Canon Printer Error E72 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Canon Error E72 is similar to E71 — it means the ink absorber pad is at or near full capacity. E72 often refers specifically to the platen ink absorber, which collects ink from borderless printing operations. When you print borderless photos, excess ink sprays past the paper edges and is absorbed by the platen pad. The pad counter and/or the physical pad needs attention before printing can continue.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MG5720/MG5721/MG5722
Canon PIXMA MG6820/MG6821/MG6822
Canon PIXMA TS5020/TS5021/TS5022
Canon PIXMA TR8520/TR8522
Canon PIXMA iP8720

Common Causes

Platen absorber pad is full from extensive borderless photo printing
Both main and platen absorber counters are at their limits
Printing large numbers of borderless 4x6 or 5x7 photos saturates the platen pad quickly
Absorber counter in the printer's firmware has not been reset after a previous service
Using third-party inks that run thinner, causing more ink to miss the paper edges

How to Fix It

Stop printing immediately when E72 appears. The platen absorber is either full or very close to full. Continuing borderless printing risks ink overflow onto the printer's internal components.

Regular printing on plain paper can continue more safely, as it does not generate platen absorber ink. However, stopping all printing until the issue is resolved is the safest approach.
Download and run the Canon Service Tool for your specific printer model to reset the platen absorber counter. Connect the printer via USB and follow the instructions to reset the pad counter.

Look for the Platen Pad Counter reset option specifically — some tools show separate buttons for the Main pad and the Platen pad.
Power the printer off after the reset. Wait 10 seconds and power it back on. Confirm E72 has cleared.

If E72 reappears immediately after a restart, the counter reset did not apply correctly. Try the reset process again.
Open the printer and locate the platen absorber pad. It sits beneath the printhead carriage track — the area the paper passes through during printing. Remove and rinse the pad or replace it.

The platen pad is typically smaller than the main absorber pad. Replacement kits usually include both pads.
Reassemble the printer and run a test print — first with regular paper, then a borderless photo test page. Confirm the printer completes both without errors.

If E72 returns after a short number of borderless prints, reduce borderless printing frequency or upgrade to the full service center pad replacement.

When to Call a Professional

Canon recommends service center repair for E72 to ensure the pads are properly replaced and the counter reset. However, the counter reset using Canon's Service Tool is a legitimate DIY fix. Service center cost is typically $50 to $100. Doing it yourself costs under $20 for a replacement pad kit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the platen absorber and how is it different from the main absorber?

The main absorber collects ink from head-cleaning cycles. The platen absorber sits under the paper path and catches ink that overshoots the paper edges during borderless printing. Both can fill up, but the platen pad fills faster if you frequently print borderless photos. E72 typically targets the platen absorber, while E71 usually targets the main absorber.

How many borderless photos can I print before E72 appears?

Canon does not publish an exact number, but the typical range is 3,000 to 10,000 borderless photo prints before the platen counter reaches its limit. Frequent smaller print sessions are harder on the absorber than large batches. Printing borderless on every photo shoot shortens pad life significantly.

Can I disable borderless printing to avoid E72?

Yes. If you switch to printing with a small white border instead of borderless, the platen pad receives almost no ink. This dramatically extends the time before E72 reappears. You give up the edge-to-edge look but gain much longer pad life between services.