Canon Printer Error 5B00 – Meaning, Causes & Fix

What Does 5B00 Mean?

What Causes This Error?

• Waste ink absorber pad has reached its designed absorption capacity after normal use
• Excessive automatic or manual printhead cleaning cycles accelerating pad saturation
• High-volume printing with ink-heavy documents filling the pad faster than average
• Multiple partial resets without physical pad replacement causing rapid re-filling
• Use of third-party ink with different viscosity properties affecting pad saturation rate
• Very old printer (5+ years) where normal cumulative use has filled the pad
• Incorrect paper or settings causing repeated cleaning cycle triggers
• Software counter reaching limit even if pad is not fully saturated (counter drift)

How to Fix 5B00

1. 1

   Download Canon's Service Tool software. The waste ink counter reset requires Canon's official service tool software. The most commonly compatible version for modern PIXMA printers is 'Canon Service Tool v5103' (also sometimes listed as ST v5103). Search for this tool on trusted tech support forums or Canon service partner sites — Canon does not distribute it directly on their consumer site. Ensure you download it from a reputable source and scan it with antivirus before running.

2. 2

   Connect the printer via USB. The Canon Service Tool requires a direct USB connection — it does not work reliably over Wi-Fi. Connect your printer to your computer with a USB cable. Turn the printer on and ensure it is recognized by your operating system (it should appear in Devices and Printers even while showing error 5B00).

3. 3

   Run the Service Tool and reset the waste ink counter. Open the Canon Service Tool software. Your printer model should appear in the tool's interface. Look for the 'Absorber Counter' or 'Ink Absorber Counter' section. Click 'Clear' or 'Reset' next to the waste ink counter value. The tool will send a reset command to the printer. The printer may power off and restart automatically. After restart, the 5B00 error should be cleared.

4. 4

   Print a test page to confirm the reset. After the printer restarts without error 5B00 displayed, print a standard test page from the printer's own menu (Hold the Stop/Resume button for approximately 5 seconds on most PIXMA models). A successful test print confirms the reset worked correctly.

5. 5

   Physically inspect and replace the waste ink pad (strongly recommended). Even after the counter reset, if the physical pad is saturated with ink it will reach capacity again quickly. The waste ink pad is accessible by removing the printer's base panel. On most PIXMA models, it consists of one or two felt pads soaked with dried and liquid ink. Replacement pads are available online for most models for under $10. Alternatively, remove the pad, rinse it thoroughly with warm water until the water runs clear, dry it completely (24 hours minimum), and reinstall.

6. 6

   Reduce unnecessary cleaning cycles to extend pad life. After the reset and pad service, reduce how often automatic cleaning runs. Avoid pressing the cleaning button unless print quality issues are visible. Keep the printer powered on consistently rather than turning it off after each use — printers perform more aggressive cleaning cycles on cold start-up, which accelerates pad saturation.

When to Call a Professional

Can You Still Use the Device?

The printer is completely locked when error 5B00 is active. No printing, copying, or scanning functions are available until the waste ink counter is reset. Do not attempt to print through the error — the printer's protective lockout is designed to prevent ink damage to internal components.