You sent a document to print on your Canon PIXMA TR8620a, heard the rollers stop short, and now a support code is flashing on the touch screen while a sheet sits wedged somewhere out of reach. A paper jam on this multifunction inkjet is frustrating, but it is almost always fixable at home without tools, and the printer actually tells you where the paper is stuck. The key is to read the code first and pull from the correct access point instead of yanking blindly and risking a torn sheet. The fixes below move from the easiest and safest first to the deeper resets and the official support path last.
Read the support code before you pull anything
When paper jams, the TR8620a displays a support code on its touch screen, and that code tells you exactly which clearing procedure to follow. Matching the code to the right access point is the single most important step, because pulling from the wrong place is how a recoverable jam becomes a torn sheet stuck deep inside the printer.
Here is what each code means on this model:
- 1300 = paper jammed when feeding from the rear tray, or sitting in the output slot
- 1303 = paper jammed when feeding from the cassette
- 1304 = paper jammed during automatic duplex (two-sided) printing
- 1313 = paper jammed as the printer pulled in the printed paper
- 2801 = a document jammed in the ADF (Auto Document Feeder)
Note the code on the screen, then go straight to the matching section below. Each code points to a specific spot, so you remove paper from the correct place the first time.
Ease the sheet out of the output slot or rear tray (code 1300)
This is the most common jam, and it is usually the simplest to clear. The official guidance is to slowly pull out the paper, either from the paper output slot or from the rear tray, whichever is easier to reach.
- 1.Hold the paper with both hands.
- 2.Pull it out slowly so as not to tear it. Resist the urge to yank, since a fast pull is what leaves scraps behind.
- 3.Once the sheet is fully out, reload paper into the tray.
- 4.Select OK on the printer's touch screen to clear the message and resume the job.
If the sheet feels like it is about to tear or you can only grab a corner, stop and move to the inside-the-printer procedure further down rather than forcing it.
Pull the cassette and remove the jam (code 1303)
If the code is 1303, the paper jammed while feeding from the front cassette, so that is where you work. This jam often comes from overfilling the cassette or loading paper unevenly.
- 1.Pull out the cassette from the front of the printer.
- 2.Remove the jammed paper slowly with both hands.
- 3.Reload the paper correctly, making sure you do not load it past the limit line.
- 4.Reinsert the cassette fully.
- 5.Select OK on the printer's touch screen to resume printing.
Reach a torn sheet from inside the printer
If paper tore during a pull, or a sheet is stuck under the print head holder, you need to open the printer up. Power it down first so the print head can be moved safely by hand.
- 1.Turn off the printer and unplug it.
- 2.Open the scanning unit / cover.
- 3.If the paper is under the print head holder, hold the top of the print head holder and slide it slowly to the far right or left to expose the sheet.
- 4.Hold the jammed paper firmly in both hands.
- 5.Slowly pull out the paper, so as not to tear it. Pull it out at an angle of about 45 degrees.
- 6.Close the scanning unit / cover gently.
- 7.Plug in the printer again and turn it back on.
One safety note while you are inside. Do not touch the white belt (A). It is part of the carriage mechanism, and handling it can affect print alignment.
Clear a stubborn jam from the rear of the printer
If you still cannot reach the paper from the front or from inside, the sheet is likely caught in the rear paper path. This takes a few extra steps because you remove some covers, but it gets you to paper that nothing else can reach.
- 1.Make sure you have unplugged the power cord.
- 2.Rotate the printer so the rear faces you.
- 3.Open the rear tray cover and then pull up the paper support.
- 4.Detach the rear cover by pulling it out.
- 5.Slowly pull out the paper.
- 6.If the paper is still not free, detach the transport unit cover by lifting it up and pulling it out, then pull out the paper.
- 7.Attach the transport unit cover again.
- 8.Attach the rear cover again.
- 9.Plug in the printer again and turn it back on.
Free a document stuck in the Auto Document Feeder (code 2801)
Code 2801 is different from the others. It means an original document jammed in the ADF, not a print sheet in the paper path. Before anything else, do not open the document cover if the document is jammed, because that is the wrong access point and can damage the original.
If the document is jammed near the document feed slot, slowly open the document feeder cover, hold the document firmly, and pull it out slowly. If it is jammed near the document output slot, open the document feeder cover slowly, close the document tray, pull the document out, then close the document feeder cover and turn the printer on.
To stop the ADF from jamming repeatedly, keep in mind that documents may not feed properly depending on the media type or the environment, such as when temperature or humidity is too high or too low. Reduce the stack to about half of the loading capacity, and if it still jams, use the platen (the scanner glass) instead of the feeder.
When a PC keeps the printer offline or jobs are stuck
Sometimes the paper path is clear but a Windows PC still reports a problem, leaving a phantom jam or a stalled queue that blocks new prints. Clearing the software side often resolves what looks like a hardware fault.
To bring the printer back online in Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices/Printers & scanners > select the Canon printer > Open print queue, or right-click the printer and choose See What's Printing. Click the Printer menu and clear the checkmark on Use Printer Offline.
If old jobs are jammed in the queue, open the Canon printer's print queue, click Printer in the top menu, select Cancel All Documents, then click Yes. With the queue empty, send a single test page to confirm normal printing has returned.
Restart, and reset the settings if the message will not clear
If the jam message lingers even after the paper path is completely clear, start with a simple power cycle. Turn the printer off, wait a moment, and turn it back on. That alone clears many stuck sensors and error states.
If the message still persists, you can restore settings from the touch screen under Device settings > Reset settings. For a network-related problem, choose LAN settings only, which clears your network settings. You will need to redo Wi-Fi setup afterward, and remember this printer uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, so it must be on a 2.4 GHz network. For a full reset, choose Reset all, which sets all settings you made to the printer back to the default. Be aware that Reset all returns the administrator password to default and you will need to redo setup afterward, so treat it as a last resort before service.
Get Canon involved when nothing clears the jam
If you have worked through the paper path, the rear, the ADF, the software queue, and a reset, and the jam still will not clear, the printer may need service. Reach out to official Canon support to describe the support code you are seeing and request a repair, and have your purchase details ready in case your printer is still within its manufacturer warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my TR8620a keep jamming from the cassette?
Cassette jams (code 1303) often come from loading paper past the limit or stacking it unevenly. Pull out the cassette, remove any jammed paper slowly with both hands, reload within the limit, reinsert the cassette, and select OK on the touch screen.
What does support code 2801 mean on my Canon printer?
Code 2801 means a document is jammed in the Auto Document Feeder, not a print sheet in the paper path. Do not open the document cover. Instead slowly open the document feeder cover and pull the document out, and consider loading about half the stack or using the scanner glass to avoid repeats.
Is it safe to pull jammed paper out by hand?
Yes, as long as you pull slowly with both hands so the sheet does not tear. For jams inside the printer, turn it off and unplug it first, slide the print head holder aside if the paper is under it, and pull at about a 45 degree angle without touching the white belt.
Will resetting the printer fix a stuck jam message?
Start with a simple power cycle, which clears many stuck error states. If the message persists, Device settings > Reset settings lets you choose LAN settings only for network issues or Reset all to return every setting to default, though Reset all also resets the administrator password and requires you to redo setup.
The paper is cleared but Windows still says the printer is offline. What now?
Open the Canon printer's print queue, click the Printer menu, and clear the checkmark on Use Printer Offline. If jobs are still stuck, click Printer, choose Cancel All Documents, and confirm with Yes, then send one test page.
