How to Fix Error 5B00 on Canon Printers In No Time

Don't discard it just yet, we might be of help!

by Milan Stanojevic
Milan Stanojevic
Milan Stanojevic
Windows & Software Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He's a PC enthusiast and he... read more
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  • The 5B00 error in Canon printers prevents users from scanning or printing, and the yellow and green lights continue to blink. 
  • The problem usually arises when the ink pad is saturated, or the WIC has reached the limit.
  • To fix things, many users reset the Waste Ink Counter by pressing specific buttons in a sequence.
fix canon error 5b00 in Windows

Printers are indeed a complex pieces of hardware, with no possible solutions in sight when things go wrong. One such issue that has troubled users for a long time is the 5B00 error on Canon printers.

Based on our research, the problem seems to affect almost every model, and the complete message reads, Support Code: 5B00 A printer error has occurred. See the manual and contact the service center.

The error prevents users from both scanning and printing, and most end up buying a new printer. But don’t do that just yet. There is a solution that might prove helpful if you are getting error 5B00 on a Canon printer.

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Why am I getting Canon 5B00 error?

Here are a few reasons you might be getting the error:

  • Ink leakage: If you installed a damaged cartridge, chances are there was an ink leakage that led to the error.
  • Saturated ink absorber pads: Over time, the ink absorber pads get saturated in cleaning excess ink, and that’s when you see the error 5B00 on Canon printers.
  • Waste Ink Counter (WIC) has hit the limit: When WIC hits the maximum limit, you will have trouble using the Canon printer.

How do I fix Canon 5b00 error?

1. Reset the Waste Ink Counter

Note icon NOTE
You should not try this solution repeatedly over time since the absorber pads will be completely saturated, and further printing may lead to significant leakage. However, trying it a few times in quick succession, if the first attempt wasn’t fruitful, won’t do any harm.
  1. First, turn off the printer.
  2. Now, press and hold the Stop button, and then simultaneously hold the Power button to turn the printer on.reset WIC
  3. With the Power button still held, press the Stop button 5 times to make the printer enter the Service Mode, and then release the Power button.
  4. Next, press the Stop button thrice and then the Power button once to print a Service Page.
  5. Finally, press the Stop button 5 times, followed by the Power button one last time.
  6. You can now turn off the printer for a while, and when you turn it back on, things should be up and running.

This is one of the few possible solutions for Canon error 5B00 that seemed to work for users. It resets the Waste Ink Counter without having you clean anything.

2. Take your printer to a service center

If the trick listed earlier didn’t work, you would have to take the printer to a service center. While many recommend manually cleaning the waste ink absorber pad, there’s no point in doing so unless the Waste Ink Counter is reset.

And since the previous method didn’t help reset WIC, getting it done by a professional is the only viable alternative.

Tip icon Tip
You may come across websites that claim to sell keys to reset WIC. These are not legitimate, and we wouldn’t recommend you employ such means to fix the printer.

That’s all there’s to error 5B00 on Canon printers. As we said earlier, there are not a lot of solutions for the problem, which should be evident by now.

If you want a new one, check out our curated list of the best printers in the market.

If you know of any other solutions that work, do drop them in the comments section below and help fellow Canon users.

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