Close
Issue
When a printer error occurs, the ALARM lamp flashes orange in the way as shown below. The number of flashes indicates the type of error that has occurred. Count the flashes and take the appropriate action to correct the error.
Cause and solution
Two flashes:
No paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder
Reload paper to the Auto Sheet Feeder and press the RESUME/CANCEL button.
Cause and solution
Three flashes:
Front Tray or Rear Support is closed / Paper jam
If the Front Tray is closed, open it to resume printing.
If the Rear Support is closed when printing from the Front Tray, open it and press the RESUME/CANCEL button on the printer.
If the error still remains when the Front Tray or the Rear Support is opened, paper may be jammed. Remove the jammed paper, reload paper in the printer, and then press the RESUME/CANCEL button. See "Paper Jams".
Cause and solution
Four flashes:
The ink tank is not installed properly / The ink has run out
Possible causes are as follows:
See "Replacing Ink Tanks ".
Caution
If multiple ink lamps are flashing, check how fast they flash.
Fast flashing (at about one second interval) indicates the ink is empty. Slow flashing (at about three second interval) indicates ink is low. For details on different flashing speeds, see "Getting the Ink Level Information".
Cause and solution
Five flashes:
Print Head is not installed / Print Head is defective
Install the Print Head. If the Print Head is already installed, remove the Print Head and then reinstall it.
If this error still remains, the Print Head may be damaged. Contact a Canon service representative.
Prepare the Printer
1. Plug the power cord into the back of the printer and connect the other end to a power outlet.
Press the POWER button. The printer will initialize. Wait until the POWER lamp displays a steady blue light.
(A) POWER Lamp
(B) POWER Button
2. Open the Front Tray. Raise the Top Cover.
Caution
Gently pressthe 
(C) Top Cover
(D) Front Tray
3. The Print Head Holder automatically moves to the center. Remove the protective tape from the Print Head Holder. The tape position is subject to change.
(E) Protective Tape
4. Write down the serial number located inside the printer. You will need this to register your products.
(F) Serial Number Location
Caution
If the Top Cover is left open for more than 10 minutes, the Print Head Holder moves to the right. Close and reopen the Top Cover to return the holder to the center.
Install the Print Head
1. Firmly raise the print head lock lever.
2. Remove the Print Head from its package.
(A) Tear at notch to open
(B) Nozzles
Caution
There might be some transparent or light color ink on the inside of the bag the Print
Head comes in - this has no effect on print quality. Be careful not to get ink on yourself when handling these items.
Caution
Do not touch the nozzles.
3. Remove and discard the orange protective cap from the Print Head.
Caution
There might be some transparent or light color ink on the inside of the protective
cap - this has no effect on print quality. Be careful not to get ink on yourself when handling these items.
Caution
(C) Print Head Nozzles
(D) Electrical Contacts
4. Slide the Print Head into the holder.
The Print Head will rest at a slight angle.
(E) Electrical Contacts
5. Lower the print head lock lever carefully.
Install the Ink Tanks
1. Remove the Red Ink Tank (PGI-9R) from its package.
2. Remove and discard the orange protective cap located on the bottom of the ink tank.
Caution
Do not touch the electrical contacts.
Caution
(A) Electrical Contacts
(B) Protective Cap
(C) Protective Cap
3. Insert the ink tank into the rightmost slot. Press the 
(D) Ink Lamp
4. Insert the remaining nine ink tanks into their assigned slots. Ensure that ink lamps light red.
(E) Refer to the color guide on the print head lock lever.
5. Close the Top Cover. Lift open the Paper Support and the Paper Support Extension, then pull out the Front Tray Extension.
(F) Paper Support Extension
(G) Paper Support
(H) Front Tray Extension
(I) Top Cover
Caution
If the ALARM lamp on the printer flashes
orange after you have closed the Top Cover, an ink tank may not be installed properly. Open the Top Cover and make sure that the ink tanks are installed in the correct order directed on the label.
Cause and solution
Six flashes:
Inner Cover is open
Close the Inner Cover and press the RESUME/CANCEL button.
Do not open or close the Inner Cover during printing because this can damage the printer.
Cause and solution
Seven flashes:
The ink tank is not installed in the appropriate position
Possible causes are as follows:
Confirm that the ink tanks are installed in the appropriate positions.
See "Replacing Ink Tanks ".
Cause and solution
Eight flashes:
Ink absorber almost full
The printer has a built-in ink absorber for the ink used during Print Head Cleaning, for example. Eight flashes indicates that the ink absorber is nearly full. Press the RESUME/CANCEL button to cancel the error so you can continue printing. Before the ink absorber becomes completely full, contact a Canon service representative. (You will need to replace a particular part of the printer.)
Caution
Canon recommends that you call for service as soon as this error occurs. Once the ink absorber becomes completely full, printing cannot be performed until the ink absorber is replaced.
Cause and solution
Nine flashes:
A specified period of time has elapsed without receiving a response from the digital camera or digital video camcorder / The digital camera or digital video camcorder connected is not compatible with this printer
Caution
Depending on the model or brand of your PictBridge compliant device, you may have to select a print mode before connecting the device.
You may also have to turn on the device or select Play mode manually after connecting the device to the printer.
Perform necessary operations according to the instruction manual supplied with your device.
If the error is still unresolved, try printing other photographs and see if you can print it.
Cause and solution
Ten flashes:
The Front Tray is not set to its correct position / The Front Tray was moved during printing When printing from the Auto Sheet Feeder, return the Front Tray to its normal printing position. Ensure that paper is loaded in the Auto Sheet Feeder and then press the RESUME/CANCEL button on the printer to resume printing.
If you have moved the Front Tray during printing, return the Front Tray to the correct position, then press the RESUME/CANCEL button on the printer and try printing again.
Do not move the Front Tray during printing.
Cause and solution
Eleven flashes:
Automatic Print Head alignment failed / The Page Size setting does not match the size of the paper loaded in the printer
When performing Automatic Print Head Alignment
Possible causes are as follows:
A4 or Letter-sized paper is not loaded in the Auto Sheet Feeder.
After carrying out the above measures, if the problem continues after aligning the Print Head again, press the RESUME/CANCEL button on the printer to clear the error, and then perform manual print head alignment. For details on manual print head alignment, see "Aligning the Print Head ".
When printing the nozzle check pattern or performing Manual Print Head Alignment
Other than A4 or Letter-sized paper is loaded.
Press the RESUME/CANCEL button on the printer to clear the error, and load A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder. Then try performing again.
When performing an ordinary print job
Press the RESUME/CANCEL button on the printer to clear the error. Then check the Page Size setting in the Page Setup tab (Windows) or the Page Setup dialog box (Macintosh) in the printer driver and load paper that is the same size as the setting and try printing again.
If this error occurs even when the paper loaded in the printer is the same as the setting, set the printer driver not to detect the width of the paper.
The settings here are also applied under Direct Printing from a digital camera.
Caution
Select the Detect paper width check box again once printing is complete, and then click Send.
Cause and solution
(Windows)
1. Open the printer properties dialog box.
2. Click the Maintenance tab.
3. Click Custom Settings to open the Custom Settings dialog box.
4. Clear the Detect paper width check box, and then click Send.
5. When the confirmation message is displayed, click OK.
(Macintosh)
1. Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility.
2. Select Custom Settings from the pop-up menu.
3. Clear the Detect paper width check box, and then click Send.
4. When the confirmation message is displayed, click OK.
Cause and solution
Twelve flashes:
The paper is not loaded correctly in the Front Tray
Press the RESUME/CANCEL button on the printer to clear the error, and then load the paper correctly in the Front Tray according to the procedure described in "Loading Paper" and try printing again.
Cause and solution
Fourteen flashes:
The ink tank cannot be recognized
The ink tank may not be compatible with this printer (The lamp on the ink tank is off).
Install the appropriate ink tank.
Cause and solution
Fifteen flashes:
The ink tank cannot be recognized
Ink tank errors have occurred (The lamp on the ink tank is off).
Replace the ink tank.
Cause and solution
Seventeen flashes:
The machine is waiting to redial the recipient's number because the line was busy or the recipient did not answer when you tried to send a document. Wait for the machine to automatically redial the number. If you want to cancel automatic redialing, wait until the machine starts dialing the number, press the Stop/Reset button, then follow the instructions on the LCD. You can also delete the document from memory.
Printer detected ink out condition
Printer detected ink out condition (The lamp on the ink tank flashes).
To avoid printing troubles such as the mixing of inks, this printer is designed to stop printing by flashing the ALARM lamp orange seventeen times when the remaining ink level in an ink tank goes under the amount of ink required to maintain both printer and print quality.
Stop printing, replace the ink tank, and then print again.
See "Replacing Ink Tanks ".
Caution
If multiple ink lamps are flashing, check how fast they flash.
Fast flashing (at about one second interval) indicates the ink is empty. Slow flashing (at about three second interval) indicates ink is low. For details on different flashing speeds, see "Getting the Ink Level Information".
Cause and solution
Eighteen flashes:
Printer detected ink out condition
Printer detected ink out condition (The lamp on the ink tank flashes).
If you want to continue printing, replace the ink tank and close the Top Cover.
Click Cancel Printing (Windows) or Stop Job (Macintosh) to stop printing if you do not have a new ink tank. Be sure to replace the empty ink tank before resuming printing.
You can continue printing under the ink out condition, but this may cause the printing trouble such as the mixing of inks, or a printer malfunction.
If you want to continue printing, you need to release the function for detecting the remaining ink level.
To release this function, press and hold the RESUME/CANCEL button for at least 5 seconds, and then release it.
* Releasing the function for detecting the remaining ink level is memorised. Please be advised that Canon shall not be liable for any malfunction or trouble which may be caused by continuation of printing or refilling of ink.
See "Replacing Ink Tanks ".
Caution
ALARM Lamp Is Lit Orange
The printer is not ready to feed paper from the Front Tray yet. Load the paper correctly in the Front Tray according to the procedure described in "Loading Paper" and press the RESUME/CANCEL button on the printer.