Lexmark / MX431 / MS431 office laser family

Paper jam in the automatic document feeder - The original document jammed in the ADF path.

The original document jammed in the ADF path.

This guide is scoped to the MX431 / MS431 office laser family family. Exact menu wording, cartridge naming, and service behavior can still vary by model variant and firmware.

Severity

Medium

Most likely cause

The original stack was skewed or too thick for a clean ADF feed.

Can you keep using it?

Maybe after the first checks

Consumables involved

Original documents, ADF path

Can you keep using it?

Can you keep using it?

Contact customer support if any of these apply

  • !ADF jams return repeatedly with clean originals.
  • !The feeder pulls documents crookedly or stops in the same position every time.
If the printer still starts normally: Finish the first checks once, then stop if the same message repeats or the printer still cannot return to ready.

What to check first

Step-by-step checks

  1. 1

    Safe first step

    Clear the ADF path fully and remove any scraps.

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

  2. 2

    Safe first step

    Reload a smaller stack of clean, flat originals.

  3. 3

    Safe first step

    Use the scanner glass for delicate or damaged originals.

Background

What this message usually means

Lexmark's MX431 MFP guidance treats ADF jams as a separate scanner-path issue rather than a print-engine jam. In practice it means the original document stalled during copy or scan handling and the ADF path needs to be cleared before scanning can continue normally.

Diagnosis

Likely causes

Most common

The original stack was skewed or too thick for a clean ADF feed.

Common

A small scrap remains in the ADF path.

Possible

Damaged, stapled, or curled originals caused the feeder to stop.

Service

When service or replacement is more likely

  • -This affects copy and scan workflows, not regular print output.

See also

Related codes in this family

Explore more

More Lexmark printer families

Source notes

Lexmark's official MX431 support videos include a dedicated ADF jam-clear procedure for removing original documents stuck in the feeder path.

Built around official Lexmark user-guide and service-manual material for the MX431 and closely related mono office models. Exact code behavior can vary a little by print-only versus MFP model and installed options, but the main paper-jam and supply messages stay close across the family.

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: MX431adn, MX431adw, MS431dn, MS431dw, XM1342

Last reviewed: 2026-04-12

Reference: Open reference

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