Canon Printer Error E28 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error E28 on Canon printers means the print head has exceeded its safe operating temperature. The printer stopped to protect the print head from heat damage. Letting the printer cool down completely almost always resolves this error.

Affected Models

Canon Pixma E400
Canon Pixma E480
Canon Pixma E560
Canon Pixma E3170
Canon Pixma E3370

Common Causes

The printer was used for an extended, continuous print job that overheated the print head
The printer is located in a room that is too warm, reducing its ability to cool down
The printer's ventilation is blocked — for example, placed inside a cabinet or against a wall
Multiple back-to-back print head cleaning cycles generated excessive heat
A hardware fault in the print head temperature sensor is giving a false overheat reading

How to Fix It

Turn the printer off immediately and unplug it. Let it cool down for at least 30 minutes in a well-ventilated area before attempting to use it again.

Do not use a fan to force-cool the printer — just let it cool naturally at room temperature.
Check the printer's location. Make sure it has at least 10 cm of clearance on all sides, especially the back and sides where heat vents are usually located.

Placing a printer inside a closed cabinet or directly against a wall traps heat and leads to overheating errors.
Check the room temperature. Printers are designed to operate between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius (50 to 86 Fahrenheit). If your room is warmer than this, the printer will overheat faster.

On very warm days or in rooms without air conditioning, printers may overheat after shorter print jobs than usual.
After cooling, turn the printer back on and try printing again. Start with a small print job to confirm the error is gone before printing large documents.

If the error returns after just a few pages, the printer needs more cooling time or the environment is too warm.
Avoid running multiple print head cleaning cycles back to back. Each cleaning generates heat. Space them out with at least 10 to 15 minutes between cleanings.

Each cleaning cycle also deposits ink into the absorber pad — limiting cleanings protects both the print head and the absorber.

When to Call a Professional

Error E28 is usually caused by overheating during normal use — not a hardware fault. No repair is needed in most cases. If the error appears immediately on startup or after just a few pages, the temperature sensor or print head may be faulty. Contact Canon Support or a local repair shop for diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if the overheating is caused by my environment or a hardware fault?

If the error only appears after long print sessions in warm conditions, it is almost certainly an environmental issue. If the error appears immediately when you turn the printer on, after just 1 or 2 pages, or in a cool room, a hardware fault is more likely. A hardware fault would be a sensor giving a false reading or the print head itself having an internal issue.

Can I speed up the cooling process?

You can open the printer's top and front covers to allow better airflow while it cools. Do not aim a fan directly at the print head or blow air into the printer body. Just giving the printer 30 minutes of rest in an open, cool area is enough in most cases.

Will letting the printer overheat repeatedly damage it permanently?

Repeated overheating can shorten the print head's lifespan over time. The print head contains tiny heating elements for each ink nozzle, and thermal stress can degrade them. Avoid printing extremely long jobs without breaks, and keep the printer in a cool, well-ventilated location to prevent this.