Printer Error Codes Explained: HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother
Last Updated:Printer error codes look cryptic, but almost all fall into a few categories and most resolve in under ten minutes without a service call. This is a reference for the codes people actually hit on HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother machines — what each means, what fixes it, and how to work out a code that is not on the list.
The Short Answer
Nearly every printer error code reports one of three things:
- A supply problem — a cartridge, toner, or drum that is missing, unrecognized, empty, or badly seated. You can almost always fix these yourself.
- An obstruction — jammed paper, a blocked carriage, torn scraps, or packing material left in place. Also usually fixable at home.
- A hardware fault — a failed printhead, motor, fuser, formatter board, or full waste ink absorber. Some clear with a power reset; the rest need service, and on cheap models are often not worth repairing.
Before anything else, try the universal reset: power off with the printer's own button, unplug from the wall for 60 seconds, plug directly into the outlet rather than a surge protector, and power back on. This clears a surprising share of one-off errors, including many hex-coded ones.
How to Read a Code You Do Not Recognize
Note where it appears. A code on the printer's own display comes from its firmware and refers to the hardware. A code that appears only in a dialog on your computer usually comes from the driver or spooler and points at a software, connection, or permissions problem — not a broken printer.
Read the format. Brands are consistent, which makes the code itself informative:
- HP uses E-codes and blinking lights on screenless inkjets, plain-language messages on inkjets with displays, hexadecimal 0x codes for internal diagnostics, and dot-decimal numbers like 49.xx or 13.xx on LaserJets.
- Canon uses four-digit support codes on inkjets, plus alphanumeric codes beginning with B or 5 for hardware faults.
- Epson uses E-prefixed codes for user-fixable conditions and hexadecimal 0x codes for fatal internal errors.
- Brother mostly uses plain-language messages, reserving numbered "Machine Error" and "Unable to" messages for internal faults.
Decide whether it is a supply or hardware code. Supply codes name a consumable and clear the moment it is fixed. Hardware codes name a subsystem or give you nothing but a number, persist through a power cycle, and often reappear immediately after clearing.
Check the manufacturer's documentation. Every brand publishes a code lookup, and their meaning beats any third-party list — including this one — because codes are model-specific and the same number can mean different things across product lines. Canon publishes a per-model support code index in its online manuals, HP has a support page per error, Epson documents codes in the model user guide, and Brother has a searchable FAQ for message text. Always search the code together with your exact model number.
HP Error Codes
E-Codes on DeskJet and ENVY Inkjets
| Code | What It Means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | Paper size mismatch — the loaded paper does not match the size set in the print job | Match the driver's paper size to what is in the tray, or press Resume to print anyway |
| E2 | Paper length mismatch — the page fed was shorter or longer than expected | Reload the correct size, square the guides against the stack, resend the job |
| E3 | Carriage jam — the print carriage cannot move freely | Power off, open the access door, remove any jammed paper or foreign object, and move the carriage by hand to confirm it slides freely |
| E4 | Paper jam | Clear paper from the input, output, and rear access door. Pull in the direction of travel and check for small torn scraps |
| E5 | Scanner failure | Power reset. If it persists the scanner unit has failed; the printer will usually still print |
Blinking Light Patterns on Screenless HP Printers
| Pattern | What It Means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Power light blinking alone | Warming up, processing a job, or a minor internal error | Wait. If it does not stop, check for paper scraps and power cycle |
| Power and ink lights blinking together | Cartridge not seated correctly | Remove the cartridges, wipe the copper contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, reinstall until they click |
| Ink light blinking or solid | Cartridge not recognized | Confirm the protective tape is fully removed, verify the cartridge number matches your model, check the date |
| Paper light blinking | Jam, misfeed, or paper loaded incorrectly | Remove the stack, fan it, reload squarely against the guides |
| Wireless light blinking blue | Lost the router connection | Move the printer closer to the router and rerun wireless setup |
| All lights blinking in sequence | Hardware fault, typically a stalled carriage or scanner | Power off, unplug 60 seconds, restart |
HP Message and Hex Codes
| Code | What It Means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ink System Failure / Printhead Error | The printer cannot communicate with the printhead, or the printhead has failed | Reseat the printhead if your model has a removable one, clean its contacts, reseat cartridges. Often terminal on integrated-head models |
| Cartridge Problem / Incompatible Cartridge | One or more cartridges are unrecognized | Identify which slot, reseat firmly, clean contacts, confirm the part number fits your model |
| Carriage Jam | The carriage is blocked on its rail | Power off, remove obstructions, check for shipping tape or foam left inside a new printer |
| 0xc19a0003 | Ink system failure on OfficeJet Pro models, usually printhead-related | Power reset, then remove and reseat the printhead and cartridges and clean the printhead contacts |
| 0x610000f6 | A general printer error HP documents on Photosmart models; it does not name a specific subsystem | Full 60-second power reset with the printer plugged directly into the wall. If it recurs, service |
| 0xc4eb827f | Internal error on OfficeJet Pro models | Power reset first. If it persists, an HP-documented printer reset procedure for your model is required |
| Other 0x codes | Internal diagnostic codes covering jams, cartridge faults, and communication failures | Note the exact code, power reset, then search HP support for that code plus your model |
HP LaserJet Numeric Codes
| Code | What It Means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 10.xx | Supply memory error — the chip on the cartridge cannot be read | Reseat the toner cartridge, clean the chip contacts, confirm it is the right cartridge for the model |
| 13.xx | Paper jam; the digits after the dot indicate where in the path | Open all doors and clear the full path including the fuser area and duplexer |
| 49.xx | Firmware error, usually triggered by a corrupt print job | Power off, clear the print queue on every connected computer, restart, then update firmware |
| 50.x | Fuser error | Power off and let it cool 30 minutes, then restart. Persistent 50.x means the fuser needs replacing |
| 79.xx | Formatter or firmware fault | Unplug 60 seconds and restart. Disconnect network cables and add-on memory to isolate the cause, then update firmware |
Canon Error Codes
| Code | What It Means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | No paper in the rear tray | Load paper and press OK. If paper is loaded, remove and reload it squarely |
| 1300 | Paper jam in the output or feed path | Pull the jammed sheet slowly in the direction of feed, then check for torn scraps |
| 1700 / 1701 | The waste ink absorber is nearly full — a warning, not yet a stop | Press Stop or OK to continue printing, and start planning for service or replacement |
| 5100 | Carriage error — obstruction, or an ink tank seated incorrectly | Power off, open the cover, remove obstructions and any protective packing, reseat every ink tank until it clicks, check for a stuck encoder strip |
| 5200 | Printer error, per Canon's own documentation. On tank models it frequently appears when ink has run out or after a failed ink flush | Check and refill ink, power reset, run print head cleaning, then system cleaning. Canon's escalation path from here is print head replacement, then service |
| 5B00 / 5B01 | The waste ink absorber is full. The printer stops entirely | Requires Canon service to replace the pad and reset the counter. On low-cost models this frequently exceeds the printer's value |
| 6000 | Paper feed error | Power off, remove all paper, check for obstructions and debris in the feed path, reload |
| B200 (also B201–B207) | Print head voltage or hardware fault — a serious error | Unplug for 30 minutes, remove and reseat the print head and ink tanks, clean the print head contacts. If it returns, the print head has failed |
Epson Error Codes
Epson separates user-fixable conditions from fatal ones. E-codes and plain messages you can generally handle yourself; a hexadecimal 0x code means something inside has failed.
| Code | What It Means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| E-01 | General printer error | Power off, check for jammed paper and obstructions in the carriage path, restart |
| 0x69 | Scanner or scanner communication error on all-in-one models | Power reset, check the ADF is fully closed. If it persists the scanner unit has failed; printing usually still works |
| 0x97 | Fatal internal hardware error, commonly reported on WorkForce models. Points to a failed internal component or main board rather than anything you installed | Try one full power reset with the printer unplugged 10 minutes. If it returns, this requires service and on consumer models is usually end of life |
| 0x9A | Carriage obstruction — something is physically blocking the print head | Power off, open the cover, remove any jammed paper, packing material, or foreign object, and move the carriage gently by hand to check it travels freely |
| 0xF1 | Fatal error, most often reported alongside carriage or print head problems | Clear any obstruction and power reset. If it persists after the path is verified clear, it needs service |
| "The ink pad is at the end of its service life" | The internal waste ink absorber is saturated | Epson service is required to replace the pad and reset the counter. A related "parts inside are near the end of their service life" message is the advance warning |
Brother Error Codes
Brother favors plain-language messages, so the wording usually names the subsystem. The numbered messages are the exception — those are internal faults.
| Message | What It Means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Unable to Print XX" / "Unable to Init XX" / "Unable to Clean XX" | Brother describes these as general messages that appear for several different reasons, most often something obstructing the print head | Unplug the machine, open the scanner cover, remove any foreign object, move the print head to the center and check underneath for debris, then reconnect. If it persists, Brother states the machine needs repair |
| Machine Error 46 | The ink absorber pad is full | Requires a Brother service center to replace the pad and reset the counter |
| "Ink Absorber Near Full" | Advance warning that the waste pad is filling | Printing continues for now. Reduce unnecessary cleaning cycles and plan for service |
| "Unable to Detect Ink" / "No Cartridge" | A cartridge is missing, unrecognized, or seated wrong | Remove and reinstall until it clicks, wipe the contacts dry, confirm the LC number matches your model |
| "Drum !" (drum with exclamation) | The corona wire needs cleaning, or the drum unit is not seated properly | Slide the green corona wire tab left and right several times and return it to the home position, then reseat the drum and toner assembly |
| "Drum End Soon" / "Replace Drum" | The drum unit is near or at the end of its rated life — separate from the toner cartridge | Replace the drum unit, then reset the drum counter from the menu. Skipping the reset leaves the message on screen |
| "Toner Low" / "Replace Toner" | Toner is low or reported empty | Replace the toner cartridge. If you replaced it and the message stays, reset the toner counter for your model |
| "Paper Jam Tray" / "Paper Jam Rear" / "Paper Jam Inside" | The wording names where the sheet stopped | Clear that specific area, including the rear door and duplex tray, and check for scraps left behind |
Waste Ink Errors Deserve Special Attention
Canon 5B00 and 1700, Epson's ink pad message, and Brother Machine Error 46 all report the same condition: the internal pad that catches ink from cleaning cycles is saturated, and the printer counts its way there rather than measuring it.
Two things follow. First, these are the errors most likely to end a printer's life, because clearing them requires opening the machine and resetting a counter — service work that often costs more than a replacement. Second, you influence how fast that counter fills. Every cleaning cycle deposits ink in that pad, so running cycles back to back when a nozzle check shows no improvement is the fastest way to reach this error years early. Clean once, wait, check, then clean again.
Fixes Worth Trying on Almost Any Code
- The full power reset. Off at the printer's button, unplugged 60 seconds, plugged directly into the outlet rather than a strip, then on. Do this first.
- Reseat every consumable until it clicks, wiping the metal contacts with a dry lint-free cloth.
- Clear the entire paper path, not just the visible jam. Open the rear door and duplexer and look for torn pieces, which trigger jam errors long after the main sheet is gone.
- Check for packing material on a new or recently moved printer. Orange tape, foam blocks, and cardboard inserts cause carriage errors constantly.
- Clear the print queue on every connected computer. A corrupt job resends itself and reproduces the same error after each restart.
- Update the firmware. This fixes a meaningful share of recurring hex and formatter errors, especially on HP models.
- Confirm your supplies match the model. A cartridge with the wrong part number produces exactly the same error as a dirty contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Same Code Mean the Same Thing on Every Model?
No, and this trips people up constantly. Codes are model-specific and the same number can mean different things across a brand's product lines. Search the code with your exact model number, and trust the manufacturer's page over any general list.
Why Does the Error Come Back Right After I Clear It?
Usually one of three causes: a corrupt job still in the queue resending itself, a torn scrap still in the path, or a genuine hardware fault. Clear the queue on every connected computer and inspect the full path before concluding the hardware has failed.
What Is the Difference Between a Supply Code and a Hardware Code?
A supply code names a consumable and clears once that consumable is correctly installed or replaced. A hardware code names a subsystem or gives only a number, and survives a power cycle. If a code persists through a full 60-second reset with all consumables correctly seated, treat it as hardware.
Is a Full Waste Ink Absorber Worth Repairing?
Price the service first. Replacing the pad and resetting the counter is real service work, and on inexpensive inkjets it commonly costs more than a new printer. On higher-end business models it is usually worth doing.
Can a Third-Party Cartridge Cause an Error Code?
It can produce a recognition error if the chip is unreadable, the part number does not match your model, or a firmware update changed how chips are validated. That is a communication problem, not damage. Reseat the cartridge, clean the contacts, and confirm the number fits your printer.
My Code Only Appears on My Computer, Never on the Printer. Why?
Because it is not a printer error. Codes appearing only in a Windows or macOS dialog come from the driver or print spooler and point to a connection, driver, or permissions problem. Restart the spooler, reinstall the driver, and confirm the printer is not offline or paused.
Related Guides
- How to Clean Print Heads: Instructions for Printer Head Cleaning
- How to Clean Printer Ink Cartridges: 4 Methods That Actually Work
- How to Clean Canon Printer Heads
- How to Connect a Printer to Wi-Fi: Step-by-Step for HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother
- Why Is My Printer Not Printing At All? Complete Troubleshooting Guide
- HP compatible ink cartridges
- Canon compatible ink cartridges
- Epson compatible ink cartridges
- Brother compatible ink cartridges
- Brother compatible toner cartridges
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