Canon Printer Error Code E40 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error E40 is an ink absorber warning on your Canon printer. The ink absorber — a sponge inside the printer that collects waste ink — is getting close to full. The printer is still usable, but you should take action soon to avoid a full stop.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MG2500 Series
Canon PIXMA TS3100 Series
Canon PIXMA E400 Series
Canon PIXMA TR4500 Series
Canon PIXMA MX490 Series

Common Causes

The ink absorber pad has absorbed a large amount of waste ink over many print jobs
Frequent print head cleaning cycles have flushed more ink than usual into the absorber
The printer has been in use for several years and the absorber is nearing capacity
Printing ink-heavy documents like photos regularly fills the absorber faster
The absorber counter in firmware has reached the warning threshold, even if the pad has some capacity left

How to Fix It

Press the Resume/Stop button to dismiss the E40 warning and continue printing for now.

E40 is a warning, not a hard stop. You can continue printing, but take note that the absorber needs attention soon.
Reduce unnecessary print head cleaning cycles. Only run a cleaning when print quality is noticeably poor.

Each cleaning cycle flushes ink into the absorber. Excessive cleaning wastes ink and fills the absorber faster.
Visit Canon's support website and download the Maintenance Tool (also called the Ink Absorber Counter Reset Tool) for your printer model.

This free tool resets the firmware counter that triggered E40. It does not physically clean the pad.
If you are comfortable with light DIY work, open the printer and replace the ink absorber pad before it reaches full capacity.

Replacement absorber pads are available online for $5 to $15. Replace the pad before resetting the counter.
If DIY is not for you, take the printer to a Canon service center or local printer repair shop for an absorber replacement.

This is a routine maintenance job that typically takes less than an hour.

When to Call a Professional

At the E40 warning stage, your printer still works — you have time to plan. When the absorber fills completely, the printer will stop printing entirely (usually shown as a different error code). Canon service centers can replace the ink absorber for $40 to $80. You can also reset the absorber counter yourself using Canon's free Maintenance Tool software if you replace the pad at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ink absorber and why does it fill up?

During print head cleaning cycles, the printer flushes waste ink through the head to clear blockages. This waste ink drains into a sponge pad — the ink absorber — inside the printer. Over years of use, this sponge fills with dried waste ink and needs to be replaced.

Can I reset the absorber counter without replacing the pad?

Yes, technically. The Maintenance Tool resets the firmware counter regardless of whether you replaced the pad. However, if the actual pad is saturated, ink may eventually overflow and leak inside the printer. For long-term reliability, replace the pad and then reset the counter.

How long do I have before E40 becomes a hard stop?

It varies depending on how much you print. E40 is a warning that gives you time to take action — it could be weeks or months before a full stop. Watch for the error code changing to E41 or another absorber-full error, which means you must stop printing immediately.