HP E4 is an error on HP printers. E4 on HP printers indicates a paper jam has been detected. Paper is stuck inside the printer and must be removed before printing can resume.
I've probably cleared a hundred E4 codes over the years, and honestly, 80% of the time it's a ghost jam. There's nothing actually stuck, the sensor just thinks there is. Ignore it and keep hitting print and you risk grinding a feed roller into dust or burning out the carriage motor. Takes maybe 10 minutes to fix right. Don't overthink it.
HpPrinterSeverity: low75% DIY Success
Time to Fix
5–30 min
Difficulty
beginner
Parts Cost
—
Tools Needed
Flashlight, Tweezers
What Does the E4 Code Mean?
So your HP printer's throwing E4 and you're wondering if it's toast. Probably not. This code just means the printer detected something blocking the paper path, and it shut itself down to avoid breaking something worse. I've seen this on brand new DeskJets and office OfficeJets that've been running for years. Usually it's a tiny paper scrap, dirty rollers, or a sensor just covered in dust.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Paper stuck in feed rollers40%
Torn paper fragment left inside24%
Paper loaded incorrectly (curled, wrinkled)14%
Paper too thick for printer12%
Feed rollers worn or dirty10%
Symptoms You May Notice
E4 shows on the display or the ink level lights blink in a specific repeating pattern, and the printer just stops cold mid-page.
You hear the paper start to feed, then there's a kind of stuttering or grinding sound, then silence and nothing comes out.
The printer's completely unresponsive to new print jobs, totally frozen, even though the power light is on and it looks fine from the outside.
A half-printed page is sticking out of the machine and won't move forward or backward no matter what buttons you push.
You open the lid to swap ink and the carriage won't slide to the center. Moves a couple inches then stops with obvious resistance.
Can you reset a Hp printer to clear the E4 code?
Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer while it's still powered on, don't just hit the power button. Wait a full 60 seconds. While you're waiting, hold down the power button on the printer itself for 15 seconds to drain any residual charge from the capacitors. Plug back into a wall outlet directly. Let it go through the full startup cycle and carriage initialization before you send anything to print.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
FlashlightTweezersLint-free clothCan of compressed airPhillips #2 screwdriver (for rear access panel on some models)
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HP E4 a serious error?
It's more of a nuisance than a death sentence for your printer. E4 is often a ghost jam where the printer thinks there's paper inside because a sensor is dirty or a tiny scrap is hiding near the gears. It rarely means the hardware is permanently broken. Most of the time a thorough roller cleaning and a proper power cycle gets you back to printing in under 15 minutes. The only time I actually worry is if I hear loud grinding, because that usually means a gear is already stripped and you're looking at a different problem entirely.
Should I repair or replace my HP printer?
If you've got a basic DeskJet or ENVY that cost under $100, a hardware failure behind an E4 code usually means it's time for a new unit. The labor to tear those apart often costs more than the printer itself. But if you have an OfficeJet Pro or a LaserJet, these are built to be serviced and it's worth the effort. Before you give up on any of them, try the roller cleaning first. I've saved hundreds of printers just by wiping down the rollers with a damp cloth and being patient. Takes 10 minutes. Try that before you spend a dime.
Why does my HP printer keep showing E4 even after I cleared the jam?
You've probably got a ghost scrap hiding in there. This is super common. You pull out the big piece of paper and think you're done, but there's a tiny torn corner still sitting right on the sensor beam. Grab a flashlight and look carefully at the roller area and the carriage path before you do anything else. Also try the compressed air trick. If you've done all that and it's still throwing E4, the sensor arm itself might be bent or stuck in the down position. On most DeskJet models you can see it through the front opening, it's a small plastic tab that should spring back up when you press it down.
Can a firmware update cause an E4 error?
Yeah, it actually can. There've been a couple HP firmware pushes that triggered false paper jam codes, especially on the DeskJet 2700 and 4100 series. If your printer updated overnight and suddenly shows E4 in the morning with no paper anywhere near it, that might be exactly what happened. Check HP's support page for your specific model number and look for any recent firmware rollback options. HP doesn't advertise these prominently but they do exist. Try the hard reset first since that clears a lot of post-update weirdness before you go down the firmware rollback road.
What if the E4 error comes back every few print jobs?
That's a roller problem, almost guaranteed. The rollers are borderline and they're clearing the sensor sometimes but not consistently. It'll keep getting worse. Clean them first with a damp lint-free cloth. If that doesn't hold more than a day or two, you're looking at a roller replacement kit. For most HP inkjets, roller kits run $10 to $20 on Amazon and take about 20 minutes to swap out. If parts plus your time runs over $40 on a cheap DeskJet, I'd honestly start shopping for a new printer. You're fighting a losing battle with a unit that's already worn out.
This repair applies to most Hp printers with this error code. Common model numbers include:
HP DeskJet 2755e, HP DeskJet 4155e, HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e, HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e, HP ENVY 6455e, HP ENVY Inspire 7255e, HP LaserJet Pro M404n, HP DeskJet 2700e