Canon Printer Error Codes: What They Mean and How to Fix Them
Canon support codes and error numbers explained in plain English with step-by-step fixes for each one.
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What Canon Printer Error Codes Mean: The Four Types
A Canon printer reports a problem in one of four ways, depending on whether your model has a touchscreen, a small two-character display, or no display at all. All four point back to the same list of Canon support codes, so once you know the support code you know the fix.
- Support codes (four characters, such as 1300, 5100, 5B00 or B203). They show on the printer's screen and in the error message on your computer. Codes in the 1000s and 2000s are usually paper, ink, cover and settings problems you can fix. Codes in the 5000s and 6000s, and B codes, are printer errors that often need a restart or a repair.
- E codes (E02, E05, E32 and so on). Models with a small LCD show an E code instead of the support code. E means a problem you can usually clear yourself: paper, cartridges, settings or Wi-Fi setup.
- P codes (P02, P07, P10 and others). These are the small-LCD version of printer errors. Turn the printer off and on once; if the P code comes back, Canon's next step is service.
- Lamp flashes. Printers with no display, such as the PIXMA G1010, flash the orange Alarm lamp a set number of times. If the ON and Alarm lamps flash alternately, that is a printer error.
Below are the codes people ask about most, plus tables that translate E codes, P codes and light flashes into support codes. For every Canon code we cover, sorted by model, see the full list of Canon printer error codes.
The 20 Most Common Canon Printer Error Codes
Click a code for Canon's cause, the steps you can safely try, the models that show it, and when it needs a technician.
| Code | What it means | Can you fix it? |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Out of paper or paper not loaded properly (rear tray on most models) | Yes |
| 1003 | Out of paper in the front tray or cassette | Yes |
| 1200 | Scanning unit or cover is open | Yes |
| 1300 | Paper jam | Yes |
| 1401 | Cartridge not installed, or print head may be damaged | Usually |
| 1403 | Print head may be damaged or cartridge error | Usually |
| 1686 | Ink may have run out | Yes |
| 1688 | Ink has run out | Yes |
| 1700 | Ink absorber is almost full (a warning) | Yes, for now |
| 1890 | Shipping tape or protective material still attached | Yes |
| 2700 | Copy or scan timed out after an error | Yes |
| 4103 | Cannot print with the current print settings | Yes |
| 5100 | Cartridge or print head holder cannot move | Often |
| 5200 | Printer error (ink system) | Sometimes |
| 5B00 | Ink absorber is full | No, needs service |
| 6000 | Printer error (check for a paper jam first) | Sometimes |
| B200 | Printer error that needs a Canon repair | No |
| B203 / B204 | Printer error that needs a Canon repair | No |
| E05 | Cartridge or print head cannot be recognized | Usually |
| P07 | Ink absorber full (same as 5B00) | No, needs service |
A code can be worded slightly differently from model to model, so check your exact model on the code page. Not listed here? Browse all Canon printer error codes by model.
What Does E Mean on a Canon Printer? E and P Codes Decoded
On PIXMA models with a small display, an E code is an error you can normally clear yourself, and a P code is a printer error. Each one maps to a support code, shown in the right column. These mappings come from Canon's TS3100 and G2010 series manuals and can differ slightly on other models.
| Display code | Meaning | Support code |
|---|---|---|
| E02 | Out of paper | 1000 |
| E03 | Paper jam, or cover opened | 1300, 1203 |
| E04 | Cartridge or print head not installed properly | 168A, 1470 |
| E05 | Cartridge or print head cannot be recognized | 1401, 1403, 1430, 1485 |
| E08 | Ink absorber almost full | 1700 |
| E09 | Protective tape still attached | 1890 |
| E11 | Cannot print with current settings | 4102, 4103 |
| E13 | Ink may have run out | 1686 |
| E14 / E15 | Cartridge cannot be recognized | 1684 / 1682 |
| E16 | Ink has run out | 1688 |
| E31, E37 | Wireless LAN setup failed | None |
| E32 | Wireless router not found during setup | None |
| E33 | More than one router trying to connect | None |
| E34 / E36 | Easy wireless connect failed | 3440 / 3441 |
| E38 | Cannot connect to the wireless router | None |
| E39 | Network error | 495A |
| E59 | Paper settings do not match | 2114 |
| P02 | Printer error: holder cannot move | 5100 |
| P07 | Ink absorber full | 5B00 |
| P08 | Printer error (ink system) | 5200, 5205, 5206 |
| P03 group | Printer error: turn off, unplug, restart; then service | 5011, 5050, 6000, 6800 and others |
| P10 | Printer error that needs repair | B202 to B205 |
Codes in the E30s are Wi-Fi setup errors, not ink or hardware faults. Restart the router and the printer, then run wireless setup again.
Canon Printer Error Light Meaning: Counting the Orange Flashes
Printers without a display report errors with the orange Alarm lamp. Count the flashes in one burst, then count a second burst to confirm. The table below is from Canon's PIXMA G1010 series manual; other display-less models follow the same idea, but check your own manual.
| Lamp pattern | Meaning | Support code |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm flashes 2 times | Out of paper or paper did not feed | 1000 |
| Alarm flashes 3 times | Paper jam | 1300 |
| Alarm flashes 4 times | Print head not installed properly | 1470 |
| Alarm flashes 5 times | Print head cannot be recognized | 1403, 1430, 1471, 1476 |
| Alarm flashes 7 times | Print head in the wrong position | 1474, 1475 |
| Alarm flashes 8 times | Ink absorber almost full | 1700, 1701 |
| Alarm flashes 9 times | Protective tape still attached | 1890 |
| ON and Alarm alternate 2 times | Holder cannot move | 5100 |
| ON and Alarm alternate 7 times | Ink absorber full | 5B00 |
| ON and Alarm alternate 8 times | Printer error (ink system) | 5200 / P08 |
| ON and Alarm alternate 10 times | Printer error that needs repair | B202 to B205 |
If the lamps alternate, turn the printer off, unplug it, wait, and power it back on once. If the same pattern returns, it is a service error. For all lamp patterns, see the Canon error code list.
"Error State" and Numbers That Are Not Canon Support Codes
"Printer in error state" is a Windows or Mac status, not a Canon code. First look at the printer itself. If its screen or lamps show a code, use the tables above. If the printer shows no error, the problem is on the computer side (connection, driver or print queue), and our printer not printing guide covers those fixes.
Long or unusual numbers, such as six- or seven-character strings, or anything starting with 0x, are not in Canon's published support code lists for PIXMA and MAXIFY printers. They usually come from Windows, the driver or a Canon app, or from office imageRUNNER copiers, whose service codes depend on the exact model. We do not guess at those. Search the number in your model's online manual, or give the full code to Canon support.
To find the official meaning of any code, open Canon's online manual for your exact model (for example PIXMA TS3320 or G3010) and go to List of Support Codes for Printer Errors.
When It Is a Repair, Not a Fix
Most Canon codes are fixable at home in a few minutes. A few are not, and it pays to recognize them early so you do not spend hours on fixes that cannot work.
- 5B00, 5B01 or P07 (ink absorber full). The pads that soak up waste ink from cleaning cycles are saturated, and the printer is designed to stop to prevent ink leaking inside it. Canon treats this as a service item. If the printer is under warranty, contact Canon first. Out of warranty, a professional absorber replacement often costs more than a budget PIXMA is worth, so for low-cost models replacing the printer is frequently the better value. Third-party reset utilities can clear the counter, but resetting without replacing or draining the pads risks ink leaking onto your desk or into the electronics.
- B200 (printer error that needs repair). Canon’s manual tells you to turn the printer off, unplug it and contact a service center. On cheaper printers, replacement is usually more economical than repair.
- 5100 or 6000 that keeps returning after you have cleared every obstruction can mean a dirty or damaged encoder strip, a worn belt or a failing motor. These are repairable but rarely worth it on an entry-level printer.
A reasonable test: if the repair estimate is more than about half the price of a comparable new printer, replacement usually makes more sense, especially if the printer is several years old. For higher-end photo printers and office models, repair is more often worthwhile. If you would like help deciding, our tech support experts can walk through the code with you and tell you whether it is worth fixing.
Pro Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Canon printer error codes mean?
Canon printers report problems as four-character support codes (such as 1300 or 5100), as short E or P codes on small displays, or as orange Alarm lamp flashes on models with no display. Codes in the 1000s and 2000s and most E codes are paper, ink, cover or settings problems you can fix. Codes in the 5000s and 6000s, B codes and P codes are printer errors that may need service.
What are the most common Canon printer error codes?
The ones we see most are 1000 and 1003 (out of paper), 1300 (paper jam), 1688 and 1686 (ink out), 1700 (ink absorber almost full), 1401 and 1403 (print head or cartridge), 5100 (holder cannot move), 6000 (printer error, check for a jam), 5B00 (ink absorber full) and B200 (printer error needing repair).
What does E mean on a Canon printer?
On PIXMA models with a small two-character display, E followed by a number is an error code for a problem you can usually clear yourself, such as paper, cartridges, print settings or Wi-Fi setup. Each E code corresponds to a support code; for example E02 is 1000 (out of paper) and E03 is 1300 (paper jam). P codes are printer errors.
What does E05 mean on a Canon printer?
E05 means the FINE cartridge or print head cannot be recognized. It corresponds to support codes 1401, 1403, 1430 or 1485 depending on the model. Remove and reinstall the cartridge until it clicks, and check it is the correct cartridge for your printer. If E05 continues, the cartridge or print head may need replacing.
What do Canon E15, E32 and E37 mean?
E15 means a cartridge or print head cannot be recognized (support code 1682 on TS3100-type models). E32 means the printer could not find your wireless router during setup, and E37 means wireless LAN setup failed. For E32 and E37, restart the router and printer and run Wi-Fi setup again.
What does the orange light flashing on my Canon printer mean?
Count the flashes. On models such as the PIXMA G1010, 2 flashes means out of paper, 3 a paper jam, 4 or 5 a print head problem, 8 the ink absorber is almost full and 9 that protective tape is still attached. If the ON and Alarm lamps flash alternately, the printer has an error that may need service.
What is Canon support code 5100?
Support code 5100 means the cartridge or print head holder cannot move. Turn the printer off, remove anything blocking the holder such as tape or jammed paper, make sure the cartridges or print heads are seated, and turn it back on. If it continues, Canon advises a repair.
What does Canon code 6000 mean?
6000 is a printer error. Canon’s first step is to check for and remove any jammed paper, then turn the printer off and on. If the code returns after that, contact Canon service.
What does 5B00 mean on a Canon PIXMA?
Across current PIXMA models, Canon uses 5B00 for an ink absorber that is full, and the printer will not print until the absorber is replaced. Canon treats this as a service repair; check your model’s online manual or contact Canon support.
What does 'printer in error state' mean on a Canon printer?
It is a Windows or Mac status, not a Canon code. Check the printer’s own screen or lamps first. If the printer shows no code, the cause is usually the connection, driver or print queue on the computer.
