HP Printer Cartridge Stuck Right Side

There’s no better sound than the whirl of a printer as the ink cartridges run back and forth across the page, printing the document you just worked so hard to complete. And yet, anyone who owns an HP printer has likely (at one point or another) heard the screeching rumble of ink cartridges stuck firmly on the right side of the printer.

Have no fear! There are easy and efficient ways to get those ink cartridges moving again.

This article will outline the causes of a jammed HP printer cartridge and discuss the techniques you can utilize to get your printer back into working order.

What is a Printer Ink Carriage?

The printer ink carriage is the plastic cart in which your ink cartridges sit. The carriage moves the ink cartridges back and forth along a track to deposit ink onto the paper. When your ink cartridges are stuck on the right side of your printer, it is because the carriage is locked in place. HP printers force the carriage to the right side of the printer when an error needs to be addressed.

How to Diagnose a Stuck Printer Ink Cartridge

When a printer cartridge gets stuck, it is not actually the printer cartridge that is the culprit, but rather the printer ink carriage. When a printer ink cartridge and carriage are stuck on the right side of the printer, some of the symptoms you may notice include:

• A “Printer Cartridge Carriage is Stalled” error message
• Grinding noises coming from your printer when it tries to print
• “Check Paper” and “Check Cartridge” lights flashing on the printer

Reasons for a Stuck Printer Ink Cartridge

There are several reasons why your HP printer cartridge may get stuck on the right side of your printer:

• Paper Jam: When multiple pages are pushed or pulled into the printer’s rollers, this can result in a paper jam. A paper jam will block the carriage’s path, thereby preventing the printer cartridge from moving. If the printer senses a paper jam, it will lock the carriage to the right side of the printer to prevent it from getting damaged by the jam.
• Printer Error: If something has caused the printer to enter an error state, it will prevent you from printing. When an HP printer has an error and cannot print, it moves the ink carriage to the right side of the printer and holds it there.
• Improperly Installed Ink Cartridges: If the ink cartridges are not correctly installed, they will not sit in the carriage properly. If the computer senses the ink cartridges are not appropriately situated, it will lock the carriage on the right side of the printer. This will help ensure that movement does not damage the carriage and ink cartridges.
• Warped Paper Tray or Cartridge Carriage Track: If the paper tray or carriage tracks are bent or damaged, the ink cartridge carriage will not be able to move back and forth. If its movement is hindered, the printer will lock the carriage to the right side to prevent further damage.

How to Fix a Stuck Printer Ink Cartridge

Check for a Paper Jam

When paper gets jammed in the ink carriage track or rollers as it moves through the printer, it prevents the cartridge carriage from moving along the track. Clearing the paper jam will allow your printer ink cartridges to move freely.

1. Turn off your printer and unplug the power cord.
2. Open the HP Printer ink cartridge access door.
3. Look for paper jams in the paper tray and carriage tracks. Carefully remove any sheets of paper. Once the paper is removed, examine the paper to ensure that no scraps have been left in the printer to cause additional jams.
4. Reach into the printer and slide the ink carriage to the opposite side of the track. For example, if it is stuck on the right side, manually move it to the left to check if the track has been cleared.
5. Close the ink cartridge access door, plug in the power cord, and turn on the printer.
6. Print a printer test page to see if the problem has been resolved. If the problem persists, try the additional solutions below.

Reset the Printer

HP Printers are built with their own problem-solving capabilities. If your printer is experiencing an error, a reset, known as “power cycling,” can help to resolve the error.

1. To reset your printer, turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source. Wait thirty seconds, then plug your printer back in and turn it back on.
2. Remove the paper from the printer tray and properly refill the tray with flat paper that will feed smoothly.
3. Once your printer is back online, confirm that it is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your computer.
4. Print a printer test page to see if the problem has been resolved. If the problem persists, try the additional solutions below.

Confirm that the Paper Tray and Ink Carriage are not Warped or Cracked

As discussed above, the ink cartridges are carried over the paper by a carriage that moves along a track. If the paper track or carriage track becomes warped or broken, the cartridge can no longer successfully move back and forth, and the printer will hold it to one side. If the paper tray or ink tracks are warped or broken, they will likely need to be replaced.

1. Turn off the printer and unplug the power cord.
2. Remove any paper from the paper tray and remove the tray from the printer. Check if the tray is warped by placing it on a flat surface and checking if all four corners touch the surface. You can also check for warping by placing a flat object, such as a ruler, against the edge of the tray and looking for gaps between the two.
3. Examine the ink carriage track. Check to see if the track is warped or cracked. Manually move the ink carriage along the track to determine if it can move smoothly.
4. If the printer tray and ink carriage track appear undamaged, plug in the printer and turn it back on. Then, print a printer test page to see if the problem has been resolved. If the problem persists, try the additional solutions below.

Clean Your Ink Cartridges

If the printer is used infrequently, the ink cartridges can become clogged. When printer ink cartridges become clogged, the HP printer will lock the cartridges on the right side of the carriage until they are fixed. Cleaning your ink cartridges can help to get your ink carriage moving again.

1. Turn off your printer and unplug the power cord.
2. Remove the ink cartridges from the printer. Place them on a clean paper or cloth to keep ink off surfaces.
3. Dampen a clean, lint-free cloth in warm water, and use it to gently clean the ink cartridge nozzles.
4. Give the ink cartridges at least 15 minutes to dry before putting them back into the printer.
5. Replace ink cartridges, plug in the power cord, and turn on the printer. Print a printer test page to see if the problem has been resolved. If the problem persists, try the additional solutions below.

Cleaning ink cartridges can be messy. If you get ink on your skin or clothes, check out our handy cleaning tips.

Replace Your Ink Cartridges

If your ink cartridges are running low on ink, it can cause your HP printer to lock the cartridges in the right position of the printer until they are replaced. If you have been receiving low ink notifications or noticed your ink running low, replace your ink cartridges with new ones. Once your ink cartridges have been replaced, print a printer test page to check if the problem has been resolved.

Contact a Professional

If you are still not able to get your ink cartridges unstuck, it may be time for professional help. HP Printer Support is available 24/7 to assist with additional troubleshooting.

For more helpful printing techniques and tips, visit https://printertesting.com.