Canon Ink Cartridge Not Recognized: Fixes by Support Code
You put a cartridge in and the printer says it cannot be recognized, shows E05, or flashes the Alarm lamp. This usually happens right after a cartridge change. The fix depends on which support code Canon gives you, so start by finding it.
In This Guide
Find Your Support Code First
The support code appears on the computer screen when you print, or on the printer’s LCD on screen models. Small-LCD models such as the TS3320 and TS3522 show E05 for several of these codes (see our E05 guide).
| Support code | Canon’s meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1401 | FINE cartridge is not installed | Install the cartridge. If the error stays, Canon says it may be damaged and to contact a service center |
| 1403, 1430 | Cartridge cannot be recognized | Reinstall properly; install an appropriate cartridge for your model |
| 1485 | Appropriate cartridge not installed | The cartridge is the wrong model or region for this printer. Install the correct one |
| 1682 | FINE cartridge cannot be recognized | Replace the FINE cartridge. If it continues, Canon says the cartridge may be damaged: contact service |
| 1684 | Ink cartridge cannot be recognized | May not be installed properly or not compatible. Install the appropriate cartridge |
| 1686 / 1688 | Ink may have run out / ink has run out | Replace the cartridge. Canon allows continuing by holding Stop for 5 seconds, but warns this can damage the printer |
Step-by-Step Fix
- Check the number on the cartridge matches the number listed for your printer (for example PG-275/CL-276 for the TS3500 series). Cartridges are often region-specific, so a cartridge bought abroad may not be recognized.
- Remove the cartridge and check that all orange tape and the plastic cap are removed. Do not touch the gold electrical contacts or the print head nozzles.
- Make sure each cartridge is in the correct slot. On most two-cartridge PIXMA models the color cartridge goes on the left and black on the right.
- Push the cartridge in until it clicks and close the lock lever if your model has one. Close the cover.
- Turn the printer off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it on again.
- If the code is unchanged, try a different new cartridge. If a second genuine cartridge is also not recognized, the problem is the printer’s contacts, not the cartridge.
Not Recognized Right After Installing a New Cartridge
This is the most common situation. In order of likelihood: tape or cap still on, cartridge not fully clicked in, wrong cartridge number, or a compatible/refilled cartridge whose chip the printer rejects. Genuine Canon cartridges with the right number almost always work once seated correctly. For ink-tank (MegaTank) models, see the ink tank section in your model’s manual instead: those use print heads, not cartridges, and a "not recognized" code there can mean a print head problem.
Compatible and Refilled Cartridges
Canon’s position is simply that the cartridge "may not be compatible with this printer". Some compatible cartridges work and some are rejected, and a batch that worked last month may not work after a firmware update. If a compatible cartridge is not recognized, the reliable fix is a genuine cartridge or a replacement from the seller.
On some models a refilled cartridge is recognized but shows the ink level as unknown. Canon lets you continue after an ink-out warning by holding Stop for 5 seconds, which turns off ink level detection for that cartridge. Canon warns that printing without ink can damage the print head, and it does not cover damage caused this way.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Most often the orange tape or cap is still on, the cartridge is not fully clicked in, or the cartridge number is wrong for the printer. Remove and reinstall it, then turn the printer off and on.
- Canon says the ink cartridge cannot be recognized because it may not be installed properly or may not be compatible with the printer. Install the correct cartridge for your model.
- The FINE cartridge cannot be recognized. Canon’s instruction is to replace the cartridge, and to contact a service center if the error continues.
- Some do and some do not. If a compatible cartridge is rejected, try a genuine Canon cartridge with the correct number.
- Canon advises not touching the electrical contacts. If there is dried ink on them, wipe very gently with a dry lint-free cloth.
Sources checked for this guide: Canon support code pages 1401, 1403, 1430, 1485, 1682, 1684, 1686/1688 (Canon online manuals and Canon USA/Asia knowledge base). Button names, menus and codes can differ between models and firmware versions, so check your own model's manual at ij.manual.canon if something does not match.