Instructions for Fixing a Jammed Dymo

Do these things first (sometimes, it’s all it takes):

  1.  Check the cable connections and make sure the blue LED is on.
  2.  If it’s not clearly jammed or you’re uncertain it’s jammed, press the blue button once to advance one label.

If still nothing do the following:

  1.  Open the lid.  You’ll see a black lever on the left. Pull this towards you to remove the strip of labels.  If it comes out nicely, your Dymo may not be jammed.
  2.  Use scissors to make a clean cut between the labels.  When inserting the label strip, the labels must face down, with the punched holes on the left. If you place the label strip with the labels facing up, they will peel off and wrap around the print drum for certain as you try to print.
  3.  Place the strip back in to engage the drum.  Align it on the left by gently pushing the grey aligner tab against the strip.
  4.  Press the blue button to advance one label.  If it shows with no problem, your Dymo is not jammed but may be offline.  In the Windows search bar (bottom left of your Desktop), enter Printers to select Printers & scanners.  If your Dymo shows as offline, check all connections to your Dymo – that’s probably the problem.
  5.   Lastly, within SteriReader, to go Settings | Printers | Select Label Printer and select your Dymo printer, then click Select to save.

If it’s actually jammed, you have to do a little disassembly:

  1.  Remove the roll of labels.  Then, proceed to remove the front black section. Open the lid to see two small click tabs that must be disengaged to remove the front section. Pull up on the back edge and the front part will come off. You’ll see the drum with the jammed labels.
  2.  Use small scissors or a small utility knife (or a scalpel blade) and try to cut away whatever you can.
  3.  Pull up and forwards on the grey aligner tab to gain access to the back side of the drum.  Do not try to get under the black plastic part holding the label strip down.  Just work on the drum.
  4.  Pulling forward on the black lever on the left will move the lower aluminum mechanism away from the drum (viewed from the bottom-front).  This will gain access to the bottom-front side of the drum, where label pieces may be stuck.  Use Tweezers to remove any label pieces.
  5.  Push the button at the blue led to spin the drum.  This may help dislodge any chunks you’ve cut through.  Grab them and try to pull them out any way you can.
  6.  It takes some effort to actually destroy the rubber drum, so, if necessary, try to get into any areas that some chunks of mangled labels seem to be sticking in. Tweezers, carvers or scalers may work well for this purpose.
  7.  When the mess is clear, press the blue button to make sure the drum rotates freely.
  8.  Replace the black front section. Don’t try to “rotate” this section into place, it won’t go well. Come straight at the main body with the front section, aligning the sides, then push so the bottom clicks first. Push the top in so the click tabs engage (you may need to use some force to do this).
  9.  Use scissors to make a clean cut between two labels. If you hand-tear it, the chances of this happening again go way, way up.
  10.  Replace the label roll.  Place the label strip and align to the left with the grey alignment tab. Press the blue button to advance one label. If there are labels still waiting to print, they will do so immediately at this point.  Everything should work properly now.