How to Load Paper Into an Inkjet Printer (8 Steps)

1. Turn on your printer. Make sure it is plugged into an electrical outlet and installed properly.
2. Wait for your printer to stop. Do not load paper while it is printing or running any kind of maintenance operation.
3. Prepare your paper. Make sure your paper is right side up (glossy, whiter or label side should be facing up). Make sure all the pages are lined up together, like a deck of cards.
4. Locate your paper tray. Some printers have a manual tray and an automatic feed tray. Refer to your printer's documentation to find the automatic feed paper tray.
5. Place your paper in the tray. For 8.5 by 11 inch (standard) paper make sure the 8.5 inch side will be fed into the printer.
6. Set the paper guide. This is the moveable piece on the side of your paper tray. One side should move and the other should not. Move your paper so it touches the side that does not move, and slide the paper guide so it touches the other side. Some paper guides have markings so you can set it to the exact measurements if you know the size of your paper.
7. Set the paper thickness lever. Refer to your manual to determine which setting this lever should be at. Generally, standard paper does not need a different setting and special media like glossy photo paper or envelopes should use a thicker setting. You can usually access this lever the same way you access your ink cartridges.
8. Let your printer know what it is printing. If you are using a special media, then set the options before you print. Click 'Properties' on the print dialog before you print something. From there, change your media type to whatever kind of paper you loaded.