HP DeskJet 2755e Paper Jam But No Paper? [Fixed]

Why Does the HP DeskJet 2755e Say Paper Jam When There's No Paper?

The HP DeskJet 2755e uses a small plastic sensor flag inside the paper path to detect paper presence. When a piece of paper passes through, it deflects the flag, which the printer's optical sensor reads as "paper present." If this flag gets bent, stuck, or blocked by a tiny scrap of paper that's invisible to the naked eye, the printer permanently believes a jam is in progress.

Even when you can clearly see the paper path is empty.

Step 1: Check All Three Access Points Thoroughly

The 2755e has three paper path access zones, and a jam scrap can be hiding in any of them:

1. Front Input Tray: Remove all paper. Use a flashlight to look deep into the input slot. Even a single torn corner of paper can trigger the sensor.
2. Rear Clean-Out Access Door: On the back of the printer, there is a small rectangular door. Press the two tabs on the sides simultaneously and pull it off. Look inside with a flashlight for paper scraps, then reattach the door firmly until it clicks.
3. Output Tray / Exit Area: Look at the front exit slot where finished pages come out. Paper can fold and wedge itself just past the rollers, invisible from the outside.

Step 2: Clear Microconfetti (The Invisible Jam)

"Microconfetti" refers to tiny torn paper corners and shreds that accumulate inside the paper path after many jam clearances. These small pieces can block the sensor's light beam without being visible to the naked eye.

1. Take a can of compressed air and blast short bursts into all three access points described above.
2. Tilt the printer slightly sideways while blowing air — gravity will help dislodge loose fragments.
3. Use a flashlight and tweezers to remove any visible torn pieces from inside the input tray slot.
4. After clearing, blow compressed air in again from the rear clean-out door to push any remaining fragments toward the front exit.

Step 3: Clean the Paper Feed Rollers

Worn or contaminated rubber feed rollers cause repeated jams because they lose grip on the paper and allow it to skew, bunch. And fold inside the printer. Cleaning can restore grip and reduce phantom jam errors caused by paper misfeeds.

1. Dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water (not rubbing alcohol — it dries out rubber).
2. Open the rear clean-out door.
3. Press the power button to advance the rollers by one step at a time (the rollers move when you send a print command and then cancel it).
4. Wipe each section of the roller as it rotates into view. Repeat until the full circumference of each roller has been cleaned.
5. Allow 10 minutes for the rollers to dry before loading paper.

Step 4: Check the Paper Sensor Flag

The sensor flag is a small piece of white or light-gray plastic inside the input tray area. When paper enters the printer, it pushes this flag down. When the paper exits, the flag springs back up.

• Open the input tray cover and look inside with a flashlight. The flag is usually visible near the left or center of the tray's back edge.
• If the flag is stuck in the deflected (down) position, the printer thinks paper is permanently present. Gently use a toothpick to lift the flag back to its neutral (upright) position.
• If the flag is bent or broken off, it must be replaced — contact HP Support for repair options.

Step 5: Reset the Printer After Clearing

After physically clearing the jam, the printer's error state may need to be manually cleared:

1. With the printer powered on, press and hold the Power button and the Cancel button simultaneously for 3 seconds.
2. Release both buttons. The printer will restart.
3. Alternatively: unplug the power cord from the printer (not from the wall), wait 60 seconds, then plug it back in. This forces a full hardware reset.

Advanced: DeskJet 2755e Firmware Update Fix

Early firmware (internal software) versions of the DeskJet 2755e contained a bug where the paper sensor would occasionally latch into a permanent "jam detected" state even after the jam was cleared. HP released a firmware (internal software) update to fix this specific issue.

• Connect the printer to Wi-Fi (or via USB to a PC).
• In the HP Smart app: tap your printer > Printer Details > Update Printer.
• Install any available firmware (internal software) updates. The printer will restart automatically after updating.

Frequently Asked Questions

When to Contact HP Support

If the jam error persists after completing all steps above, the sensor mechanism itself may be damaged or misaligned. A hardware issue requiring repair. Contact HP Support at support.hp.com. The 2755e is covered under a 1-year limited warranty (or 2 years with HP+).