HP Error E1 — What It Means & How to Fix It
Updated July 2026 · Independent PrinterCare USA support guide
The E1 error is one of the most frustrating messages you'll see on an HP DeskJet, and it usually strikes right when you need to print something urgent. What's happening is that your printer's sensors are detecting a mismatch between the paper size loaded in the tray and the size your computer thinks it's printing on, so the printer shuts down as a safety measure to prevent paper jams or damage to the feed mechanism.
The good news is that this error is almost always fixable in just a few minutes without any special tools or technical knowledge. We'll walk you through the real technician-grade steps that solve this problem nine times out of ten, starting with the simplest fixes and moving to more detailed solutions if needed.
How to fix it — step by step
- Power cycle the printer completely. Turn off your HP DeskJet using the power button and wait at least thirty seconds before turning it back on. This clears temporary error states that sometimes trigger false E1 alerts. If the error was caused by a brief sensor glitch, the printer will resume normal operation immediately.
- Open the paper tray and inspect for debris. Pull the paper tray all the way out from the front of the printer and look inside for torn paper pieces, dust, or foreign objects near the paper sensors and feed rollers. Even a small scrap of paper can trigger the size mismatch error. Gently wipe the tray interior with a dry, lint-free cloth if you see any buildup.
- Remove and reseat the paper correctly. Take all paper out of the tray and tap the short edge of the stack firmly on a flat surface twenty or thirty times to square up the edges. Place the paper back into the tray so it sits flat and aligned in the bottom corner, then slide both the side and rear paper guides in until they touch the paper gently without bending it.
- Verify paper size matches your print settings. Look at the paper size label on the side of your tray, which should say Letter, Legal, or another standard size. Then on your computer, open the printer settings for your HP DeskJet and confirm that your print job is set to the exact same paper size. A mismatch between the tray and the software is the most common cause of E1.
- Check the tray paper size selector dial if present. Some HP DeskJet models have a small dial or lever on the tray labeled with different paper sizes. Make sure this selector is set to match the paper you loaded. If it is set incorrectly, the printer's firmware will reject the paper even if the correct size is actually in the tray.
- Clean the paper feed rollers inside the printer. Open the printer access door or tray compartment to expose the rubber feed rollers that grab the paper. With the printer powered off, dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water and gently wipe the rollers in a circular motion. Dry, worn, or sticky rollers can fail to grip standard paper properly and trigger a size error.
- Reset the printer to factory defaults if error persists. On most HP DeskJet models, you can perform a factory reset by holding down the Resume or Power button for ten to fifteen seconds while the printer is on. Check your specific model's manual for the exact reset procedure. This clears any corrupted settings that might be causing the sensor to misread the paper.
- Contact HP support or use remote fix service for hardware issues. If you have completed all the steps above and the E1 error still appears, the paper sensor itself may be faulty or misaligned inside the printer. HP offers remote diagnostic and repair support starting at $49, which allows a technician to troubleshoot your specific model and authorize a warranty replacement if needed.
Still stuck? We'll fix it for you — remotely, today.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does my HP DeskJet keep showing E1 even after I reload the paper?
This usually means the paper size selected in your computer's print dialog does not match the actual paper in the tray, or the tray's paper guides are positioned incorrectly and the printer cannot detect the edges properly. Double-check your print settings and make sure the side guides grip the paper firmly but not so tight that they bend it. If the guides are damaged or bent, the tray itself may need replacement.
Can a paper jam cause the E1 error to appear later even after I clear it?
Yes, absolutely. If paper tore during a jam and small pieces remain lodged in the feed mechanism or near the sensors, the printer may continue reporting E1 whenever you try to print. Carefully inspect the entire paper path by opening the access doors and look for any white or gray paper fragments, then remove them with tweezers if necessary.
Does the E1 error mean I need to buy a new printer?
No, the E1 error is rarely a sign that your printer is dead. In the vast majority of cases it is caused by a simple paper loading mistake, incorrect software settings, or minor sensor dirt that takes just a few minutes to fix. Only if the error persists after you have cleaned the sensors and reset the printer should you consider professional repair or replacement.
What is the difference between E1 and other HP error codes on DeskJet?
The E1 error is specific to paper size detection, while codes like E2 or E3 usually indicate different hardware problems such as closed access doors or carriage jams. E1 will almost always go away once the paper in the tray matches the paper size in your print settings, whereas other codes require checking different parts of the printer.