Diagnosis
The "Out of Paper" error on the HP LaserJet Tank MFP 2604sdw, accompanied by a blinking green tray light, indicates a failure in the paper detection sequence. This is rarely a lack of physical paper and is instead a failure of the paper presence sensor—a small, spring-loaded actuator lever located at the rear-right of the input tray. When paper is loaded, it must physically lift this lever to signal the printer's logic board that the tray is populated. If the paper stack is sagging, shifted too far to the left, or if the guides are not exerting enough lateral pressure, the lever remains in the "down" position. The printer interprets this as an empty tray, even if the tray is visually full. Additionally, if the tray is not seated perfectly flush against the chassis, the sensor may not engage correctly during the initial handshake process, causing the blinking light to persist as a warning that the paper source is unstable or missing.
How to Fix It
To resolve this sensor misalignment and clear the error, follow these precise steps:
- Remove the paper tray completely from the printer chassis.
- Empty the tray and inspect the rear-right corner for any small scraps of paper or debris that may be blocking the small plastic actuator lever from moving freely.
- Re-insert a fresh stack of 20lb bond A4 or Letter paper. Ensure the paper is not overfilled; the stack should stay below the maximum fill line indicated on the tray side-wall to avoid jamming the lift mechanism.
- Slide the right-side paper guide firmly against the edge of the stack. The paper must be pushed completely to the right to ensure it makes direct contact with the presence sensor.
- Adjust the left-side guide until it is snug. You should feel a slight amount of tension—if the guides are too loose, the paper will shift during the tray insertion, causing the sensor to trip.
- Push the tray back into the printer with a firm, steady motion. Ensure you hear or feel a definitive "click" as it seats into the rear housing.
- Press the "OK" or "Resume" button on the control panel to clear the cached error message. The green light should now transition from blinking to a steady glow.
If That Didn't Work
- Clean the Pick-up Rollers: If the sensor is engaged but the printer still reports "Out of Paper," the pick-up rollers may be glazed or dusty, causing them to slip. Dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water and wipe the gray rubber rollers located at the top of the tray bay. Rotate them manually to clean the entire circumference.
- Check for Paper Curl: If you are using high-GSM or specialty paper, the sheets may be curling upward. This creates a gap between the paper and the sensor. Fan the paper stack thoroughly to remove static and flatten the sheets before reloading.
- Hard Power Reset: Disconnect the power cord from the back of the MFP 2604sdw while the device is still powered on. Wait exactly 60 seconds. Plug the cord back in and allow the printer to complete its initialization cycle. This clears the sensor's logic state.
- Inspect the Rear Door: Open the rear access door to ensure no jammed fragments of paper are obstructing the path between the tray and the fuser. A small piece of torn paper lodged in the feed path can trick the sensor into thinking the tray is empty because the paper cannot advance.
Heads Up
- Avoid using "Ultra-Light" paper (below 60 g/m²) as it often lacks the structural rigidity to lift the presence sensor, leading to frequent false "Out of Paper" errors.
- Never force the paper guides past the locking point; the plastic tabs on the 2604sdw tray are brittle and can snap if over-extended.
- When refilling the tank, always ensure the paper is aligned perfectly square to the tray; a diagonal stack will cause the sensor to miss the paper on one side.
- Periodically blow compressed air into the tray bay to remove paper dust, which can accumulate around the sensor lever and prevent it from returning to its home position.