Why Is My Canon Printer Not Printing? The Six Most Likely Causes

Last updated: September 24, 2026.

Quick answer: When a Canon PIXMA won’t print, check these in order: the blinking alarm light (count the flashes to get the error code), clogged nozzles (run a nozzle check, then one or two cleanings), protective tape left on a new cartridge, an empty or unrecognized cartridge, a stuck print queue, and a dropped Wi-Fi connection. Most PIXMAs start printing again after one of these fixes. If none work, the printhead may have failed.

Canon PIXMA printers are some of the most reliable inkjets you can buy, but when they decide to stop printing, they don't always tell you why. Customers call us all the time with the same vague symptom — "the printer just won't print" — and the cause is usually one of a handful of things. Here's how to work through it.

1. Check for a Blinking Error Light

Most PIXMAs don't have a full-color screen, so they communicate problems through blinking lights. Count the blinks on the alarm light and look up the pattern in Canon's official PIXMA support pages. Codes vary by model, but on many PIXMAs 2 flashes means out of paper or paper not feeding, 3 flashes means a paper jam or a closed output tray, 4 flashes means an ink cartridge isn’t installed or recognized, and 5 flashes points to the printhead. On models with a screen, the error shows as a code such as 1003 or 5100 instead. Knowing the code saves you ten minutes of guessing.

2. Run a Nozzle Check and Deep Cleaning

If pages are coming out blank or with horizontal banding, the printhead nozzles are clogged. From Canon's printer software (or the Maintenance tab on the printer itself), run a Nozzle Check. You'll get a printed grid showing which colors are firing. If gaps show up, run Cleaning once, print another nozzle check, and only escalate to Deep Cleaning if the first round doesn't work. Deep cleaning uses a lot of ink — don't do it casually.

If two or three cleaning cycles don’t help, what to do next depends on your cartridge type:

• PG- and CL- cartridges (PG-245/CL-246, PG-275/CL-276 and similar): the printhead is built into the cartridge. Take the cartridge out and hold the nozzle plate against a lint-free cloth dampened with warm distilled water for a few seconds, then dry it and reinstall. If the pattern is still broken, a fresh cartridge gives you a brand-new printhead.
• PGI and CLI ink tank models (PGI-280/CLI-281, PGI-250/CLI-251 and similar): the printhead is a separate part under the ink tanks. On many of these PIXMAs you can lift the printhead lock lever and remove it. Gently dab the nozzle face on a lint-free cloth moistened with warm distilled water, never soak or rinse it under a tap, let it dry completely, then reinstall and run one cleaning.

For a full walkthrough, see how to clean Canon printer heads.

3. Make Sure the Tape Is Off New Cartridges

Canon cartridges — PG-243, CL-244, PGI-250, CLI-251, and all the rest — ship with a small orange protective cap and sometimes a strip of clear tape. If you've just installed a new cartridge and nothing is printing, pull the cartridge back out and confirm every piece of orange and tape has been removed. This is the single most common "new cartridge won't print" issue we see.

4. Confirm You're Not Out of Ink

Canon's ink monitor isn't always reliable, especially with refilled or compatible cartridges. Check ink levels on the printer’s screen if it has one, in the Canon PRINT app, or in the printer status window that opens from the Canon driver on your computer. If a nozzle check prints cleanly but a color is still faint, that cartridge is almost empty. If a tank is empty, replace it. Browse our model-specific guides like Canon PIXMA MG2520, Canon PIXMA TS3122, Canon PIXMA TR4527, or the full Canon ink cartridge collection to find your exact replacement.

5. The Printer Says "Cartridge Not Recognized"

This usually means the contacts on the cartridge or printhead are dirty. Pop the cartridge out and look at the small copper or gold contacts on its side — if you see ink residue or fingerprints, wipe them with a dry coffee filter or microfiber cloth. Don't use paper towels (they shed lint) and don't use alcohol on the chip itself. Reinstall the cartridge firmly until it clicks.

If you're using a remanufactured or compatible cartridge and the printer still won't recognize it after a recent firmware update, that's Canon's authentication chip rejecting it. Reach out to whoever sold it to you — if you got it from us, we'll replace it with one programmed against current firmware.

6. The Print Queue Is Stuck

If your computer shows the document as "sending" forever but the printer never moves, you've got a stuck queue. On Windows, open Devices > Printers & scanners, click your Canon, hit "Open print queue," then cancel everything. On macOS, do the same from System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Restart the printer and your computer, then try again with a single test page.

7. Wireless PIXMAs: Confirm the Connection

If your Canon connects over Wi-Fi, print a network settings page from the printer (usually Setup > Device settings > LAN settings > Print LAN details) and confirm it's on the same network as your computer. If the printer dropped off Wi-Fi, hold the Wi-Fi button on the front panel for a few seconds until it starts flashing, then use the Canon PRINT app to reconnect.

Is My Canon Printhead Dead?

If you've cleaned, soaked, swapped cartridges, and reset the network, and the printer still won't put ink on paper, the printhead itself may have failed. On most PIXMAs (especially the all-in-one MG and TS series), the printhead is a user-replaceable part — you can order it from Canon. Whether it's worth replacing depends on the model: for an entry-level $60 printer, probably not; for a higher-end PIXMA Pro, absolutely.

How Do I Keep My Canon Printer From Clogging?

Print at least one color page every two weeks. PIXMA nozzles dry out faster than HP or Brother nozzles — it's the trade-off for sharper photos. A weekly habit of printing a single color page costs you about a penny in ink and saves you from doing deep cleaning cycles that cost a dollar each.

Canon Printer Not Printing FAQs

Shop Canon Compatible Ink at Castle Ink

If your Canon PIXMA printer isn't printing, compatible ink from Castle Ink is a reliable and affordable fix. We stock Canon-compatible cartridges at 50–70% less than OEM pricing.

• Canon compatible ink cartridges at Castle Ink

See also: Which Canon printers work best with compatible ink | Best printers that don't lock you into OEM ink