Canon Printer Error Code 9000 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Canon error 9000 means the printer's ink absorber is completely full. The ink absorber is a sponge-like pad inside the printer that collects waste ink from cleaning cycles. Once it is full, the printer will not print at all until the absorber is serviced and the counter is reset.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MG7500 Series
Canon PIXMA MG6700 Series
Canon PIXMA TS8100 Series
Canon PIXMA MX920 Series
Canon PIXMA G1000 Series

Common Causes

The ink absorber pad has reached its maximum capacity after accumulating waste ink over years of use
Frequent or automatic printhead cleaning cycles have pumped large amounts of ink into the absorber over time
Heavy use of borderless photo printing, which directs extra ink around the page edges into the absorber
The ink absorber counter in the printer's firmware has hit its programmed maximum, even if the pad is not completely saturated
A previous counter reset was performed without replacing the pad, causing the counter to roll over again quickly

How to Fix It

Power off the printer completely and unplug the power cord from the wall.

Do not attempt to reset or continue printing with a full absorber — ink can overflow and permanently damage the printer's internals.
Contact a Canon service center or authorized repair shop. Explain that you are getting error 9000 and need the ink absorber serviced.

Canon's official service is available in many countries. Use the 'Find a Service Center' tool on Canon's website to locate one near you.
If you are technically confident, you can replace the ink absorber pad yourself. Open the printer's base cover (model-specific — search YouTube for your exact model), remove the saturated pad, and install a new compatible pad.

Third-party replacement absorber kits are available online for most popular Canon PIXMA models. Be careful — ink stains permanently.
After replacing the absorber pad, download Canon's free Service Tool (also called the 'EEPROM Reset Tool') from Canon's support website and run it to reset the waste ink counter.

The reset tool is free and widely available. Search 'Canon Service Tool V4720' or the equivalent for your model series.
Reinstall the ink cartridges, plug the printer back in, and run a test print to confirm the error is cleared and the printer is working normally.

If the error reappears immediately after the reset, the pad may not have been installed correctly or the reset did not complete successfully.

When to Call a Professional

Canon error 9000 requires physical service to fix properly. A Canon service center or authorized repair technician can replace the absorber pad and reset the internal counter. This service typically costs $50 to $100. For older or low-cost printers, it may be more economical to replace the printer entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just reset the counter and keep using my Canon printer with error 9000?

You can reset the counter, but it is not safe to do so without replacing or cleaning the absorber pad. If the pad is truly saturated, ink will overflow inside the printer, potentially shorting out the circuit board. Always service the pad before resetting the counter.

How long does an ink absorber last in a Canon printer?

It depends entirely on usage. A printer used mainly for text documents may last 5 to 10 years before reaching this point. A printer used for heavy photo printing or frequent cleaning cycles may hit the limit in 1 to 2 years. Borderless printing is the biggest accelerator.

Is the Canon Service Tool free and safe to use?

Yes. Canon's Service Tool software is free and available on Canon's support website and from many trusted printer support communities. It is specifically designed for this purpose. Just make sure you download it from a reputable source — avoid random download sites that bundle it with other software.