Paper Shredder Jammed or Making Noise? How to Fix a Shredder That Won't Feed in 3 Steps

Whether you’re using a paper shredder to get rid of documents with private information or you want to make the recycling process easier, it can be frustrating when it stops working. Is your paper shredder jammed, making a loud grinding noise, or refusing to feed? Follow our expert troubleshooting guide to clear stubborn jams, reset sensors, and fix motor issues fast.

Quick Fix: Paper Shredder Jammed or Making Noise?

Table of Contents

If your shredder is jammed or is making an loud noises without working, try these steps immediately to clear the most common issues:

Oil & Tug: If you can see the paper, apply 3–4 drops of shredder oil directly onto the jam. Let it sit for 5 minutes to soften the fibers, then gently pull the paper upward while the shredder is in REVERSE.
Power Toggle Reset: Switch the unit to OFF. Unplug it for 30 seconds to reset the thermal switch, then plug it back in and toggle between REVERSE and AUTO several times. This “rocking” motion often dislodges small jams.
Clear the Sensor: Use a can of compressed air or a cotton swab to clean the small infrared sensor in the center of the feed slot. Dust buildup here can trick the motor into making noise while refusing to start.

Still not working? If you hear a loud grinding noise, your internal gears may be stripped. If it’s completely silent, the motor may have overheated. Read on for our step-by-step diagnostic guide.

Shredder Is Jammed

If you aren’t able to feed paper into the paper shredder, it’s usually because the shredder is jammed. Your shredder may get jammed due to a lack of maintenance, if it has exceeded the maximum load, or for no reason at all. Some shredders will have a light that indicates that it is jammed.

Sometimes a jammed shredder will only take in paper from one side, make strange noises, or get stuck while you’re busy shredding a piece of paper.

paper stuck in a paper shredder. paper shredder jammed

How To Fix?

Fixing a jammed paper shredder is pretty straightforward. Here’s how to do it:

Switch off the paper shredder as soon as you notice that it’s jammed and wait for the blades to stop moving. Unplug it from the wall to prevent it from accidentally turning on again.
Using a pair of tweezers, gently remove the pieces of paper stuck in the blades.
If you can’t remove the paper, you’ll have to open the shredder’s casing. However, always read the manual before doing so. Also, avoid removing the paper with your bare hands or using anything that may get stuck inside the shredder.
If your shredder has a reverse function, you can use it to fix a paper jam. Once you’re sure that there’s no paper stuck in the machine, double-check it before you start shredding again. If the paper shredder’s collection bin is full, empty it before you shred to prevent it from getting jammed again.

Related Read: Complete Shredder Troubleshooting Guide

Shredder is Overheating

Overheating, especially in smaller shredders, may also cause your shredder to make strange sounds or even shut off. Most shredders will only overheat if you overburden them. If your shredder is overheating regularly, it could be a sign that you need a larger shredder.

Some shredders will have an auto-stop function when they overheat, while others will shred more slowly. If you hear strange sounds coming from your shredder, switch it off immediately. In most cases, allowing the shredder to cool down will resolve the overheating problem. If you leave the paper shredder on for too long when it overheats, it may damage the motor or other components.

High Friction from Dry Blades: When blades aren’t oiled, they create excessive heat as they rub together. Regular lubrication reduces the workload on the motor.
Overloading Sheet Capacity: Feeding the maximum number of sheets (or more) forces the motor to draw more power, which generates heat much faster than shredding smaller stacks.
Paper Dust & Debris Buildup: Dust can clog internal ventilation and coat the motor, acting as insulation that traps heat inside the machine.
Full Waste Bins: If the bin is packed tight, paper can “back up” into the cutting head, causing the blades to struggle and the motor to strain.

shredder overheating because of too much use

How To Fix?

If your paper shredder overheats regularly, the only solution is to let it cool down. Most shredders will cool down after 30 minutes. If your shredder shuts down automatically due to overheating, don’t try to use it again until you’re sure it has cooled down. Storing and using your shredder in a cool and well-ventilated area can also help prevent the motor from overheating.

Problem With the Shredder’s Sensors

Most shredders have multiple sensors to ensure they don’t shred anything that will damage the blade. Some of the more modern shredders will have sensors for safety. These sensors can cause the shredder to malfunction if there’s dust or dirt blocking them. In most cases, cleaning the sensors will resolve this issue. However, if the sensors are damaged, they may need to be replaced.

How To Fix?

The best way to fix sensor problems is to clean the sensors thoroughly. To do so, follow these steps:

Turn the shredder off, and unplug it from the wall.
Open the casing and use a vacuum cleaner (with a pipe attachment) or duster to remove the dirt and dust. Avoid using water as it will damage the shredder’s motor and cause short circuits.
After cleaning the shredder, lubricate the blades thoroughly with mechanical oil or a substitute. This will reduce the strange sounds that your shredder may make. Also, take care not to use a cloth or duster directly on the blades.

Using Reverse to Clear a Shredder Jam

Inspect the top of your paper shredder around the feeder. You should see a button that reads “reverse,” or in some cases, you would see a backward-facing arrow or the letter “R.” This function allows the shredder to rotate in the opposite direction, which ultimately frees the blades of any stuck paper. If the stuck material doesn’t come out of the shredder while running it in reverse, switch back to forward or regular rotation of the blades.

using reverse to clear a jam on a paper shredder

However, you should be aware that there’s a slight chance running the shredder in reverse will worsen the problem. This happens when shreds of interlocking paper are stuck in the blades. In this case, if the backward and forward rotation of the blades isn’t clearing the jam, move on to the next step.

Shredder Needs Maintenance

If you use your shredder regularly, such as in an office environment, you’ll need to service it often. If the shredder makes strange noises and won’t feed paper, it’s usually a sign that the shredder needs maintenance.

Other signs that your shredder needs maintenance include:

It only shreds the paper partially
It makes a high-pitched grinding sound when you start it
It operates slower than usual
It stops abruptly for no reason

Smaller shredders need to be serviced more often, especially if you use them a lot. If you have an office or industrial shredder, you don’t need to do full maintenance as often, but the maintenance process is more thorough. However, most shredders only need to be serviced a few times yearly.

How To Fix?

Every shredder is different, and you’ll need to consult the user manual to see how to conduct maintenance. However, you should check a few common things when servicing it. Follow these steps to service your paper shredder:

Check the servicing process in the user manual.
Use the reverse function to loosen up pieces of paper stuck in the shredder’s blades. If your shredder doesn’t have a reverse function, you can use a tweezer to remove any visible pieces of paper.
Switch off the shredder, unplug it from the socket, and empty the paper bin.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove pieces of paper around the shredder’s blades. Also, clean the area where you insert the paper into the shredder.
Use a microfiber cloth to thoroughly clean the shredder and take care when cleaning near the blades.
Use shredder oil or mechanical oil to lubricate the shredder’s blades.

picture of oil lubricant being applied to the blades of a paper shredder that is not working properly. paper jam

Always test the shredder after full maintenance as there may be something stuck in the blades. If the shredder still makes strange sounds after you’ve serviced it completely, there could be something wrong with the internal components. In this case, your only option is to have it repaired or buy a new shredder.

Additional Tip to Removing a Jam in a Paper Shredder

Use the Owner’s Manual Paper Shredder

Determine the make and model of your paper shredder. The best source of information on your paper shredder is likely the user’s manual. If you can’t find the manual, you can also skim through this article to know the type of shredder you own.

Grab a Screwdriver, Pliers, or Tweezers

Screwdriver: This is to unscrew your shredding section to access the blades.
Pliers or Tweezers: This is for clearing the blades of stuck paper.

Depending on the type of paper shredder, you can use the tools mentioned above to fix your jammed paper shredder problem. I should note at this point that you need to ensure the machine is unplugged from here on out. Otherwise, you won’t be able to work with it safely.

Remove the Shredding Section

removal of the shredding section of a paper shredder that is not working

The shredding section is the part of the machine that holds the rotating blades. Do not, under any circumstances, put your fingers in or anywhere near the blades. After ensuring that the paper shredder is unplugged, remove the shredding section.

Some models will provide access to the blades from the bottom of the shredding section. However, with other models, you’ll have to use a screwdriver. Remove the screws from the top or bottom (depending on the model) and find a way to the blades.

Keep your fingers clear of the blades at all times, and ensure none of your body parts come into contact with the sharp blades. Wear gloves if you have to. Detach the shredding section and place it on a table or desk before you start working on it.

Don’t start clearing the jammed blades by putting the shredding section in your lap. There’s a risk of dropping this vital part of the machine and damaging it when you make any sudden movements.

Inspect the Blades

Inspect the blades and try to determine the seriousness of the jam. If the problem arose because your paper shredder would not feed paper at all, that can indicate a blockage in all or most of the shredder blades. However, if your shredder was initially taking in the paper but would only feed on the left or right side, that would mean fixing it would be easier.

Clear the Blades of Jammed Paper

This is where you make use of the pliers or tweezers. Once you’ve removed the shredding section and inspected the blade, you should have a pretty good idea of the type of effort and time required for the cleaning task.

To clear the blades of jammed paper:

Place the shredding section on a table or any flat surface.
Grab the pliers and start pulling the shred of paper stuck in the blades. This will take some time since you have to clean all the blades individually.
Make sure you remove all the paper bits stuck in your shredder. That means cleaning the top and bottom of the blades. This isn’t a difficult task to accomplish, but it does require a certain level of patience. Ensure you do not unnecessarily damage the blades by poking them with your pliers or tweezers.

Lubricate the blades

As you use your shredder over time, the dust from the shredded paper gets into the blades and gear mechanism. Therefore, you must oil your paper shredder right after clearing it of any paper jams. As a rule of thumb, you should oil your shredder every time you empty the wastebasket.

This is a simple task if you do it right and a messy one if you don’t pay attention to what you’re doing.

The following are two different ways to lubricate your paper shredder:

Oiled sheets: These sheets are sealed with oil inside, and they help deliver the right amount of oil to your machine. You can find a pack of Amazon Basics Paper Shredder Sheets (available on Amazon.com) that lubricate and sharpen the blades on your shredder.
Shredder oil: You can buy a great variety of shredder oils from several places. I recommend Fellowes Powershred Shredder Performance Oil. It comes in a bottle with an extension nozzle, making the oiling process more manageable and less messy. It’s also pretty simple to use, which is always a plus

Typically, you’d take a few sheets of paper and soak them with shredder oil. You’d then feed the oiled sheets into the shredder using the reverse option multiple times. This way, the oil will be distributed evenly through the blades.

You can also pour oil directly onto the blades while simultaneously rotating them, but this can waste the oil and make an incredible mess at the same time.

Ensure you never use WD-40 for this purpose or any aerosol-based lubricants. I know it may seem the most logical choice in this case, but WD-40 is flammable, and it could cause your machine to catch on fire and cause unnecessary property damage.

If you’d like to save more money and still be able to oil your shredder, all you need is canola or any cooking oil. After all, the primary ingredient of a shredder lubricant is similar to cooking oil, so why not save a few bucks?

Summary

If you use a paper shredder regularly to dispose of important documents, it can be irritating if your shredder won’t feed paper or makes strange noises.

Fortunately, it’s usually caused by minor issues such as a paper jam, a dirt build-up around the sensors, or a lack of maintenance. However, there could also be something wrong with the shredder’s internal components.

If your sensor is experiencing these problems, try these fixes: