paper can cause jams. Overloading the tray or setting the paper guides incorrectly can also stop the paper from feeding smoothly.

.. Should I use tweezers to remove paper from a Brother printer? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Avoid sharp tools unless the paper is easy to reach and you are very careful. Metal tools can damage rollers, sensors, or internal parts. A flashlight and slow hand removal are safer for most paper jams.

.. Why does my Brother printer jam during double-sided printing? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

Duplex jams often happen when paper is curled, too thick, damp, or not supported for two-sided printing. Check the duplex path, rear cover, and tray settings. Use flat, supported paper and avoid overloading the tray.

.. When is a Brother paper jam a hardware problem? ✔ 1➜866((490))➜0338 ⚡

It may be a hardware problem if the jam error returns with no paper inside, rollers do not feed paper, the printer makes grinding sounds, the tray does not lock, or a sensor/actuator appears damaged. In that case, service may be needed.



.. Conclusion: Best Way to Fix Brother Printer Paper Jam

The best way to fix a **Brother printer paper jam** is to remove the paper tray, check the tray cavity, inspect the rear cover, look inside the printer with a flashlight, remove every torn scrap, reload paper correctly, and restart the machine. Do not rush the removal process because torn pieces can keep the jam error active.

If the paper jam keeps returning, focus on paper quality, tray guides, rollers, duplex path, and hidden scraps. If the Brother printer still shows a jam after careful cleaning, contact official Brother support or a qualified printer repair technician.