Its Not Your Copier's Fault! Top 3 Common Office MFP Issues and How to Solve Them

After multiple years in marketing, I’ve seen office technology evolve dramatically—but some things never change. Case in point: the office multifunction printer (MFP). It’s the workhorse of the modern workplace, quietly handling printing, scanning, and copying—until it decides not to. And let’s be honest, few things test our patience more than an uncooperative printer.

But before you channel your inner Office Space and take a baseball bat to the machine, let’s go over some of the most common MFP issues and how to fix them.

1. Paper Jams

The Problem: Paper jams are as inevitable as Monday morning meetings. They’re usually caused by misaligned paper, overfilled trays, or debris in the paper path.

The Fix: First, take a deep breath. Then, carefully remove the jammed paper, following the printer’s on-screen instructions, if available. Sharp MFPs have built-in LED indicators that show exactly where the jam is, making removal easier. Prevent future jams by ensuring paper is loaded correctly—flat, dry, and not crammed into the tray like a last-minute PTO request. And whatever you do, don’t take it out to the field for some “printer therapy” like Michael Bolton.

2. Lines on Copies

The Problem: Nobody wants their masterpiece to look like it was run over by a zebra. Lines on your prints or scans? Yeah, that’s not the vibe when you’re trying to wow a client.

The Fix:
If you’re using the document feeder and see some unwanted lines, flip it open and take a peek at the small strip of glass on the left side. Give it a little spa treatment with an alcohol wipe or even a crumpled piece of paper if you’re in a pinch.

Seeing black lines when placing a doc directly on the glass? Time to lift the lid and clean the full glass—yes, all of it.

White lines? We’ve got a magic trick for that. Open the front door of the machine and summon the Magic Wand (yes, it’s real). Look for the green triangle, insert the wand pad side down, and give it a few good swipes back and forth.

Still seeing stripes? It may be time to phone a friend—aka place a service call.

3. Printing or Scanning Issues

The Problem: If your MFP (that’s your copier/printer/scanner bestie) is acting up—whether it’s not printing, not scanning, or just being moody—it might be due to outdated firmware. That’s when it’s time to call your Sharp provider. But before you pick up the phone, try these steps:

The Fix: First, do a vibe check—is everyone in the office having the same issue?

• If yes, take a look at the network cable. Is it snugly plugged in? If so, give the copier a little reboot. Everyone needs a restart now and then.
• If the problem only happens with one application or file, test another. Try printing an email or a different document. If those work, the issue might be that one stubborn file or app. Try exporting that file as a different file type. You might even try printing as a PDF and saving with a slightly different file name. This method flattens and simplifies the file overall and can be a quick fix for something that is giving you trouble when attempting to print it out. 
• Scanning issues? Double check that your email system hasn’t changed recently. If it’s just one person struggling, try scanning to a different email address. If that works, the issue is likely with that one email account (sorry, Dave).

Keep Your MFP Running Smoothly

Regular maintenance, software updates, and a little troubleshooting can go a long way in keeping your office MFP running without drama. A little patience—and the right fixes—will keep things moving so you can focus on more important matters (like finally getting through your inbox).

And if all else fails, resist the urge to haul the printer out back for a slow-motion beatdown. I promise, there’s a better way!