HP Error 0x610000f6: Carriage jam
Also shows as: "Carriage jam" (E3 on printers with a small display)
🧭 Fixable with care
HP support identifies this as a carriage jam: the carriage holding the cartridges cannot move freely. HP notes it can also appear when a cartridge is not installed correctly, not only when paper is stuck.
What to try
- Press the power button to turn the printer off, wait about a minute, then turn it back on — HP lists this first.
- Open the cartridge access door and check the cartridges are correctly and fully installed.
- Check for jammed paper — HP advises removing jammed paper from the rear access panel rather than pulling it from the front, which can damage the print mechanism.
- Check for torn scraps left in the rollers, as these cause repeat jams.
- Make sure the printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet rather than a power strip.
When it needs a technician
If the carriage still will not move with nothing obstructing it, or the error persists after clearing everything, it is likely a hardware fault needing service.
First steps for any printer error
- Write down the exact code before you do anything else — similar-looking codes often mean completely different things.
- Power the printer off, unplug it for a couple of minutes, then power it back on. A surprising number of transient errors clear here.
- Open the covers and check for paper scraps, packaging material, or anything blocking the carriage.
- Check the cartridges or tanks are genuine, correctly seated, and not empty.
- Confirm the printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip or extension lead.
- Check your model’s own manual — codes are model-specific, and the manual is the authority for your machine.
Source: HP customer support. Codes are model-specific, so your own model's manual is the final word. Reviewed October 2026.
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Related HP codes
E0 — Ink cartridge problemE1 — Paper size mismatchE2 — Paper length mismatchE3 — Carriage jamE4 — Paper jamE5 — Scanner errorE6 — Printer error stateE7 — Ink tank out of inkE8 — Fatal printer errorE9 — Firmware update interruptedP — Ready to prime ink system (blinking P)0xc19a0005 — Hex error code with no description