The plastic at the center of most office tape is white, which makes it easier to spot inside black and colored dispensers.

Removable cores will be the easiest to load, as you can simply slide the core through the new tape roll and replace it.

Guide the roll onto the core so that it sits right in the middle. Tape comes in many different styles and widths. Be sure to buy tape in a size that fits your dispenser.

If the core isn’t reinserted into the chamber all the way, it won’t be able to turn.

Avoid touching the underside of the tape too much. This can cause the adhesive to wear off.

Watch your fingers around the dispenser blade—even though it’s not especially sharp, accidents have been known to happen.

When properly loaded, the wheel should hold the roll firmly in place, which will prevent it from wobbling while you’re using it.

As you pull back on the gun, the tape wheel will turn and feed the tape into the front roller, causing it to unwind as it sticks.

Keep your hands clear of the blade while pulling the tape through. Some tape guns have a small lever near the handle that helps hold the tape in place. You may need to hold this lever down with your free hand until you’ve successfully loaded the dispenser. [7] X Research source

Be careful not to come into contact with the blade while shearing the tape. Test the dispenser on a disposable surface nearby, like a piece of scrap paper or unused cardboard box.

Perform a couple of trial runs with the gun to get it calibrated just the way you want it. Not all handheld dispensers come equipped with adjustable tension knobs. You may have to make do with the standard settings on inexpensive models.