Paper jams are pretty much every printer-user’s worst nightmare. But they’re also largely inevitable. We’ve put together this guide to help you through the trials and tribulations of printer jams, along with some best practice tips to help you avoid them in the first place.

1. Never overfill your printer’s paper tray.

2. Make sure your slider is properly positioned to accommodate the size and type of paper you’re using.

3. Folded, labeled, and specialty paper is more likely to cause jams because of irregular dimensions. Consult your printer’s user guide to check it accepts the type of paper you’re using.

4. Don’t mix paper sizes for multiple page documents.

5. Always make sure your paper is sitting properly within the paper slot or tray.