Whether it's a bustling business, a classroom, or a home office, a printer that won't pull paper through the feeder can stop everything.
The good news is that most feeder problems are minor, such as dust in the tray, worn rollers, misplaced paper, or settings that have subtly altered. In actuality, over half of all service calls are caused by problems with the paper path, particularly frequent paper jams. However, you can typically get things back up and running without immediately hiring a specialist if you do the proper checks.
Try these nine useful fixes.
1. Start with a Full Restart
A proper reset clears temporary faults that build up after long periods of use or unexpected interruptions. Turn the printer off, unplug it, and leave it for at least 30 seconds. When you switch it back on, the feeder often resets itself along with the rest of the internal components.
In fact, it's simple, and this one step will resolve an astonishing number of problems where the printer fails to lift the paper or acts erratically following a jam or power outage.
2. Check Paper Type and Paper Quality
If the hard restart fails, then the problem could be with the paper itself.
The feeders can be affected by the condition of the paper. If the sheets feel slightly damp from humidity, or the edges have curled just a little, the rollers may lose their grip.
Review the following:
- Is the paper fresh and stored in a dry place?
- Are the edges clean and flat?
- Is it the correct weight for your printer? (Most models accept 80–90 gsm as the standard range.)
- Are you mixing different paper types in the same tray?
Even one damaged sheet placed on top of the stack can block the feeder. Replace the whole batch with fresh paper if you’re unsure.
3. Reload and align the stack of papers.
One of the most frequent causes of a feed failure is a misaligned stack. Remove the paper by fully pulling the tray out. After squaring the edges with a tap on a level surface, return the stack to the tray without packing it too full.
Make sure the side guides are just the right amount of snug—neither too tight nor too loose—against the paper. The paper may move during feeding if the guides are even marginally broader than the stack.
Also, ensure the tray's back is free from any paper dust or scraps. The mechanism can be jammed by even small pieces.
4. Clean the Feed Rollers
This is the most crucial step in the process if you find your document feeder not working.
Rollers develop a loss of grip with time, and this is exacerbated in dusty conditions. If the roller cannot grasp the sheet, the printer will either continuously retry or give up with a "no paper" or "paper feed" error. If your Epson printer feeder is not working, start here, as Kyocera rollers are highly sensitive to fine paper dust buildup.
You can clean the rollers with:
- a lint-free cloth
- warm water (nothing soapy)
- gentle pressure—no scrubbing
Rotate the rollers manually while wiping them down.
If your printer has a built-in “roller cleaning” option in its maintenance menu, run that process as well. It helps remove the fine powder from paper that gradually coats the rubber.
When rollers are badly worn or cracked, cleaning won’t solve it. Replacement may be needed, which is where a technician becomes useful.
5. Remove Any Hidden Paper Jams
Even after a jam has been cleared, tiny pieces of paper can remain stuck deep inside the path. These fragments stop the next sheet from moving forward. If your Brother printer document feeder is not working, check carefully: paper fragments are often the cause of these specific ADF failures.
Turn the printer off, open all access points, and use a flashlight to look through the feed area. Be sure to inspect the:
- rear access door
- duplexer (if your model has one)
- paper path behind the tray
- front internal rollers
Pull out any fragments gently to avoid damaging the sensors. Avoid using anything sharp inside the machine—plastic tweezers or your fingers are safer.
6. Review Printer Settings on Your Computer
Sometimes, the feeder printer problem is the software.
If the driver thinks you’re printing on thick labels or glossy photo paper, it adjusts how hard the rollers push. The result? Sheets that never get picked up. So, review your print settings for:
- paper size
- paper type
- tray selection
- print mode (draft, normal, photo, etc.)
Software updates can also change settings without you noticing. Resetting to the printer’s default profile often clears the mismatch.
7. Check for Firmware Updates
An update can be essential when a Canon automatic document feeder is not working and is preventing critical scanning or copying tasks.
Many printer owners skip firmware updates entirely, usually because they seem technical or pointless. But some updates actually refine roller pressure, fix misreads, and prevent jam loops.
Visit the manufacturer’s support page or run the built-in update tool (if your printer has one). An update can help the printer handle thicker paper more reliably, recognise jam conditions earlier, and run cleaner feed cycles.
8. Ensure there are no obstacles near the feeder.
In other instances, the issue may not be an internal problem. The issue with the motion of the tray or the paper may arise due to an external obstacle. When an equipment setup changes location, this can be common with a printer with a feeder.
To ensure that:
- The tray moves effortlessly and doesn't stick.
- Nothing is pressing against the tray beneath the printer.
- The printer is positioned on a level, sturdy platform.
- The unit's back is not being pulled by any cords.
- Pens, clips, and labels have not fallen into the tray area.
It's possible that anything moved without your awareness if you recently changed the printer.
9. Consider Wear-and-Tear or Part Failure
Feed rollers, separation pads, gears, and sensors eventually wear down, especially in busy offices where the machine runs all day. In a high-volume office environment, the average lifespan of paper feed rollers is approximately 50,000 to 150,000 pages before the rubber starts to lose its essential grip and requires replacement.
When these parts start to fail, symptoms include:
- The printer is pulling multiple sheets.
- The printer is picking nothing at all.
- Loud clicking near the feeder
- Repeated jams in the same spot
- Slipping noises when the roller turns
If you’ve ticked off every earlier step and the feeder still behaves inconsistently, it’s likely a hardware issue rather than a setup issue. At this point, calling a professional repair service is usually the fastest and most cost-effective option.
When DIY Fixes Aren’t Enough: Superior Office Services L.L.C
Minor feeder problems can snowball quickly. A bit of dust, a few curled sheets—suddenly the printer refuses to cooperate. Catching these issues early is the best course of action, but sometimes the fault lies deeper within the machine.
If you’ve tried the steps above and the printer still jams or refuses to pick up paper, a technician can diagnose the exact point of failure. They’ll look at the feed assembly, the internal sensors, the rollers, and all the other bits most of us never touch.
For anyone in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or throughout the UAE, Superior Office Services L.L.C. offers on-site help, replacement parts, and full maintenance for both home and office printers. Instead of wrestling with the same jam for the third day in a row, you can get someone who knows the mechanics inside out.
Ready to get it sorted? Reach out today and book a service!
