Canon Printer Error 1400 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Canon error 1400 means the printer cannot detect the printhead. The printhead is the part that sprays ink onto the paper — the printer will not work at all without it. This error usually appears when the printhead is missing, not seated properly, or has failed.

Affected Models

Canon Pixma Pro-100
Canon Pixma Pro9000 Mark II
Canon Pixma Pro-10
Canon Pixma Pro9500 Mark II
Canon Pixma iP8720

Common Causes

The printhead is not installed — it may have been removed during maintenance and not reinstalled
The printhead was inserted but not pushed down firmly enough to make full contact with the printer
The printhead's electrical contacts are dirty or have dried ink blocking the connection
The printhead has physically failed due to age, overheating, or severe clogging
The locking lever that holds the printhead in place is not fully secured

How to Fix It

Open the printer's top cover to access the printhead carriage. Check that the printhead is actually installed. If it is missing, that is the cause — install the printhead before proceeding.

Some users remove the printhead for deep cleaning or storage and forget to reinstall it. If the slot is empty, error 1400 will always appear.
If the printhead is installed, lift the locking lever, remove the printhead completely, and inspect the gold contact strip on the bottom for dried ink or debris.

The contact strip is a row of small gold squares. Any contamination here will prevent the printer from recognizing the printhead.
Gently clean the gold contacts on the printhead using a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water. Do not use tap water or alcohol. Let the contacts dry for 5 minutes.

Do not rub hard or use sharp objects on the contacts. A gentle wipe is all that is needed.
Reinstall the printhead by sliding it into the carriage and pressing it straight down. Engage the locking lever until it clicks firmly in place.

If the locking lever does not move easily or does not click, the printhead is not aligned in the slot correctly. Remove it and try again.
Close the printer cover and turn the printer on. The printer will run an initialization cycle. If error 1400 clears, run a nozzle check pattern from the printer's maintenance menu to verify the printhead is working.

A nozzle check print is the quickest way to confirm the printhead is recognized and functioning normally.

When to Call a Professional

If you have reseated the printhead and cleaned the contacts but error 1400 persists, the printhead itself may have failed. Replacement printheads for Canon Pro series printers cost $60 to $120. If the printer is older, compare the cost of a new printhead against the cost of a replacement printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print without a printhead installed?

No — the printhead is the core component that puts ink on paper. Without a working printhead, the printer cannot print anything at all. Error 1400 is a hard stop. No workaround exists other than fixing the printhead issue.

Is error 1400 the same as errors 1401 and 1403?

They are closely related but not identical. Error 1401 means the printhead is completely absent. Error 1403 means the printhead is installed but has a fault. Error 1400 is a general printhead detection failure — it covers situations where the printer cannot confirm the printhead's status at all.

My printhead is seated correctly but error 1400 still appears. What now?

If you are certain the printhead is correctly installed and the contacts are clean, try wiping the contact pads inside the printer carriage as well — both sides need to be clean for a proper connection. If the error persists after cleaning both sets of contacts, the printhead is likely faulty and needs replacement.