Lexmark / MS / MX series

250.18 - The printer thinks the MPF tray is not loaded or aligned correctly.

The printer thinks the MPF tray is not loaded or aligned correctly.

This guide is scoped to the MS / MX series family. Exact menu wording, cartridge naming, and service behavior can still vary by model variant and firmware.

Severity

Low

Most likely cause

The MPF side guides are not pressed up against the paper correctly.

Can you keep using it?

Often yes

Consumables involved

Paper, MPF tray

Can you keep using it?

Can you keep using it?

Contact customer support if any of these apply

  • !250.18 returns after the guides have been adjusted correctly.
  • !The tray hardware looks damaged or will not hold paper in place.
If the printer still starts normally: This is often recoverable with the basic checks below, as long as the printer returns to ready without a deeper service warning.

What to check first

Step-by-step checks

  1. 1

    Consumable check

    Adjust the MPF side guides so they sit snugly against the paper stack.

    Start with the official recovery step before moving on to parts or deeper servicing.

  2. 2

    Consumable check

    Move the rear guide up to the paper so the stack stays aligned.

  3. 3

    Consumable check

    Clear the message and retry once the paper sits squarely in the MPF tray.

Background

What this message usually means

Lexmark uses 250.18 for a paper-jam or MPF paper-load error even when paper is present. The official guidance says the side guides and rear guide usually need to be adjusted so the paper sits correctly in the MPF tray.

Diagnosis

Likely causes

Most common

The MPF side guides are not pressed up against the paper correctly.

Common

The rear guide is not aligned with the paper stack.

Possible

The printer sees paper in the tray but not in the correct loaded position.

Service

When service or replacement is more likely

  • -Lexmark’s own fix for this code focuses on guide alignment, not a deep hardware repair.
  • -If the printer also reports a separate jam code, clear that path first.

See also

Related codes in this family

Explore more

More Lexmark printer families

Keep browsing

Where to go next

Source notes

Lexmark’s official MS/MX guide says 250.18 appears when the printer posts a paper jam or MPF paper-load error and recommends adjusting the MPF side and rear guides.

Built around official Lexmark office-printer guidance. Code meanings are family-level and can still vary by exact model, installed finisher options, and firmware generation.

Printer error codes can vary a little by firmware, region, and exact model variant. Use this guide as a family-level starting point and stop if the next step would require disassembly or service-mode changes.

Known family variants: MS310, MS410, MS510, MS610, MX310, MX410, MX510, MX610

Last reviewed: 2026-04-12

Reference: Open reference

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