Canon Printer Error 1850 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 1850 on Canon printers means the printer cannot detect the paper correctly. The paper may not be loaded properly, or the paper size or type does not match what the print job expects. This is a simple loading or settings issue that takes just a minute to fix.

Affected Models

Canon Pixma MG3620
Canon Pixma MG5720
Canon Pixma TS5120
Canon Pixma MX922
Canon Pixma TR8520

Common Causes

The paper loaded in the tray does not match the paper size selected in the printer settings
The paper is not loaded straight in the tray, causing the sensor to misread its position
The paper guides in the tray are too loose or too tight around the paper stack
The wrong paper type is selected in the printer driver — for example, selecting photo paper when plain paper is loaded
The rear tray or cassette has no paper loaded at all and the printer is trying to pull from it

How to Fix It

Check that paper is loaded in the correct tray. Remove the paper, fan it to prevent sticking, and reload it in a straight, aligned stack.

Misaligned or warped paper is a common cause of detection errors. Always load paper against the back edge of the tray.
Adjust the paper guides so they gently touch the sides of the paper stack. The guides should not be loose (which lets paper drift) or so tight they squeeze the stack.

Guides that are too tight can cause the paper to bow or fan out, which the sensor may not read correctly.
Match the paper size in the printer settings to the actual paper you loaded. On the printer control panel or in the print dialog on your computer, confirm the size is set correctly.

Even with A4 paper loaded, if the printer expects Letter size, it may report a paper mismatch error.
Press the OK or Resume button on the printer to acknowledge the error and resume printing once the paper is correctly loaded.

Some Canon printers require you to press OK after correcting the paper to clear the error.
Clean the paper sensor area with a dry, lint-free cloth. The paper detection sensor is usually a small lever or optical sensor visible in the paper tray area.

A dirty or stuck paper sensor can cause the printer to report paper errors even when paper is loaded correctly.

When to Call a Professional

Error 1850 is a paper loading or settings issue — not a hardware fault. You do not need a repair technician. If the error persists even after correctly loading paper, the paper detection sensor may be dirty or faulty, which a technician can inspect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my printer show error 1850 when there is paper in the tray?

The printer's paper sensor may not detect the paper if it is loaded incorrectly — too far back, too far forward, or at an angle. Also check that the paper guides are positioned snugly against the paper. If the paper is there but the guides are loose, the sensor may not register the paper's presence.

Can I use any size paper in a Canon Pixma?

Canon Pixma printers support a range of sizes including A4, Letter, Legal, 4x6 photo, and more. However, you must tell the printer exactly what size is loaded. Mismatch between the loaded size and the size in settings is a very common cause of paper errors like 1850.

What does fanning the paper before loading it do?

Fanning means bending the stack slightly to separate the sheets from each other. New paper or paper that has been sitting in humid conditions can stick together. Fanning before loading prevents the printer from accidentally pulling two sheets at once, which can cause paper jams and detection errors.