Canon Support Code 5100: Print head / cartridge holder cannot move
Also shows as: P02 (code shown on the LCD of some display-less PIXMA G / TS models)
Canon lists the cause as "Printer error has occurred." Its fix centres on the cartridge (print head) holder: something such as the shipping stabilizer or jammed paper may be blocking it, or a cartridge or print head is not seated properly.
What to try
- Cancel printing (press Stop if you are printing) and turn the printer off.
- Open the cover and check that nothing is blocking the cartridge / print head holder, such as the shipping stabilizer or jammed paper. Remove anything you find.
- While you do this, do not touch the clear film strip (and on G-series tank models, the white belt or ink tubes). Canon warns that soiling or scratching them can damage the printer.
- Make sure the FINE cartridges or print heads are properly installed. Push them up until they click, or close the locking cover or joint buttons until they click into place.
- Turn the printer back on.
- If this does not solve it, contact your nearest Canon service center to request a repair.
When it needs a technician
If the holder is clear, the cartridges are properly seated and the code still appears after a restart, Canon says the printer needs repair at a service center.
Which models show 5100
Canon documents this code for models including PIXMA TS3300 series, PIXMA TS3100 series, PIXMA G3010 series, PIXMA G2010 series, PIXMA TS6300 series, PIXMA MG3600 series.
First steps for any printer error
- Write down the exact code before you do anything else — similar-looking codes often mean completely different things.
- Power the printer off, unplug it for a couple of minutes, then power it back on. A surprising number of transient errors clear here.
- Open the covers and check for paper scraps, packaging material, or anything blocking the carriage.
- Check the cartridges or tanks are genuine, correctly seated, and not empty.
- Confirm the printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip or extension lead.
- Check your model’s own manual — codes are model-specific, and the manual is the authority for your machine.
Source: Canon Inkjet Manual (ij.manual.canon) - TS3300 series, support code 5100. Codes are model-specific, so your own model's manual is the final word. Reviewed October 2026.
Still showing 5100?
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Ask about my printer — $1Eric Paul Amora · Printer & Hardware Repair Technician