Users have complained about not being able to scan documents when the Canon Pixma MG5220 is out of ink. However, there is a way around this issue. All you have to do is reset the ink detection, and the scanner will work again.
- To reset the ink detection, simply press and hold “Stop” (button with orange circle and triangle) for 5 seconds. The Alarm should clear and the printer will allow you to scan once again.
This trick works with many Canon Pixma models including the MX340.
Tamas says
I do have PIXMA 5450, and the printer part (ink) completely gave up, the printer head is wrong.
Is it possible to COMPLETELY switch off the printer functionality and use only the scanner?
Mark says
Nope with the MG2540. Tried absolutely everything. Just going to open the window to throw the Canon out….
Howard says
Oh gee – THANKYOU! Yes your fix worked on my new MG3650, with iMac High Sierra. More than can be said for the pdf manual. Can scan and print/copy in black and white even though colour is totally empty. Why are printer makers so user-hostile?
Ami Kelly says
I’ve had nothing but problems with my Canon Pixma MG6821. Won’t connect to WiFi 90% of the time, won’t scan with no ink. Pressing and holding stop didn’t work.
Mystica says
To reset the ink detection, simply press and hold “Stop” (button with orange circle and triangle) for 5 seconds. The Alarm should clear and the printer will allow you to scan once again.
This trick works with many Canon Pixma models including the MX340.
YES, it works for me. But I have to try at least couple times before it actually worked. Power off and power it back on, as soon as you press the power back on, keep pushing the STOP button for at least 10 seconds, then press Scan and it will work magically. Thank you!
Ian says
Pressing Stop for any amount of time does NOT allow to scan on Pixma 5650. Never buying one of these products again.
Sharon J Thomas says
I removed my cartridges some time back in order to buy the right ones. The damned cartridges cost as much as the printer/scanner. What???? I just want to scan some hospital records to my son’s P.O. so they don’t arrest him for having an EMERGENCY GALLBLADDER SURGERY!! Blasted thing DOESN’T NEED INK TO SCAN TO MY COMPUTER. I will NEVER buy a Canon product again.
John Robertson says
My MG6800 also wouldn’t scan while it displayed the low ink ‘stopping’. I first tried holding the STOP button for around ten seconds, but nothing happened, then I noticed there was an “OK” button on the touchscreen – pressed that and the error message went away and I could then scan and even print B&W docs (two colours were low).
Not sure if the problem was I jus tdidn’t notice the “OK” button prior to pressing the STOP button, so if you see the “OK” touch that first and then try.
Nor Parn says
I want to use my scanner without color cartridges installed. Finds no work around on this problem. Canon MG6350 wireless on Windows 10.
Get Error 1688 & Conde 2,140,21. How to fix this? Stop bying Canon seems to bee the best sollution!
Gerrit says
Doesn’t work for me. It removes the ink alarm but still cannot scan
Deb says
Sadly, Canon must have seen this and updated software b/c this method is not working for me either. I will be purchasing a new printer NOT from Canon SMH why is everybody so greedy???
Samantha Hovey says
For some reason my alarm light is not responding to holding down the cancel button, no matter how long I hold it for.
Dan says
Thanks so much!!! I was about to take a hammer to this printer for trying to make me buy new ink cartridges just to scan…
childofrao says
THANK YOU LORD, MY SAVIOR!!! THIS SAVED MY LIFE
jilani says
very thankfull works for me pixma mp287
Tracy says
Yes :-) thanks that did the trick
David Johnson says
Saved my day, made me happy; the 5 second stop hold did the trick; allowed me use my scanner even with a ink cartridge error message
Andrew says
Awesome – thanks – worked on Canon MG 5350