On a Canon inkjet, don't switch the printer off first. If you can see the sheet at the paper output slot or sticking out of the rear tray, hold it with both hands and pull it out slowly from whichever end is easier. Canon's own manual allows either end. Reload the paper, press OK, and the printer carries on where it stopped. If the sheet won't move, stop pulling. If the printer is off, switch it back on, because Canon says it may push the paper out by itself.
Switch off and unplug only when the paper has torn or you can't see it, and press Stop before you do. i-SENSYS lasers work the other way round. Leave the printer on, because switching off erases whatever was printing, including a fax waiting in memory. Follow the animation on the screen, and keep your fingers off the fixing unit, which gets hot enough to burn.
If the jam comes back, something else is still wrong after the sheet is out. Going by Canon's own troubleshooting pages, that's nearly always a torn scrap left inside, paper loaded the wrong way or of the wrong type, or a feed roller coated in paper dust.
What the code tells you about where the paper is
Canon doesn't just say "jam". The support code tells you which route the paper was taking when it stopped, and that decides which cover you open. Check it before you touch anything.
| Code | What Canon says it means | Look here first |
|---|---|---|
| 1300 | Jammed while feeding from the rear tray (MegaTank and most PIXMA models). On the MG3650S: jammed in the paper output slot | Output slot or rear tray |
| 1303 | Jammed while feeding from the cassette (TS5350i, TS6350a, TS7450i). On the MG3650S: jammed near the transport unit at the back | Cassette feed slot, then the rear |
| 1304 | Jammed during automatic two-sided printing | Output slot, then inside, then the rear |
| 1313 | Jammed as the printer pulled a printed sheet back in | Output slot, then inside, then the rear |
| 2801 | An original jammed in the document feeder (ADF), on models that have one, such as the TS7450i | The ADF, not the paper path |
| E03 | Small-display models (TS3350, TS3450): a cover opened during printing, or a jam (support codes 1203 and 1300) | Output slot or rear tray |
| 3 flashes of the Alarm lamp | Lamp-only models such as the MG3650S: a jam, or the paper output tray is closed | Output slot |
The same number doesn't mean the same place on every model. On a TS5350i, 1303 is the cassette at the front. On an MG3650S, it's the transport unit at the back. Before acting on a code, check it against your own model's list on Canon's manual site, and that includes the table above.
First try: pull it out with the printer still on
This is Canon's first step for code 1300 on every inkjet model we checked.
- Find an edge. Look at the paper output slot at the front and the rear tray at the top-back.
- Hold the sheet with both hands and pull slowly. Canon's instruction is to pull it from the output slot or the rear tray, "whichever is easier". You'll often read that you must only pull paper the way it travels. That isn't what Canon's inkjet manuals say. What protects the printer is pulling slowly and evenly so the sheet comes out in one piece.
- If it won't move, let go. Canon's note is to switch the printer back on without pulling hard, because the paper may be ejected automatically.
- Reload and press OK. On the MG3650S, press Black or Colour instead. The printer resumes. Reprint any page that came out crumpled. If you switched the printer off at any point, the job is gone, so send it again.
One exception. On the MG3650S, don't pull the paper out of the front tray, even if you can see it there. Canon warns that forcing it out from the front tray may damage the machine. Use the output slot, or the transport unit at the back (see below).
What if it tears halfway? Don't go fishing in the slot for the rest. Move on to the inside.
Torn, or out of sight: clearing it from inside
Canon's procedure is the same across the TS3350, TS3450, TS5350i, MG3650S and MegaTank G3570, with small differences in what the cover is called.
- Press Stop, then switch off and unplug. Pressing Stop first cancels the job cleanly, so the printer doesn't try to carry on when it powers back up.
- Open the cover. On scanner models it's the whole scanning unit/cover. On the TS3350, push the paper output tray in first. On the MG3650S, it's the paper output cover, and Canon also says to take out any paper in the cassette.
- Keep your hands off three parts. These are the clear film (all models), the white belt (TS5350i and G3570) and, on MegaTank, the ink tubes. The clear film is a thin transparent strip running across the printer behind the cartridge holder, and it's how the printer keeps track of where the print head is. Canon warns that touching any of these with your hand or with the paper can soil or scratch them and damage the printer.
- Move the cartridge holder if the paper is under it. Hold the top of the holder and slide it slowly to the far left or right, whichever gives you more room.
- Grip the sheet with both hands and pull slowly. If it's rolled up, pull it out and get hold of the edges. On the G3570, Canon says to pull at an angle of about 45 degrees.
- Check the three places Canon lists: under the cartridge holder, any small bits anywhere inside, and the empty spaces at the far left and right of the printer. Those side spaces sit outside the paper path you naturally look down into, which is exactly why they get missed.
- Close the cover gently. On the TS5350i and G3570, Canon says to lift it slightly and then lower it. Plug in, switch on, reload, and send the job again. Every job in the queue is cancelled when you do this.
A jam message pops up on the computer straight away? Canon's verdict is that there's still paper inside. Look again before trying anything else.
Getting 5100 instead of a jam code? That's Canon's code for the cartridge holder being unable to move, and jammed paper is one of the things Canon's 5100 page tells you to check for. Switch off and look under and beside the holder again. If the code keeps coming back, our guide to a Canon printer showing an error and not responding covers it.
Our take: don't go in with tweezers or a butter knife. The clear film and white belt sit right where a tool would slip, and a scratched film is a far bigger problem than a scrap of paper.
TS5350i, TS6350a and TS7450i: the rear cover and the cassette
These models have a removable rear cover, with a transport unit cover behind it. When the paper can't be reached from the front, Canon's route is through the back:
- Press Stop, switch off and unplug.
- Turn the printer round so the back faces you.
- Open the rear tray cover and pull up the paper support.
- Detach the rear cover and slowly pull out the paper. Canon says not to touch the parts inside.
- Still stuck? Lift up the transport unit cover, pull it out, and remove the paper from there.
- On the TS7450i, if any of the parts inside are sticking up, lower them towards you. Canon marks them as (A) in its illustration.
- Push the transport unit cover all the way back in. Refit the rear cover by putting the tabs on its right side in first, then pushing the left side until it closes completely.
That last step matters more than it looks. "Are transport unit cover and rear cover attached properly?" is on Canon's own checklist for jams with no obvious cause. If the jams started right after someone cleared one from the back, check the covers first.
Code 1303 (cassette jam). Push in the paper output tray and fold away its support, pull the cassette out, and ease the sheet out with both hands. Then check what's in the cassette. Canon's feeding checklist says to load only plain paper in the cassette. Plain paper goes in face down. Photo paper goes in the rear tray, face up.
Two sheets feeding at once from the cassette? Canon blames paper dust on the cassette pad. Take the paper out, wipe the pad sideways with a slightly damp cotton bud, and let it dry completely before reloading.
MG3650S: stand it on its side. MegaTank: never tilt it.
These two Canon instructions are direct opposites. If you own either printer, this matters more than anything else in this guide.
MG3650S (codes 1303 and 1304, paper stuck at the back). Canon's method is to switch off, unplug, close the document cover, and stand the printer on its right side on a wide, flat surface, holding it firmly with both hands. Push the lever to open the transport unit, keep a hand on the printer so it can't topple, and pull the paper out slowly. If it's rolled up, pull the edge out first. Close the transport unit and stand the printer upright again straight away. On a newly unboxed MG3650S, check for protective material still stuck to the transport unit. Canon tells you to remove it.
MegaTank G3570. Canon warns, more than once, that you must not turn the printer upside down or tilt it, because the ink may leak out. The G3570's ink sits in refillable tanks rather than sealed cartridges. Everything has to be done with the printer flat on the desk, through the output slot, the rear tray's feed slot, or the inside under the cover. The same applies when you carry it to another room.
Something dropped into the G3570's rear tray. That might be a paperclip, a coin or a hair grip. Canon's method is to press Stop, switch off and unplug. Fold a sheet of A4 plain paper in half, slide it horizontally into the rear tray, and reach in between that sheet and the tray to lift the object out. Canon also says not to touch the parts in the centre of the rear tray, and the folded sheet sits between them and your fingers. Better still, follow Canon's other advice and stop using the lid as a shelf, because things on it fall into the rear tray.
A small photo stuck in the G3570. For a jammed 10 x 15 cm or card-size sheet, Canon has a neat trick. Press Stop. Load one sheet of 10 x 15 cm or larger paper in the rear tray in portrait orientation and slide the guides against it. Then switch the printer off and on again. As the new sheet feeds in, it pushes the stuck one out. If it doesn't, run a feed roller cleaning (see below) before you try again, because the stuck sheet may come out along with the cleaning paper.
The document feeder on the TS7450i (code 2801)
If an original jams in the ADF, don't lift the document cover (the lid over the scanner glass). Canon warns that doing so can tear the page.
Press Stop if the printer is busy, switch it off, take out any pages other than the jammed one, and open the document feeder cover. Pull the page out from the top if you can get a firm grip. If you can't, close the document tray and pull it out of the document output slot. Only if neither works do you open the document cover and pull it out from the back of the ADF. Close everything, switch on, and rescan from page one.
If originals keep jamming in a very warm, cold or humid room, Canon suggests loading about half the feeder's capacity, or using the glass instead.
i-SENSYS lasers: leave it switched on
On i-SENSYS models with a screen, Canon shows <Paper jammed.> with a <Next> option that plays a short animation of the exact location. Follow it. On the MF650 series (MF657Cdw, MF655Cdw, MF651Cw), Canon's locations are:
| Where | What Canon tells you to do |
|---|---|
| Paper drawer | Pull the drawer out, lift the front to remove it, and pull the paper out gently |
| Manual feed slot | Remove the drawer, then hold the bottom of the manual feed slot and pull the transport guide out. Pull the paper out, then push the guide straight back in until it clicks |
| Output tray and back | Pull the paper out gently from the front, then open the rear cover and clear it from there. Canon notes you may need to take the drawer out too |
Each step ends with <Is all of the jammed paper removed?>. Select <Yes> only when it is.
Three safety points come from Canon's own laser manuals, and none of them apply to an inkjet:
- The fixing unit burns. Canon says not to touch it, because it gets very hot during use, and not to put your hands anywhere other than the areas the message shows you.
- Take off necklaces and bracelets before reaching in. Canon warns that metal touching the inside can cause burns or an electric shock.
- Toner on your hands or clothes? Use cold water only. Canon is specific about this. Warm water sets the toner and leaves a stain.
As for the power button: Canon's i-SENSYS troubleshooting says don't turn the power off while clearing a jam, because the data being printed is erased. It also says to take particular care when the machine is receiving faxes.
Repeat jams that only happen on lasers. Canon names a few causes you won't see on an inkjet:
- Scrap paper from another printer. Canon says that for printing on the back of a used sheet, use only paper this machine printed itself. Paper printed on other printers or copiers may cause a jam or a malfunction. If your office keeps a scrap tray fed by the photocopier, this rule applies to you.
- Paper that hasn't settled to the room. Canon says to use only paper that has fully adjusted to the temperature and humidity of the room the printer is in. A ream brought in from a cold car boot or an unheated store room counts.
- Curl coming out of the fuser. The MF650 series has a Paper Curl Correction setting under Menu > Adjustment/Maintenance > Adjust Image Quality > Special Processing > Special Paper Processing. Canon suggests trying Mode 1 before Mode 2, and warns that printing may be slower or fainter.
Why your Canon keeps jamming
Clearing the sheet fixes today's jam. These are the causes Canon's manuals point to when it keeps happening.
| Cause | How you'd spot it | What Canon says to do |
|---|---|---|
| A scrap left inside | The jam message comes straight back after clearing | Check under the holder, the side spaces, and any small bits again |
| Curled paper | Corners lift more than 3 mm when the sheet lies flat | Plain paper: turn the stack over and reload. Other paper: roll it gently the opposite way until flat, then feed one sheet at a time |
| Paper loaded landscape | You loaded it sideways to print a landscape document | Always load portrait, whatever the print orientation |
| Guides squeezing the stack | The paper bows slightly between the guides | Slide the guides against the stack, not hard into it |
| Edges not squared | The stack looks staggered in the tray | Align the edges before loading |
| Tray too full, or a damp or very hot room | Jams start when the tray is full and stop when it's half empty | Load half the tray's limit or less |
| Dusty feed roller | Paper isn't picked up, or picked up crooked | Run Roller cleaning (below) |
| Something in the rear tray | A rattle, or the rear tray won't take paper | Switch off, unplug, remove it |
| Output slot blocked | Printed pages pile up against the slot | Clear the output tray. On the TS5350i it holds about 50 sheets |
Fan or align? Canon's inkjet manuals ask you to align the edges and say that loading paper without aligning them may cause jams. Fanning isn't mentioned. Canon's i-SENSYS guides say to fan the stack so the sheets separate, then tap it square on a flat surface. On a laser, do both. On an inkjet, squaring the stack is the step Canon actually names.
Paper that Canon says will jam
Canon's inkjet manuals are blunter about paper than most people expect. This list is from the TS5350i manual, and other current PIXMA manuals carry a similar one.
| Paper | Canon's verdict |
|---|---|
| Standard 80gsm copier paper | Fine. Canon's plain paper range is 64 to 105 g/m² |
| Thinner than 64 g/m² | Don't use it |
| Plain paper heavier than 105 g/m² (not Canon's own) | Don't use it |
| Card | Load it one sheet at a time in the rear tray. The TS5350i's limit for A4 card is a single sheet |
| Hole-punched paper, stapled or glued sheets, label sheets, glitter paper | Don't use it. "Any type of paper with holes" is on Canon's list |
| Envelopes with a double flap, an embossed surface, or gum that's already damp | Don't use them |
| Plain paper cut down to a small size, or test prints cut to 13 x 18 cm or smaller | Can jam |
| A5, for documents with photos or graphics | Can curl and jam as it leaves the printer. Canon suggests a larger size |
| Photo paper fed as a stack | May not feed properly. Load one sheet at a time |
Hole-punched paper is the one that catches people out in the UK, because pre-punched A4 for ring binders is in every school bag. Print first and punch afterwards.
Paper storage matters too. Canon says to take out only the paper you need, put the rest back in its packet, and keep it flat, away from heat, damp and direct sunlight. A ream left open on a windowsill or in a conservatory is a curl problem waiting to happen.
Cleaning the feed roller
If paper isn't being picked up cleanly, Canon's fix is the built-in roller cleaning. On the TS5350i:
- With the printer on, press OK and select Maintenance > Roller cleaning > Yes.
- Choose Rear tray or Cassette.
- Remove the paper from that source when asked, and press OK. The roller turns with no paper in it.
- When it stops, load three sheets of A4 plain paper and press OK. The cleaning is finished when they come out.
Canon's warning is worth taking seriously: cleaning wears the roller down, so only do it when you have a feeding problem, not as routine maintenance. If it doesn't help, Canon's next step is a repair.
Is there anything I can do to stop jams before they start? Three habits cover most of Canon's list. Load portrait, with the edges squared and the guides snug. Keep paper flat and in its packet. And keep anything you'd mind losing off the printer lid.
The jam message won't clear, but there's no paper
Canon's checklist for jams with no visible cause is short:
- Is anything blocking the paper output slot?
- Is there anything in the rear tray? Switch off and unplug before removing it.
- Are the rear cover and transport unit cover fully fitted (on models that have them)?
- Is the paper curled?
If you've cleared a jam from inside and the message reappears the moment you print, Canon treats that as paper still inside, so go back through the three places in the inside-jam steps. For sensor problems and other false jam warnings, see our guide to a printer saying paper jam when there's no paper stuck.
Related Guides
When the printer shows an error:
- Canon printer showing an error and not responding: 5100, B200 and the hardware codes.
- Canon printer not printing? Find out what the printer is telling you: every E code and Alarm lamp count, not just jams.
- Printer says paper jam but there's no paper stuck
Ink, set-up and starting over:
- How to change the ink cartridge on a Canon printer
- How to set up a Canon printer: including the packing tape and protective material that cause jams on a new printer.
- How to reset a Canon printer
Other brands: