How to Load Labels Into an Inkjet Printer

Last Updated: June 4, 2020

Printing labels can be complicated if you are not familiar with how your printer is set up. Taking a few preparatory steps before you begin can help you avoid hassles and frustrations with your inkjet printer. Load labels into an inkjet printer by starting with the right labels, and running a few tests to ensure proper placement and printing.

Steps

1
Start with good quality labels. Purchase labels from an office supply store or business stationary store - a mobile office supplies store or market stall may not have the range a stationary office supplies store carries. Cheap labels may be more likely to peel off during printing.
2
Check your printer settings. Confirm your settings are at "Normal" or "Plain Paper" and set with 300 or 600 DPI resolution. Be sure you have plenty of ink.

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3
Test label placement. Print your labels onto a blank sheet of white paper before loading the labels into the printer. Place the sheet you printed on top of a sheet of labels and hold them up to some light. This will tell you if the label positions are correct.
4
Make sure the label sheets are not stuck together. Fan them out if you are loading a stack of labels into the printer. Be careful not to bend the corners or peel off any labels while doing this.
5
Determine if you need to load inkjet labels facing down or facing up. This depends on how your inkjet printer is set up. To figure this out, print something on a piece of letterhead or other marked paper, and make a note of how you loaded the paper into the printer.
6
Load the labels into the paper tray. The number of label sheets you use will depend on how many labels you are preparing to print. Keep a stack of 25 pages of plain paper in the tray to better support the label sheets.
7
Fit the paper width lever around the labels so that it is barely touching the sheets. Do not fit it too tightly or the labels will buckle. If it is too loose, the labels may not print straight.
8
Print your labels. Allow the ink to dry completely on the labels before removing them, to avoid smudging.

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Community Q&A

Question

When printing label, which side is up for it to print correctly?

Gerald J. O'Brien

Community Answer

Put a large X on a sheet of paper. Insert the page with the X side up. Then print a page. You will see on which side the X printed.
Question

I am unable to remove the paper tray in my Sony PIXMA printer. Why?

Gerald J. O'Brien

Community Answer

It may not be removable. On my last HP printer, I could remove it. On my new HP printer, I could not. It's possible the manufacturer has had problems with users jamming the tray when re-inserting.

Warnings

Avoid running a sheet of labels through your inkjet printer more than 1 time. Multiple runs through a printer can make a label curl or peel off inside the printer, which can mean costly repairs and major damage.

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