Paper & feeding
Printer pulls in several sheets at once
Two or more sheets go through together, leaving blank pages or jams. Fix the paper prep and loading first, then clean or check the parts that separate sheets.
You’ll need: Fresh paper from a sealed ream · A lint-free cloth and a little water
Try this first
Take the stack out, fan it well and flex it in both directions so the sheets separate, then tap the edges square and reload it below the maximum mark. Sheets that cling together from static, humidity or the cutting process cause most multi-feeds, and a fresh, well-fanned stack fixes the majority of them.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsWhat you’ll notice
- Blank sheets come out between printed pages
- Two sheets come out stuck together, with only one printed
- A jam follows when two sheets reach the rollers together
- Photo paper or labels feed two or three at a time
- The printer reports a jam or paper size error partway through a job
Usually caused by
- Most commonSheets stuck together by static, damp or cut edges
- Most commonTray filled above the maximum mark
- SometimesPaper guides loose, letting the stack shift
- SometimesThin, very smooth or photo paper loaded in a thick stack
- SometimesMixed paper types or part-used sheets in the tray
- SometimesWorn or dirty separation pad or roller
Step by step
Work down the list in order. Tick off each step as you go: your progress is saved on this device.
On the printer itself
0 of 7 tried
-
Fan and flex the paper
Take the stack out of the tray. Hold it at both ends and bend it gently into a curve one way, then the other, and riffle the corners with your thumb to let air between the sheets. Tap the edges square on a flat surface.
You should see: The sheets slide freely against each other, with no clumps.
-
Load less paper
Put the paper back below the maximum mark, and for a stubborn printer try about half a stack. Too much paper presses the top sheets against the pickup roller hard enough to drag the next sheet along with them.
-
Set the guides snugly
Slide the width and length guides until they touch the stack without bowing it. A loose stack shifts as the roller turns, and a stack squeezed too tightly binds the sheets together.
-
Turn the stack over or around
Paper is cut in large blocks, and the cut can leave tiny burrs along one edge that hook neighboring sheets together. Turn the stack over, or rotate it end to end, and print again.
You should see: If the multi-feeds stop, the cut edge or the curl of that ream was the cause.
-
Feed specialty paper in small batches
Photo paper, labels and glossy brochure paper are smooth and cling together. Load only as many sheets as your manual allows for that type, which is often far fewer than for plain paper, and fan each batch. Some printers handle these best one sheet at a time through a rear or manual slot.
-
Clean the separation pad or roller
Unplug the printer. Find the small friction pad or second roller that sits against the pickup roller and holds back extra sheets; its position varies by model, so check your manual’s diagram if you can’t see it. Wipe it with a lint-free cloth dampened with water and let it dry.
You should see: The pad looks clean and feels slightly rough or grippy, not polished.
-
Inspect the pad for wear
A separation pad that is shiny, worn into a groove or peeling at the edges can no longer hold sheets back. On many laser printers it is an inexpensive, user-replaceable part; on most inkjets it is part of the feed assembly inside the printer.
Windows 11 and 10
0 of 3 tried
-
Match the paper type and size
Open Printing preferences from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (on Windows 10, Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners and Manage), and set the paper type and size to what is loaded. Many printers feed thick or photo paper more slowly and carefully when the setting matches.
-
Print a short job to test
Send a three- or four-page document and count the sheets that come out. A blank sheet in the output tells you a multi-feed happened, even if no jam was reported.
You should see: The number of sheets out matches the number of pages sent.
-
Print long jobs in batches
If multi-feeds show up only in long jobs, print in batches of 20–30 pages, and fan and square the stack again before each batch.
Did this fix it?
Good to hear. If the problem comes back, the steps will still be here, and your ticked steps are saved on this device.
Try these next:
- Try a slightly heavier paper, such as 90 gsm (24 lb), which separates more easily than very thin stock.
- Clean the pickup rollers as well. A roller with uneven grip can twist the top sheet and drag the next one with it.
- Store the ream somewhere cooler and drier for a day, still in its wrapper, then try again.
Still stuck? Run the diagnose questions, or check your printer’s manual and the manufacturer’s official support site.
Common questions
Why does my printer put blank pages between my documents?
Often two sheets fed together and only the top one was printed. Fanning the paper and loading less of it is the first fix; if blanks continue with a single sheet loaded, the cause is elsewhere.
Is it bad for the printer to feed several sheets at once?
It isn’t harmful in itself, but it wastes paper and leads to jams, and repeated jams wear the rollers faster.
Should I fan new paper even straight from the ream?
Yes. Fresh paper is often the worst offender, because the sheets were pressed together and cut as one block.