Canon Printer Error 1890 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Canon error 1890 means the ink absorber pad inside the printer is reaching or has reached its maximum ink absorption capacity. The ink absorber pads collect waste ink from print head cleaning and maintenance cycles. Over time — often after thousands of pages — these pads become saturated and the printer locks out to prevent ink from leaking onto your documents and desk. This error requires either a reset using Canon's service tool or a pad replacement.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA IP2820
Canon PIXMA MG2522
Canon PIXMA TS202
Canon PIXMA MX490
Canon PIXMA G3260 (tank models have different absorbers)

Common Causes

Ink absorber pads have reached their designed capacity from normal long-term printing
Frequent print head cleaning cycles accelerated pad saturation
Printing many pages with heavy ink coverage saturated the pads faster
Absorber pads were never replaced after a previous reset
The counter that tracks absorber usage reached its limit

How to Fix It

Do not attempt to continue printing once error 1890 appears. The absorber pads are nearly saturated and forcing more cycles risks ink leaking inside the printer.

Place the printer on a surface where ink spillage will not cause damage while you decide how to proceed.
Download and run Canon's official Service Tool (such as iP2700 series service tool or the applicable tool for your model) from a trusted source to reset the waste ink counter. This temporarily allows continued printing.

The service tool is an official Canon program but is typically only distributed through service channels — search for 'Canon service tool [your model]' to find it. Use caution with third-party sites.
Understand that resetting the counter without replacing the pads means the pads are still saturated. The printer may eventually leak ink internally. A counter reset is a temporary measure.

If you reset the counter, plan to have the pads replaced within the next few months.
To replace the absorber pads, contact a Canon-authorized service center. They will disassemble the printer, replace the pads, and reset the counter professionally.

The cost of professional pad replacement varies by model — typically $50 to $100 at a service center.
If the printer is old and inexpensive, compare the cost of pad replacement against the price of a new printer before spending money on the repair.

Entry-level Canon PIXMA printers can be purchased for $50 to $100 new — pad replacement on a 5-year-old printer may not be cost-effective.

When to Call a Professional

Physically replacing the ink absorber pads requires disassembling the printer and is messy — ink is involved. Most users prefer to have a Canon service center perform the replacement. The counter reset can also be done at a service center if you are not comfortable using third-party reset tools. For older or inexpensive printers, cost of service may exceed the printer's value — consider that when deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is error 1890 the same as error 1700 or 5B00?

All three relate to the ink absorber pad system. 1700 is typically a warning that the pads are nearly full. 1890 is a more specific near-full or full alert on certain models. 5B00 is usually the final lockout error meaning the pads are completely full. All three require the same solution — reset the counter and/or replace the pads.

How long does it take to reach error 1890?

It depends on your printing habits. Light users may go 5 to 10 years before seeing this error. Heavy users who frequently print photos or run many cleaning cycles may see it within 2 to 3 years. Frequent automatic print head cleanings are the biggest factor in how fast the pads saturate.

Can I reset the Canon waste ink counter myself?

Yes — Canon's service tool allows users to reset the counter on most PIXMA models. The tool is available from Canon service channels and various online communities. However, remember that resetting the counter without replacing the pads means the pads remain saturated.