Canon Printer Error E71 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Canon Error E71 indicates a problem with the printer's ink absorber — the internal pad that collects waste ink from cleaning cycles. Canon printers periodically clean the print heads by flushing ink, and this waste ink is absorbed by a sponge pad inside the printer. When the absorber reaches its maximum ink capacity, E71 appears to warn you before overflow causes internal damage. The absorber counter needs to be reset and the physical pad should be replaced or cleaned.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MG series
Canon PIXMA MX series
Canon PIXMA TS series
Canon PIXMA iP series
Canon PIXMA TR series

Common Causes

Ink absorber pad has reached or nearly reached its maximum ink capacity from repeated cleaning cycles
Excessive automatic cleaning cycles have saturated the absorber pad faster than normal
Multiple ink cartridge replacements have each triggered cleaning cycles, accelerating absorber fill
Absorber counter in the printer's EEPROM has reached its limit and has not been reset
Low-quality ink or refilled cartridges causing more frequent head-cleaning cycles

How to Fix It

Do not try to print through E71 — the absorber may already be at capacity. Continued printing can cause ink to overflow inside the printer, which damages the electronic components.

E71 is a warning that the absorber is nearly full. Stopping now prevents actual damage.
Download Canon's Service Tool (also called the Waste Ink Pad Counter Reset Tool) for your specific printer model. This free utility resets the absorber counter in the printer's memory.

Search for your specific Canon model alongside 'waste ink counter reset tool'. Canon PIXMA models commonly use Service Tool V5103 or V4720 depending on the model year.
Connect the printer to your computer via USB. Run the Service Tool. Select your printer model and click the Main Pad Counter or Platen Pad Counter reset button as applicable.

Always use the correct tool version for your model. Using the wrong version can cause additional errors.
After resetting the counter, turn the printer off and back on. The E71 error should be gone. Test with a small print job.

Resetting the counter alone is not a permanent fix — the physical pad is still saturated with ink. Plan to replace it.
Open the printer's bottom or side access panel and locate the ink absorber pad — a white or gray sponge. Remove it, rinse it thoroughly under warm water until the water runs clear, let it dry completely, and reinstall. Or replace it with a new pad.

Replacement absorber pads are inexpensive — usually $5 to $15 from online parts suppliers.

When to Call a Professional

Canon officially recommends contacting Canon service to replace the absorber pad and reset the counter. Canon service centers can handle this for $50 to $100. However, the absorber counter can also be reset using Canon's free Service Tool software, which is available online. This is a common DIY fix for technically inclined users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Canon have an ink absorber at all?

During automatic head-cleaning cycles, the printer pushes ink through the nozzles to clear any dried or clogged ink. This cleaning ink must go somewhere — it drains into the absorber pad. Without this pad, cleaning ink would leak inside the printer and destroy the electronics. The downside is the pad eventually fills up and must be cleaned or replaced.

Can I print after resetting the counter without replacing the pad?

Yes, but you are printing on borrowed time. The pad is physically saturated with ink — it cannot absorb more without risk of overflow. Reset the counter and replace or clean the pad as soon as possible. Do not run extensive head-cleaning cycles until the pad has been serviced.

How do I know if the ink absorber is truly full or if it is a false reading?

Open the printer and inspect the absorber pad visually. A full pad will be dark with ink and may feel wet or heavy. If the pad looks relatively clean, the counter may have triggered a false alarm due to an overflow detection circuit issue. Either way, resetting the counter and inspecting the pad is the correct response.