HP Error E4: Paper jam
✅ Usually fixable yourself
E4 means there is a paper jam inside the printer.
What to try
- Look for paper that has jammed inside the printer.
- Carefully clear the jam.
- Restart the printer after all jammed paper has been removed.
When it needs a technician
If E4 keeps returning with no paper left inside, contact HP Customer Support.
Which models show E4
HP documents this code for models including HP Smart Tank 210, HP Smart Tank 520, HP Smart Tank 580, HP Smart Tank 5000, HP Smart Tank 500, HP DeskJet 2700, HP DeskJet 2800, HP ENVY 6000.
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 - HP Smart Tank Printers, Blinking lights and error codes. Codes are model-specific, so your own model's manual is the final word. Reviewed October 2026.
Still showing E4?
Tell our printer technician your model and what you've tried. You'll find out whether it's fixable at home or worth repairing at all.
Ask about my printer — $1Eric Paul Amora · Printer & Hardware Repair Technician
Related HP codes
E0 — Ink cartridge problemE1 — Paper size mismatchE2 — Paper length mismatchE3 — Carriage jamE5 — Scanner errorE6 — Printer error stateE7 — Ink tank out of inkE8 — Fatal printer errorE9 — Firmware update interruptedPrintheads missing — Printheads missing on Smart Tank0x610000f6 — Carriage jamP — Ready to prime ink system (blinking P)