Canon Printer Error 4600 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 4600 means your Canon printer's ink absorber counter is reporting a problem. The ink absorber is a pad inside the printer that collects waste ink during cleaning cycles. Canon tracks the absorber's estimated fullness electronically — when it hits a threshold, the printer stops and shows an error. The counter can be reset using Canon's service tool.

Affected Models

Canon Pixma MG2900 Series
Canon Pixma E400 Series
Canon Pixma MG3000 Series
Canon Pixma MG2500 Series
Canon Pixma TS3300 Series

Common Causes

The ink absorber counter has reached or exceeded Canon's preset limit from accumulated cleaning cycles
Excessive deep cleaning cycles were run, filling the waste ink pad faster than normal use would
The printer was used heavily with a lot of borderless printing, which produces more waste ink than standard printing
A firmware issue incorrectly incremented the counter faster than actual waste ink was produced
The physical ink absorber pad is genuinely soaked and needs replacement

How to Fix It

Download the Canon Service Tool (also called the Canon IJ Printer Utility or Waste Ink Absorber Resetter) from a trusted source. This tool resets the internal counter that tracks absorber fullness.

Canon does not officially distribute this tool publicly in all regions. Search for 'Canon waste ink absorber resetter' — several trusted tech sites host it. Match the tool version to your printer model.
Close all Canon printer software before running the service tool. Connect the printer via USB and make sure it is powered on.

Some versions of the service tool do not work over Wi-Fi — use a USB cable for best results.
Run the service tool. Navigate to the ink absorber counter reset option and run it for your specific model. The printer should print a test page and the counter will be reset to zero.

The tool and menu layout vary by version. Look for options labeled 'Main', 'Platen', or 'Ink Absorber Reset'.
Turn the printer off and back on. Confirm the error 4600 is gone by printing a test page.

If the error immediately returns after the reset, the counter reset did not complete successfully — try again with the USB connection confirmed.
Even after resetting the counter, consider physically inspecting the waste ink pad. Open the printer's bottom panel if accessible. If the pad looks visibly saturated with dark ink, it should be replaced.

You can purchase replacement waste ink pads for most Canon Pixma models online for a few dollars. Replacing the pad and resetting the counter together is the most thorough solution.

When to Call a Professional

If the counter reset does not fully clear the error, or if the waste ink pad is visibly saturated with ink, the pad should be physically replaced. A soaked pad that is not replaced can leak ink into the printer's internal components, causing permanent damage. Canon service centers and many independent repair shops can replace the waste ink pad for most Pixma models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to reset the absorber counter without replacing the pad?

It is safe if the pad is not yet visibly soaked. The counter is a conservative estimate — the physical pad often has more capacity than the counter suggests. However, if you reset the counter repeatedly without ever replacing the pad, you risk the pad eventually overflowing and leaking ink into the printer's internals.

How often will I need to reset the absorber counter?

For average home printing use, most Canon Pixma printers reach the absorber limit after several years. Heavy users who run frequent cleaning cycles may reach it sooner. Each time you reset, the pad is a little more saturated — plan to replace the physical pad after two or three resets.

Can this error damage my printer if I ignore it?

Yes — that is exactly why Canon designed the printer to stop when the counter trips. A genuinely overfull waste ink pad can overflow inside the printer, soaking the circuit board and causing permanent damage. Do not ignore this error or try to continue printing without addressing it.