Canon Error 1303 — What It Means & How to Fix It
Updated July 2026 · Independent PrinterCare USA support guide
Canon Error 1303 stops your workflow fast because it signals that paper or foreign material is blocking the path between your input tray and imaging unit. This error is frustrating but almost always fixable with careful manual intervention and a methodical inspection of your printer's internal pathways.
Most cases resolve within fifteen minutes once you understand exactly where the transport unit sits and how to safely access it without damaging sensors or rollers. We'll walk you through each location where jams hide, plus when to call in professional help.
How to fix it — step by step
- Power Down and Unplug the Printer. Turn off your Canon printer using the power button on the front panel. Wait thirty seconds, then unplug the power cable from the wall outlet. This prevents accidental paper feed, protects the motor from damage during inspection, and ensures your safety while reaching into internal components.
- Open the Front Access Panel and Toner Cover. Locate the front panel cover—usually a plastic door below the output tray. Open it by gently pressing the release tabs on both sides or pulling the latch downward. Next, remove the toner cartridge assembly by lifting its handle and sliding it straight out toward you to expose the paper path underneath.
- Inspect the Transport Roller Area. Look directly beneath where the toner cartridge sits for the transport roller, a black cylindrical component that moves paper forward. Rotate it gently by hand in the forward direction to see if paper or debris is wrapped around it. Never use tools to scrape the roller surface, as this damages the rubber coating—use only your fingers or a soft brush to remove visible obstructions.
- Check the Paper Input Path and Pickup Roller. Locate the pickup roller inside the input tray area, which is the small rubber-coated wheel that grabs paper from the stack. Inspect the curved paper path above it for torn pieces or crumpled paper fragments. Gently clean the pickup roller with a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water, rotating it slowly by hand to remove any dust or paper residue.
- Examine the Rear Exit Path and Fuser Area. Open the rear access panel or top cover of your printer to view the output path. This area, near the fuser unit (which is hot), should only be inspected after the machine has cooled for at least ten minutes. Shine a flashlight into the curved paper exit channel and carefully remove any visible jammed scraps using tweezers, being very careful not to touch the fuser itself or any rollers.
- Clean Internal Sensors and Recheck Paths. Use a dry, lint-free cloth or soft brush to gently wipe the edges of all paper path sensors, which are small optical components that detect jams. Do not use liquid cleaners on sensors. After cleaning, manually rotate all visible rollers and wheels in their normal feed direction to ensure nothing catches and no paper fragments remain anywhere in the transport path.
- Reassemble and Power Test. Reinsert the toner cartridge by aligning it with the guides and pushing until it clicks firmly into place. Close all access panels and covers, then plug the printer back into the wall outlet. Power on the machine and listen for any unusual sounds; the transport motor should operate smoothly for a few seconds during its self-test cycle.
- Run a Test Print and Monitor for Recurrence. Load a single sheet of plain white paper into the input tray and print a test page using your computer. If the error does not return and the page prints cleanly, your jam is cleared. If Error 1303 appears again immediately, the transport motor itself may have failed and will require a service call or board-level repair costing between one hundred fifty and four hundred dollars depending on your model.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know if the error is a real jam or a sensor malfunction?
After clearing all visible paper and debris as described in the steps above, power the printer on and run a test print. If the error returns without any paper actually feeding, the jam sensor itself has likely failed and needs replacement. Contact a Canon-authorized service center or use remote diagnostics for forty-nine dollars to confirm which sensor is faulty before ordering parts.
Can Error 1303 be caused by using the wrong paper type or size?
Yes, absolutely. Very thick cardstock, envelope stock, or paper that is damp or curled can jam the transport unit more easily than standard twenty-pound bond. Always use the paper weight and size recommended in your printer manual. If you recently switched paper types before the error started, return to your original paper type and retest to rule this out.
Is it safe to disassemble the fuser unit myself to look for jams?
No, the fuser unit becomes extremely hot during operation and retains heat for thirty minutes or more after shutdown. Even cool-to-touch exterior surfaces can burn skin, and internal components are easily damaged. Stick to the transport path and roller areas accessible from the front and rear panels, and leave fuser-area jams to professional technicians.
What should I do if Error 1303 keeps returning even after I clear visible jams?
This suggests either a failing transport motor, a stuck jam sensor, or small paper fragments still lodged deep in the path. Use a flashlight and mirror to inspect harder-to-see areas, or contact a Canon service center for a diagnostic evaluation. Many shops offer remote troubleshooting packages starting at forty-nine dollars to identify the root cause before you pay for a full repair visit.