Canon Printer Error Code 5800 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Canon error 5800 means the ink absorber — the sponge inside your printer that collects waste ink from cleaning cycles — is nearly full. The printer is warning you before it reaches the point where it will refuse to print. This is a maintenance issue, not a mechanical failure.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MG3620
Canon PIXMA MG5720
Canon PIXMA iP8720
Canon PIXMA MX922
Canon PIXMA TS8320

Common Causes

Years of regular use have gradually filled the ink absorber pad with waste ink from automatic cleaning cycles
The printer was set to perform very frequent automatic cleaning, which accelerates absorber fill rate
Multiple head cleaning cycles were manually run in a short period of time, depositing large amounts of waste ink
The printer was used heavily with ink-intensive documents such as full-page color photos
A previous ink cartridge leaked inside the printer, flooding the absorber pad faster than normal

How to Fix It

Note that error 5800 is a warning — your printer can still print. Do not ignore it, as the next step will be a hard stop when the absorber is completely full.

This gives you time to plan: either schedule a service visit, order an absorber kit, or decide whether to replace the printer.
Reduce the frequency of automatic cleaning cycles. In the Canon IJ Printer Utility, go to Maintenance and reduce the auto-cleaning setting if available.

Each automatic cleaning cycle flushes ink into the absorber. Cutting down on cleaning cycles slows the fill rate and extends the time before the absorber is full.
Download and run Canon's 'Ink Absorber Counter Reset' tool if available for your specific model. Some models allow the counter to be reset using Canon's service utility.

This only resets the counter — it does not empty the absorber pad. The physical pad is still filling up, even if the counter says otherwise.
If you are comfortable with DIY repairs, you can purchase a replacement ink absorber kit for your Canon model. Instructions vary by model — search YouTube for a step-by-step video for your specific printer.

Absorber kits cost $10 to $30 online and include the pads and a reset tool. This is the most complete fix.
Contact a Canon service center or authorized repair shop to have the absorber pad professionally replaced and the counter officially reset.

An official reset prevents the printer from locking itself out in the future. Some third-party reset tools do not fully reset all counters, which can cause the error to reappear sooner.

When to Call a Professional

Once error 5800 escalates to a full ink absorber (which will display error 1700 or 1701), the printer will stop working entirely. Canon service centers can replace the absorber pad and reset the counter using official service tools. For older models, it may be more cost-effective to replace the printer than pay for a service visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to go from error 5800 to a full ink absorber lockout?

It depends entirely on how much you print and how often the printer runs cleaning cycles. Light users may continue printing for several more months. Heavy users or those who run frequent cleaning cycles could hit the full lockout within days or weeks. Taking action when you see error 5800 gives you the most options.

Can I just ignore error 5800 and keep printing?

You can keep printing for now — the printer will let you continue. But if you ignore it completely, the printer will eventually display a different error code (like 1700 or 5B00) and refuse to print at all. Take action now while you still have time to choose the best solution.

Is resetting the ink absorber counter safe?

Resetting the counter is safe in the short term and lets you keep using the printer. However, the physical absorber pad continues to fill up whether the counter shows it or not. If you reset the counter without replacing the pads, ink can eventually overflow inside the printer and cause permanent damage to the circuit board.