Printer Error Code Lookup

Also appears as: 5B01, 5B02–5B05, 5B12–5B15, P07

Your printer has an absorber pad that soaks up ink used during borderless printing and head-cleaning cycles. Canon states this absorber is full and that service is required. The printer stops to prevent ink overflowing inside the machine.

1. Check whether the printer is still under Canon warranty — Canon covers this as a service item within the warranty period.
2. If out of warranty, contact Canon support about service options or their upgrade/replacement programme.
3. Note the exact code shown (5B00 vs 5B01 etc.) — it indicates which absorber is affected.

When it needs a technician: This one genuinely needs servicing. The pad itself has to be replaced or properly handled; simply clearing the counter without addressing the pad risks ink overflowing inside the printer and onto whatever it is sitting on.

Source: Canon USA support

Also appears as: 1701

An early warning that the ink absorber is approaching capacity. Unlike 5B00, the printer will usually still print for now.

1. You can normally continue printing for a while — this is a warning, not a stop.
2. Plan ahead: this will eventually become a 5B00-type service condition.
3. If the printer is still under warranty, it is worth contacting Canon before it stops entirely.

When it needs a technician: No immediate action needed, but arrange servicing before it reaches the full-stop condition if you rely on the printer.

Source: Canon support code list

Paper is jammed in the paper feed path or output slot. One of the most common Canon support codes and usually straightforward to clear.

1. Turn the printer off before pulling anything out.
2. Remove the jammed paper slowly and evenly — pull straight, not at an angle, so it does not tear.
3. Check the rear access panel and the output slot as well as the tray.
4. Look carefully for small torn pieces left behind; leftover scraps cause repeat jams.
5. Make sure the paper stack is not overfilled and the guides sit lightly against the paper.

When it needs a technician: If the jam clears but the code returns immediately with no paper visible, a feed roller or sensor may be at fault — that is a service job.

Source: Canon support code list

Also appears as: B202, B203, B204

The printer has detected a problem with the printhead or its power supply. Canon groups these as printhead-related support codes.

1. Turn the printer off, unplug it for several minutes, then power it back on — this occasionally clears a transient fault.
2. Check that the printhead and cartridges are seated properly and nothing is obstructing the carriage.
3. Do not repeatedly power-cycle it dozens of times hoping it clears; that does not fix a genuine printhead fault.

When it needs a technician: If it persists after a proper power cycle, the printhead usually needs replacing or the unit needs servicing. On lower-cost models the printhead can cost close to the price of the printer, so get a quote before committing.

Source: Canon support code list

Also appears as: 5102–5105, C000

The carriage that moves the printhead across the page cannot move freely. Usually something is physically blocking it.

1. Turn the printer off and open the cover.
2. Look for jammed paper, packing material, or a foreign object in the carriage path.
3. Check that the cartridges are fully seated and the carriage latch is closed.
4. Gently check the carriage can slide by hand with the power off — do not force it.

When it needs a technician: If nothing is obstructing it and the error persists, the encoder strip or carriage motor may be at fault, which needs servicing.

Source: Canon support code list

Also appears as: 5203–5209, 5400

Canon lists this group under ink-system faults. It commonly appears when ink levels are very low or the system cannot prime correctly.

1. Check ink levels and replace any tank that is empty or very low.
2. Power the printer off, wait several minutes, then restart it.
3. Make sure cartridges are genuine and correctly installed — refilled or third-party tanks are a common trigger.

When it needs a technician: If it keeps returning with full, correctly-installed ink, the printhead or ink system needs service.

Source: Canon support code list

The printer cannot feed paper correctly from the tray.

1. Remove the paper stack, fan it, and reload it squarely.
2. Do not overfill the tray — stay under the fill line.
3. Check the tray is pushed fully home and the guides touch the paper without squeezing it.
4. Look inside the feed path for a stray sheet or obstruction.

When it needs a technician: Repeated feed failures with good paper usually mean worn pickup rollers, which is a service or parts job.

Source: Canon support code list

Also appears as: E-10, "Ink pad has reached the end of its service life", Service Required

Epson printers contain ink pads that collect ink not used on printed pages. Epson states that during the life of the product these pads can reach the end of their usable life, and the printer will report it. Epson also states the waste ink pads are not a user-replaceable part.

1. Read the full message on the printer screen — Epson codes are not fully universal and the wording identifies which pad is affected.
2. If the printer is within its standard warranty, Epson covers replacement of the pads or exchange of the product.
3. If out of warranty, Epson states the pads can be replaced by any Epson authorised service provider.

When it needs a technician: This needs an authorised service provider. Be cautious of third-party tools that simply reset the counter: the pad is still full, and ink can overflow inside the machine. Handle the pad properly first.

Source: Epson product status messages

Also appears as: W-13, W-14

A warning that an ink pad is approaching its limit. The printer generally continues to work for now. Note that on some models these codes refer to the borderless-printing pad rather than the main pad.

1. You can usually keep printing for the time being.
2. Read the exact wording on screen — it tells you which pad is involved.
3. Plan for servicing before it becomes a full stop, especially if you print a lot.

When it needs a technician: Not urgent, but arrange service with an Epson authorised provider before it reaches the end-of-life state.

Source: Epson user guides (light status / status messages)

Many Epson L-series and EcoTank models signal problems with light patterns rather than a numeric code. Simultaneous flashing of the power and paper lights commonly indicates an ink-pad service-life condition; alternating flashing often points to the borderless-printing pad.

1. Check the light pattern against your specific model manual — patterns differ between models.
2. Turning the printer off and on does not resolve a genuine pad service condition.

When it needs a technician: Treat this as the ink-pad service condition above: an Epson authorised service provider should handle the pad.

Source: Epson user guides (light status)

Also appears as: E3, "Carriage jam"

HP support identifies this as a carriage jam: the carriage holding the cartridges cannot move freely. HP notes it can also appear when a cartridge is not installed correctly, not only when paper is stuck.

1. Press the power button to turn the printer off, wait about a minute, then turn it back on — HP lists this first.
2. Open the cartridge access door and check the cartridges are correctly and fully installed.
3. Check for jammed paper — HP advises removing jammed paper from the rear access panel rather than pulling it from the front, which can damage the print mechanism.
4. Check for torn scraps left in the rollers, as these cause repeat jams.
5. Make sure the printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet rather than a power strip.

When it needs a technician: If the carriage still will not move with nothing obstructing it, or the error persists after clearing everything, it is likely a hardware fault needing service.

Source: HP customer support

The short-form panel version of the carriage jam condition on many HP models — the carriage cannot move freely.

1. Power the printer off, then check inside for anything blocking the carriage.
2. Confirm cartridges are seated and the access door is fully closed.
3. Clear any paper from the rear access panel, checking for torn pieces.

When it needs a technician: Persistent E3 with a clear carriage path points to a mechanical or sensor fault requiring service.

Source: HP customer support — carriage jam or E3 error