Canon Printer Error Codes and Messages: What They Mean and How to Fix Them

A Canon printer rarely just stops. It shows a number or a short message first, and that code is Canon's way of pointing at the exact problem, whether that is an empty paper tray, a cartridge that is not seated, or a print head that cannot move. Canon calls these numbers support codes on its inkjet models, and every one of them maps to a specific cause.

Once you know what the code means, most fixes happen right at the printer in a few minutes. Below you will find the codes Canon owners hit most often, a plain-language explanation of each, and the steps that clear them. Start by writing down the exact code on your screen. It is the quickest route to the right fix.

How Canon Reports Errors

Canon does not use a single error format

The style of code you see depends on your printer.

Support codes (four characters, such as 1000, 5100, or 5B00).
Used on current PIXMA, MAXIFY, and MegaTank (G series) inkjet printers. The code appears on the printer's LCD screen and inside the Canon printer software on your computer, usually next to a short message like "Paper has jammed."

E-codes (such as E02, E05, or E13).
Used on older and entry-level PIXMA models that have a small display instead of a full screen. Each E-code matches a support code. E02 is the same problem as 1000, E05 is the same as 1401, and so on. The alarm light also blinks a set number of times that matches the code.

Numbered messages with a hash (such as #801, #853, or #099).
Used on imageCLASS and imageRUNNER laser printers, mostly for print, scan, fax, and network jobs rather than paper and ink.

P-codes (such as P02, P07, P10).
Older inkjet models show one of these alongside a support code. P07 and 5B00 are the same error. P02 and 5100 are the same. P10 and B200 are the same.

Note the exact characters before you start. A close guess sends you to the wrong fix.

What Causes Canon Printer Errors

Almost every Canon code traces back to one of these:

• Paper problems. An empty tray, paper loaded in a size the job does not expect, a jam, or a small torn scrap stuck in the feed path.
• Cartridge and ink problems. A cartridge that is not clicked in all the way, orange shipping tape left on a new cartridge, an empty tank, a non-Canon or wrong-region cartridge, or dried ink on the print head nozzles.
• A full waste ink absorber. The sponge that catches ink from cleaning cycles fills up over years of use and eventually blocks printing.
• A blocked carriage. Packing material, shipping tape, or an object wedged in the path stops the print head from sliding side to side.
• Print head faults. Overheating, an electrical fault, or badly clogged nozzles.
• Driver and software problems. An outdated, corrupt, or wrong printer driver, or a job stuck in the Windows print queue.
• Connection drops. Weak Wi-Fi, an IP address that changed, or a loose USB cable.
• Firmware bugs. A few errors clear only after a firmware update from Canon.
• Hardware failure. A worn motor, a failed sensor, or a logic board fault. These usually need a technician.

Fixes That Clear Most Canon Error Codes

Run through these before you look up your specific code. They resolve a large share of Canon errors on their own.

1. Note the code, then power cycle. Turn the printer off, unplug it from the wall for at least 60 seconds, plug it back in, and turn it on. This alone clears many temporary faults.
2. Check the paper path. Take out all the paper. Shine a flashlight into the feed area and the output slot and pull out any torn pieces. Reload a neat stack in a supported size with the guides resting against the edges.
3. Reseat the cartridges or print head. Open the cover, wait for the carriage to stop moving, take each cartridge out, and push it back until it clicks. On a new cartridge, double-check that the orange tape and cap are off.
4. Close every cover fully. A door or cover that is not latched sets off its own code.
5. Match your paper settings. Set the same paper size and type in the print dialog that you actually loaded. This clears the 2110, 2113, and 2114 messages.
6. Clear the print queue. Cancel any stuck jobs on your computer, then restart the printer.
7. Update the driver. Download the current driver for your exact model from the Canon support site and reinstall it.
8. Reconnect to the network. Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi, or remove it and add it again on your computer using its current IP address.
9. Press OK or Stop to resume warnings. For low ink or "the ink absorber is almost full," you can usually press OK, or hold Stop for about five seconds, and keep printing for now.

Common Canon Support Codes and What They Mean

Paper

• 1000 (E02): No paper in the rear tray, or paper not loaded correctly.
• 1003: No paper in the cassette.
• 1300 (E03): Paper jam in the output slot during printing.
• 1303 / 1304: Paper jam in the rear tray, or in the two-sided printing area.
• 1310: The loaded paper size is not supported for two-sided printing.

Covers

• 1200: The ink cover or top cover is open.
• 1250: The paper output tray is closed or blocked.

Print head

• 1401 (E05): The print head is missing or not installed correctly.
• 1403: Print head fault, often a temperature sensor error or an unsupported head.
• 1470 to 1476: The print head cannot be recognized (MegaTank G series).
• 1890: Protective shipping material or tape is still on the print head holder.

Ink and cartridges

• 1686 (E13): Ink may have run out. A low-ink warning, not a hard stop.
• 1660: The ink tank is not installed, or not installed correctly.
• 1680 / 1681: Ink tanks are in the wrong positions, or two of the same color are installed.
• 1682 (E15): The ink tank cannot be recognized.
• 1688 (E16): Ink has run out. Replace the tank to avoid damaging the printer.
• 5200 (P08): Ink-related printer error, often after printing with an empty tank or with an overheated head.

Waste ink absorber

• 1700 / 1701 (E08): The ink absorber is almost full. You can keep printing for a while.
• 5B00 / 5B01 (P07): The ink absorber is full. Printing is blocked until the pad and its counter are serviced.

Alignment and settings

• 2110 / 2113 / 2114: The paper in the tray does not match the size or type set in the driver.
• 2500: Automatic print head alignment failed.
• 4103: The job cannot print with the current settings.

Service errors

• 5011 / 5012: General printer error. Power cycle and retry.
• 5100 (P02): The carriage cannot move. Usually a jam, tape, or an obstruction near the print head.
• 6000 (P03): Paper feed error, or a general printer fault.
• 6500 / 6800 / 6801: Printer hardware error.
• B200 (P10): Print head failure, or a power fault in the head. A serious hardware error.

Step-by-Step Fixes for the Most Common Codes

Error 5100 or P02: the carriage will not move

1. Turn the printer off.
2. Open the cover and remove any paper, torn scraps, or objects sitting in the path of the print head.
3. On a printer you just unboxed, take out every piece of orange tape and any foam or plastic packing inside.
4. Slide the print head holder gently from side to side by hand to confirm it moves freely.
5. Check that the cartridges are seated and close the cover.
6. Turn the printer back on. If 5100 returns, unplug it for a few minutes and try again.
7. If it still shows, the carriage belt or the thin plastic encoder strip behind the carriage may need service.

Error 1300 or E03: paper jam

1. Turn the printer off so the rollers release their grip.
2. Pull the jammed sheet out slowly in the direction the paper normally feeds. Do not drag it backward.
3. Open the rear cover and the two-sided printing unit and check inside those too.
4. Use a flashlight to find small torn pieces. Leftover scraps are the top cause of a jam that keeps coming back.
5. Fan a fresh stack, load it straight, and set the guides against the edges without squeezing.
6. Turn the printer on and run a test page.

Error 1401, 1403, or E05: print head problem

1. Open the cover and let the carriage slide to the center.
2. Remove the cartridges, then unclip and lift out the print head.
3. Wipe the gold contacts on the head and inside the holder with a dry, lint-free cloth.
4. Put the print head back, push the lever down firmly, and refit the cartridges.
5. Power cycle the printer.
6. If 1403 or B200 shows next, the print head has most likely failed and needs replacing.

Error 1660, 1688, E13, or E16: ink not recognized or empty

1. Open the cover and take out the cartridge named in the message.
2. Confirm the orange tape and the protective cap are off.
3. Wipe the contacts with a dry cloth and push the cartridge back until it clicks.
4. If the message stays, fit a new genuine Canon cartridge in that slot.
5. For "ink may have run out," hold the Stop button for about five seconds to keep printing. On-screen ink levels will stop updating after that.

Error 1700 or 5B00: ink absorber warnings

1. For 1700 or E08 ("almost full"), press OK and keep printing. Plan for service soon.
2. For 5B00 or 5B01 ("full"), printing is blocked. Both the waste pad and the printer's internal counter need attention.
3. A service center can replace the pad and reset the counter. Canon does not sell the reset tool to the public.
4. On an older, low-cost printer, a replacement often costs about the same as the repair.
   [Flag: confirm whether printertales performs this repair in-house or refers it out.]

Windows says "printer error," "printer is in an error state," or 0x00000bc4

1. Open Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, then Printers and scanners, and confirm the Canon printer is set as the default.
2. Cancel every job in the queue.
3. Restart the Print Spooler service, or run the built-in Windows printer troubleshooter.
4. Install all pending Windows updates. Several known printing bugs are fixed only through an update.
5. If Windows still cannot find the printer, remove it and add it again by IP address: Add printer, then "Add a printer using an IP address or hostname," then choose the TCP/IP option and enter the printer's IP.
6. Reinstall the current driver from Canon if the error stays.

Error 853 on an imageCLASS laser printer, often when printing from a Mac

1. Turn off Secure Print on the printer, then try the job again. 
2. Download and install the current UFR II driver for your model from Canon.
3. On a Mac, reset the printing system (right-click inside the printer list in Printers and Scanners, choose Reset printing system), then add the printer again.
4. Split very large PDFs into smaller jobs. Error 853 can also mean the file was too big for the printer to process.

Reset Your Canon Printer

A reset clears settings that a plain power cycle leaves untouched.

Soft reset (keeps your settings):

1. Turn the printer off and unplug it from the wall.
2. Wait 15 to 30 seconds.
3. Plug it back in and turn it on.

Factory reset (clears Wi-Fi and custom settings):

1. On the printer screen, open Setup, then Device settings, then Reset setting.
2. Choose Reset all, then confirm.
3. Set up the Wi-Fi connection again, and reinstall or re-add the printer on your computers and phones.

Button-only models use a Stop or Resume button held down while the printer powers on. The exact number of presses changes from model to model, so check the manual for yours. Service-mode resets for the 5B00 counter are a separate process meant for technicians.