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.
Leanne says
May 16, 2019 at 7:26 pmDidnt work on mine. Any other clues?
Bonnie Austin says
May 16, 2019 at 2:30 pmTried it with my MG6620, but no luck.
Jeff says
April 22, 2019 at 5:57 pmSaved me from spending $60 on ink I did not need to spend simply to scan. Thank you
Luciano says
April 21, 2019 at 4:53 pmThanks! Worked fine on my MG2400..
Scott Bogash says
March 20, 2019 at 10:45 amThis worked on my MG 6320, thank you so much!
Luiz says
February 18, 2019 at 4:38 pmHi,
I have a MG 5220, but I’m not sure it is still working (I’ve got it a long time ago and I haven’t used it in the last year). I want to use it again, but I need to buy new inks, I want to know if it is possible using the printer just with the black ink. I don’t want to buy the color ink before make sure it is really working. Thanks
Oly says
December 18, 2018 at 12:18 pmWhen I closed both the input and output trays of the printer, then I could scan even with the ink cartridges removed. Holding down the orange circle+triangle did not work on my Canon MX320.
Tamas says
November 3, 2018 at 4:04 amI 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
October 29, 2018 at 5:44 amNope with the MG2540. Tried absolutely everything. Just going to open the window to throw the Canon out….
Howard says
August 29, 2018 at 3:08 pmOh 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
August 27, 2018 at 4:45 pmI’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
August 9, 2018 at 11:37 amTo 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
August 7, 2018 at 2:54 amPressing 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
July 10, 2018 at 6:36 pmI 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
June 11, 2018 at 5:34 pmMy 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
June 7, 2018 at 5:39 amI 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
May 9, 2018 at 9:51 amDoesn’t work for me. It removes the ink alarm but still cannot scan
Deb says
May 8, 2018 at 12:38 pmSadly, 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
May 1, 2018 at 2:36 pmFor some reason my alarm light is not responding to holding down the cancel button, no matter how long I hold it for.
Dan says
April 21, 2018 at 4:46 pmThanks 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
April 8, 2018 at 2:50 pmTHANK YOU LORD, MY SAVIOR!!! THIS SAVED MY LIFE
jilani says
April 2, 2018 at 4:09 amvery thankfull works for me pixma mp287
Tracy says
March 29, 2018 at 8:14 amYes :-) thanks that did the trick
David Johnson says
March 22, 2018 at 1:36 pmSaved 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
March 5, 2018 at 1:32 amAwesome – thanks – worked on Canon MG 5350
David Palmer says
March 4, 2018 at 12:10 amMany thanks for sharing that! Worked great on my MX-922.
Daniel B. says
March 3, 2018 at 10:13 pmI have a Canon MG2520 and this trick did not work for me, however, I’m wondering if it is because I only have one ink cartridge. I have tried holding down the Stop button for 5 seconds (and longer), as well as the Power button for 5 seconds (and longer) and neither option helped. I really do feel like this is a terrible operational error on Canon’s part. I shouldn’t have to go out and buy ink just to scan a document. Definitely never buying a Canon printer/scanner again.
Mark says
March 3, 2018 at 4:14 pmFor my MP 560, in the case where more than one ink cartridges were dry, I had to hold Stop and OK at the same time to reach a “cleared” condition. Then I could scan.
David B. says
January 14, 2018 at 2:55 pmThanks a million! Holding down the Stop button didn’t work for me, but holding down the Power button did. I have ink but it’s refilled cartridges, so the printer thinks they are empty. I have the MG3620. The software on this printer is very poor. I will not buy another Canon printer for that reason. The printer works well mechanically, but is a pain to use.
regina casimiro says
January 5, 2018 at 1:23 pmHave you experienced the same issue with canon MP610 ?
I didn’t sorted the issue…
Nina says
December 27, 2017 at 1:11 pmCurrently fist pumping because you saved the day! Thank you!
Ciulee Smith says
November 19, 2017 at 1:12 pmThank you, thank you, thank you. Worked for Pixma 6120!
Alex3 says
October 14, 2017 at 11:58 pmThanks very much! :D
Sherri says
October 4, 2017 at 6:33 pmIt worked! Was able to scan a document that I really needed – good when you always have to order your ink by mail.
This was a Canon MP560
Adam S says
September 6, 2017 at 8:57 pmThis is super helpful. Super helpful.
Thank you.
David says
August 10, 2017 at 10:25 pmthanks for this helpful tip Mitch
Hitesh says
August 1, 2017 at 4:13 amMitch Bartlett – Thanks for support , Problem solve
Barnegat Pollyanna says
July 7, 2017 at 4:51 pmDidn’t work for me. AAAH! This is so frustrating!
I have a Canon PIXMA printer/scanner. A piece bent where the ink cartridge goes in and it can’t read that the ink cartridge has been replaced.
Now nothing works on this pain in the butt thing! Ready to trash it.
Faizel says
April 21, 2017 at 9:02 amHi i got a canon mx394 but thats not working is there something els i can try
Chinny Perez says
April 15, 2017 at 5:33 pmThanks for the tip it works
phiri says
April 9, 2017 at 2:00 pmthanks guys it worked for me
V Saxena says
March 27, 2017 at 3:57 pmDude, HAH. I’ve stopped using my scanner for like TWO YEARS because of the ink problem. And now, finally, after two years, I can use it again. You’re DA MAN!
SooperOoser says
February 22, 2017 at 12:06 pmI read somewhere if the STOP button trick doesn’t work for your model, try holding down the POWER button for 5 seconds or more instead. I hope it helps.
Jaroslav VYdra says
February 6, 2017 at 9:44 amThanks for your pages! I have a Canon MG6250 printer/scanner, and want to use it as a scanner only, since I do not have all the ink cartridges. But your hint for mg5220 does not work, the scanner says error U043 “Can’t recognise ink cartridge…”.
Is there some way to use the Canon 6250 as a scanner only?
Thank you for your help.
Shamshuddin says
February 5, 2017 at 2:02 amThanks a lot, It worked on MG2470 printer, although there was no beep sound after a long press of stop button. was trying for so long…
Rushikesh says
January 4, 2017 at 11:16 pmThanks a Lot, It’s working.
zenka says
December 21, 2016 at 11:17 amthanks alot.. works on canon PIXMA MG3650
LAURA says
November 18, 2016 at 4:05 pmAwesome, I only need my MX492 for scanning. Simply help STOP for about 5 seconds+ and it overwrote it. Thank you!!
Almost Convicted Fellon says
November 1, 2016 at 3:51 amNICE !!! Worked…and it was very important. Have to scan and e-mail some last min. documents for my lawyer. It’s about 5 am and court is in a couple hours. Really, thank you.
*** I have the Canon MX922 also ***
Gilman says
October 29, 2016 at 1:05 pmIt doesn’t work for MG5420. Never buying canon again!
Renata says
October 17, 2016 at 11:54 amThanks, It worked for MG5650
Ren says
September 19, 2016 at 5:08 amThank you. It worked for the MG5340.
Will never buy Canon again.
shazki says
August 26, 2016 at 12:58 amit worked for me! MG7100 pixma
Virtual Dragon says
August 12, 2016 at 12:21 amDid not work for my Canon MG 5350.
What a scam! It is a completely ridiculously expensive and very slow printer – and now this. Never Canon again!
Regina says
August 11, 2016 at 9:38 amDoesn’t work for MX479
:(
Adrian Haar says
August 7, 2016 at 10:29 pmDidn’t work on my MG6150. Got as far as “scan” and then the original message – that the grey ink cartridge needed replacing. From Canon – “buy some more of our ink and we will let you scan”. Thanks Canon.
MG5550 says
July 25, 2016 at 6:39 pmWorked for MG5550.
Thank you so much!
auntie says
May 23, 2016 at 1:30 pmI found a video on YouTube to reset the ink error for a canon mg5220 ,first turn printer off then press the stop button then while pressing the stop button press the power button for two seconds then let go of stop button while still pressing the power button. then while still holding power press the stop button 5 times should reset the printer. A blank screen will show up but that’s fine he said you might have to turn off then back on.
Virtual Gaz says
May 17, 2016 at 1:05 amnice one – mg 3260 scanning again!
Naughty Canon – Epson next time because of this.
Michelle says
May 16, 2016 at 9:44 amTHANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!! it worked!!!! PIXMA MP280
B says
May 6, 2016 at 3:36 pmWorked on MG2922
Laurence says
March 5, 2016 at 9:37 amWorks for Pixma MX410.
WC says
February 11, 2016 at 1:51 pmWorked on the MX922, thanks! So sneaky of Canon.
ben says
February 8, 2016 at 10:10 amThanks, Its working for the MG5300 series..
Mr G says
January 31, 2016 at 7:31 pmDidnt work on my printer – PIXMA MG5220 with the U043 error message (The following ink tank cannot be recognized)