Canon Printer Error 5B00 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 5B00 means the ink absorber inside your Canon printer is full. The ink absorber is a pad that soaks up waste ink during cleaning cycles. When it gets full, the printer stops and shows this error to prevent ink from leaking inside.

Affected Models

Canon Pixma MG series
Canon Pixma MP series
Canon Pixma iP series
Canon Pixma TS series
Canon Pixma G series

Common Causes

The ink absorber pad has absorbed its maximum amount of waste ink over time
The printer has been used heavily or run many cleaning cycles, filling the absorber faster
The ink absorber counter in the printer's firmware has reached its limit and triggered the lockout
A previous ink spill or cartridge leak put extra ink into the absorber
The printer is old and has simply reached the end of its designed ink absorber lifespan

How to Fix It

Reset the ink absorber counter using Canon's free software tool. Download Canon's Service Tool (available on various printer support sites) for your operating system. Run it and use the Absorber Counter Reset function.

This resets the software counter that triggered the error — but does not physically empty the pad.
After resetting the counter, monitor the printer. If the pads are genuinely near capacity, you may get a few more uses before needing a physical replacement.

The counter reset is a temporary fix. The pads themselves will eventually need replacing.
Reduce the number of automatic cleaning cycles to slow absorber fill rate. Go to your Canon printer software, under Maintenance, and avoid running unnecessary deep cleaning cycles.

Each cleaning cycle pumps ink through the nozzles into the absorber. Fewer cleanings = longer pad life.
Replace the ink absorber pads. This requires opening the printer's bottom cover. Remove the old pads (they will be heavily stained with ink), install new pads of the same size, and reset the counter using the service tool.

Replacement pads are available on Amazon and eBay for most Canon Pixma models. Search for your model number plus absorber pads.
Contact Canon Support for professional servicing. In some regions, Canon offers an absorber replacement service for a fixed fee. This is a good option if you are not comfortable opening the printer.

In many countries, Canon service centers handle this repair routinely.

When to Call a Professional

Physically replacing the ink absorber pads requires opening the printer case and is a moderate difficulty repair. If you are not comfortable doing this, a printer repair shop can replace the pads and reset the counter. For older or lower-cost Canon printers, the cost of repair may exceed the value of the printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I ignore this error and keep printing?

You cannot — when error 5B00 appears, the printer locks itself and refuses to print. This is intentional: Canon builds this safety stop in to prevent ink from overflowing the absorber and damaging the printer's internal components. You must reset the counter or replace the pads before you can print again.

Is it safe to reset the counter without replacing the pads?

It depends on how full the pads actually are. If you have only recently started getting the warning, a counter reset may give you many more months of use. If the pads are visibly saturated and ink is near the edges, replacing them is the safer option.

How long do ink absorber pads normally last?

This varies greatly depending on how much you print and how many cleaning cycles you run. For light home users, absorber pads can last 3 to 5 years. For heavy users who print daily or run frequent cleaning cycles, they can fill up in 1 to 2 years.