Canon Printer Troubleshooting Guide - Every Error Solved
Canon printers — particularly the PIXMA and MAXIFY lines — are popular for both home and office use. They're generally reliable, but when problems hit, Canon's error code system (those cryptic support codes like 5100, 6000, B200) can make diagnosis feel impossible without a guide.
This troubleshooting resource covers all common Canon printer problems organized by symptom. Whether you're dealing with paper jams, streaky prints, cartridge errors, or Wi-Fi issues, find your problem below and follow the step-by-step fix.
137 common problems covered across 9 categories
Other Issues
why is my canon ts6420a printing blank pages even though the ink cartridges are full?
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can't get the wireless direct to work on my g3270 for printing from my phone, it just times out.
DIAGNOSIS The "timeout" error during Wireless Direct connection on the Canon MegaTank G3270 typically occurs because of a "Network Conflict" or a "Handshake Failure" between the mobile device and the printer's internal access point. Most modern smartphones are programmed to automatically switch back to a known, internet-connected Wi-Fi network if the network they are currently connected to (in this case, the printer) does not provide an active internet gateway. When your phone detects that the G...
my canon pixma tr8620a feels warm even when it's just sitting there turned on but not printing. is it using a lot of power?
DIAGNOSIS The warmth you are feeling on the chassis of your Canon PIXMA TR8620a is primarily caused by the internal power supply unit (PSU) and the network interface card. Even when the printer is not actively ejecting pages, the device remains in a "Ready" or "Standby" state. In this state, the logic board is continuously polling the Wi-Fi module to maintain a heartbeat connection with your router, ensuring that a print command from a smartphone or PC is executed instantly without a lengthy wak...
my ts6520 just shows 'check ink' and won't print even though the cartridges are full, what gives?
DIAGNOSIS The "Check Ink" error on the Canon PIXMA TS6520 is rarely about the actual volume of ink remaining in the reservoir; rather, it is a communication failure between the cartridge's gold contact points and the printer's internal sensor array. This model utilizes a chip-based monitoring system that reads electrical resistance to estimate ink levels. When a layer of oxidized ink, dust, or a microscopic film of oil builds up on these contacts, the circuit is broken, triggering a "false empty...
can i print legal size paper on my canon pixma tr8620a? the manual is gone.
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TR8620a is designed to handle legal-size paper (8.5" x 14"), but it cannot do so using the standard front paper cassette. The front cassette is physically limited to Letter size (8.5" x 11") and cannot be extended to accommodate the extra 3 inches of length required for legal documents. If you attempt to force legal paper into the cassette, the printer will either jam immediately or throw a "Paper Mismatch" error because the internal sensors detect a length discrepancy....
canon pixma tr8620a power usage seems high, is 7 watts when printing normal?
DIAGNOSIS The power consumption of 7 watts during an active print cycle on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is actually on the lower end of the operational spectrum and is considered normal. To understand why, you must look at the mechanical load of an All-in-One (AiO) device. Unlike a dedicated single-function printer, the TR8620a maintains a complex internal architecture that includes a flatbed scanner assembly, an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), a wireless network card (Wi-Fi), and a thermal inkjet p...
my canon pixma mg3620 is printing with faded colors and missing lines, how do i fix this?
DIAGNOSIS The presence of faded colors and horizontal white streaks (missing lines) on the Canon PIXMA MG3620 is almost always a result of dried ink deposits obstructing the microscopic nozzles of the print head. This occurs when the printer sits idle for several days or weeks, allowing the ink at the nozzle interface to dehydrate and solidify, creating a physical plug that prevents ink from flowing consistently onto the paper. When only specific colors are faded, it indicates a partial clog; wh...
why is my printer printing really faint, especially down one side of the page, even with full toner?
DIAGNOSIS The "faint side" phenomenon on the Canon imageCLASS MF453dw is typically not a result of low toner, but rather a failure in the electrostatic charging process. In these laser printers, the imaging unit (drum) must be precisely charged with a uniform layer of electricity to attract toner particles. When one side of the page is faint, it indicates that the Primary Charge Roller (PCR) inside the imaging unit is failing or that the high-voltage contact points are obstructed, preventing a c...
my canon mf269dw ii printer says 'check paper size' on the screen and won't print anything i send to it, what gives?
DIAGNOSIS The "Check Paper Size" error on the Canon imageCLASS MF269dw II occurs because of a mismatch between the software-defined page size and the hardware-defined tray setting. This printer utilizes a logic check where the driver (on your PC or Mac) tells the printer to expect a specific size—for example, "Letter"—but the printer's internal sensor or tray configuration is set to something else, such as "A4" or "Custom." Unlike inkjet printers that may simply print the image off-center,...
canon pixma mg3620 paper feed roller not grabbing paper properly, what should i do?
DIAGNOSIS This issue occurs when the rubberized friction surface of the paper feed rollers becomes contaminated with "paper dust"—microscopic fibers and adhesive residue from the paper itself—or external debris like hair and dust. Because the MG3620 uses a top-loading rear tray, the rollers are exposed to the environment, allowing particles to create a slick film over the rubber. When the rollers spin, they cannot create enough friction to "grip" the leading edge of the paper, resulting in a...
all my prints have faint horizontal white lines or gaps in the color, especially cyan.
DIAGNOSIS The appearance of faint horizontal white lines or "banding" in the Canon PIXMA TS6520 is caused by partial obstructions in the microscopic nozzles of the printhead. Because this model uses a fine-nozzle inkjet system, even a tiny speck of dried ink or a trapped air bubble in the cyan channel will prevent a consistent stream of ink from hitting the page. As the printhead moves back and forth, these missing droplets create the characteristic gaps or streaks you see in the final image. T...
scans to my computer are coming out huge, like 10MB per page, and they take forever to email
DIAGNOSIS The oversized files are caused by the printer's default "High Quality" scanning profile, which typically utilizes a 600 DPI (dots per inch) resolution and uncompressed TIFF or Full Color PDF formats. At 600 DPI, the scanner captures an immense amount of data per square inch; for a standard 8.5" x 11" page, this results in a massive bitmap that the printer then wraps in a PDF container without applying any compression algorithms. This is why a simple text document can balloon to 10MB or...
canon pixma tr8620a printing really faint, especially the color. just put in new cartridges. help?
DIAGNOSIS The faint printing and color dropout on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a, particularly immediately after installing new cartridges, typically indicates one of two things: air pockets trapped in the ink delivery system or dried ink residue blocking the microscopic nozzles of the print head. Even with brand-new cartridges, if the printer sat idle for several weeks, the ink remaining in the print head nozzles has likely dehydrated into a thick, waxy crust that prevents new ink from flowing through...
can i print photos directly from my phone to the canon pixma tr8620a without a computer?
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TR8620a is fully capable of wireless photo printing without a PC, but the confusion often stems from the distinction between "proprietary app integration" and "system-level printing protocols." While the printer does not require a dedicated Canon driver to be installed on a mobile device, it relies on standardized communication protocols: Apple AirPrint for iOS devices and Mopria or the Canon Print Service for Android. The root cause of failure in this process is typic...
my canon pixma tr8620a won't scan multiple pages from the feeder, it just scans the first one. what am I doing wrong?
DIAGNOSIS The issue where the Canon PIXMA TR8620a scans only the first page of a stack is typically caused by a "Source" mismatch in the driver settings or a mechanical failure of the ADF (Auto Document Feeder) pickup roller. By default, many scanning profiles are set to "Platen" (the flatbed glass). When the printer is set to Platen mode, it treats every job as a single-page scan; even if you place paper in the ADF, the software tells the hardware to stop after the first image is captured becau...
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Connectivity & App Issues
my canon pixma tr8620a printer is saying it's offline on my wifi network, how do I get it back online?
DIAGNOSIS The "Offline" status on a Canon PIXMA TR8620a is typically not a hardware failure, but a communication breakdown between the printer's wireless NIC (Network Interface Card) and your router's DHCP server. This occurs when the printer fails to renew its IP address lease or when the router assigns a dynamic IP that the computer's print spooler can no longer locate. Because this model relies on a specific handshake with the Canon wireless protocol, any momentary dip in signal or a router c...
set up my pixma g7020 but it won't connect to wifi, just keeps failing
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA G7020 frequently fails during the initial wireless setup because its network hardware is exclusively compatible with 2.4GHz bands. Modern "Smart" or "Mesh" routers often use a single SSID (network name) for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, a feature called Band Steering. When the G7020 attempts to handshake with the router, the router often tries to push the printer toward the 5GHz band or fails to negotiate the handshake because the printer cannot "see" the 5GHz signa...
my canon pixma tr8620a printer won't connect to wifi, keeps saying error. what gives?
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TR8620a frequently encounters connectivity failures due to a fundamental hardware limitation: it is designed specifically for 2.4GHz wireless bands. Many modern "Smart" or Mesh routers utilize "Band Steering," which merges the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies into a single SSID. When the TR8620a attempts to handshake with the router, the router may try to force it onto the 5GHz band, causing the printer to time out and trigger a generic "Wireless Connection Error" or "Unable...
my canon printer ts6420a is connected to wifi but my computer just says 'printer offline'
DIAGNOSIS The "Printer Offline" status on a Canon PIXMA TS6420a, despite the printer showing a solid Wi-Fi icon on its OLED screen, indicates a communication breakdown at the software layer. This is rarely a hardware failure; instead, it is typically caused by a "stale" IP address. Because most home routers assign dynamic IP addresses (DHCP), your printer may have been assigned a new internal IP (e.g., changing from 192.168.1.15 to 192.168.1.22), but your Windows or macOS print spooler is still ...
getting faint, streaky prints or lines down the page, already swapped the toner and it didn't help.
DIAGNOSIS The persistence of streaks or faint printing after replacing the toner cartridge indicates that the issue lies within the imaging system, specifically the Drum Unit or the Transfer Roller. In the Canon imageClass LBP236dw, the toner cartridge only provides the powder; the Drum Unit is the component that electrically charges the page and transfers that powder onto the paper. When the organic photoconductor (OPC) coating on the drum wears down or becomes scarred, it creates "blind spots"...
printer is connected to wifi but says 'offline' on my computer every single time.
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TS6520 typically suffers from a communication breakdown caused by Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lease expiration. By default, your router assigns a temporary IP address to the printer. When the router reboots or the lease expires, the router assigns a new IP address to the TS6520, but the Windows print spooler continues to send data to the old, now-defunct address. This results in the "Offline" status because the computer is essentially knocking on a door t...
my canon pixma tr8620a keeps disconnecting from wifi every few hours, so annoying. how do i make it stay connected?
DIAGNOSIS The intermittent connectivity on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is typically caused by "DHCP Lease Expiration" or "Frequency Band Steering." The TR8620a is designed to operate on the 2.4GHz band. Many modern routers use a feature called Smart Connect or Band Steering, which merges the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands into one SSID. When the router attempts to "push" the printer to the 5GHz band for better performance, the printer's hardware cannot maintain the handshake, causing the connection to drop a...
my phone and laptop can't find the tr8620a for airprint anymore, it just disappeared from the network.
DIAGNOSIS The disappearance of the Canon PIXMA TR8620a from AirPrint lists is typically caused by a "handshake" failure between the printer's internal network interface card (NIC) and your router's DHCP server. This often happens after a power surge, a router firmware update, or when the printer enters a deep sleep mode and fails to wake its wireless radio, causing the device to lose its assigned IP address. Because AirPrint relies on Bonjour (mDNS) to broadcast the printer's presence, any disru...
it won't print from my iphone even though it worked last week. the app finds it but then fails.
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TS6520 utilizes a protocol called mDNS (Multicast DNS), commonly known as Bonjour, to announce its presence to iOS devices. When the Canon PRINT app "finds" the printer but fails to execute the job, it indicates a "ghost connection." The printer's IP address has likely shifted due to a DHCP lease renewal from your router, or the printer's network interface has entered a stale state where it acknowledges the handshake but cannot maintain the data stream for the actual pr...
my computer says the printer is offline even though it's on and connected to wifi
DIAGNOSIS The "Offline" status on a Canon PIXMA G7020 is rarely a physical disconnection and is usually a communication breakdown between the Windows Print Spooler and the printer's network interface. This occurs when the printer enters a deep sleep state or when the router assigns a new dynamic IP address (DHCP lease expiration) that doesn't match the port configuration stored in your computer's registry. Essentially, your PC is sending data to an "address" that the printer is no longer listeni...
trying to connect it to wifi and it just won't find my network during setup, the wizard keeps failing.
DIAGNOSIS The Canon imageClass LBP236dw is designed with a wireless network card that exclusively supports the 2.4GHz frequency band. If your router is configured with "Smart Connect" (which merges 2.4GHz and 5GHz into a single SSID) or is set strictly to 5GHz, the printer's network interface will fail to "see" the broadcast, causing the setup wizard to time out or return a "Network Not Found" error. This is a hardware limitation of the LBP236dw's internal NIC. Furthermore, the LBP236dw struggl...
just set up my mf453dw and it won't connect to wifi, it sees the network but fails every time i put the password in
DIAGNOSIS The Canon imageCLASS MF453dw frequently fails during the initial Wi-Fi handshake due to a frequency band mismatch or a security protocol conflict. While modern routers use "Smart Steering" to merge 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands into one SSID, this printer's wireless card is designed specifically for 2.4GHz. When the router attempts to push the printer toward a 5GHz connection or uses a combined band, the printer sees the network but fails to authenticate the password, resulting in a generic "C...
printer won't connect to wifi, tr4720 just shows the wifi light blinking.
DIAGNOSIS The blinking Wi-Fi light on the Canon PIXMA TR4720 indicates that the printer is in a state of "searching" or "setup mode." This occurs when the device has a valid IP configuration attempt but cannot establish a handshake with the wireless router. This is most frequently caused by a mismatch between the printer's expected security protocol (WPA2/WPA3) and the router's current broadcast settings, or the printer attempting to connect to a 5GHz band when the TR4720 hardware only supports ...
i'm trying to scan from my ts3520 to my computer but the canon app just says 'cannot communicate with scanner'.
DIAGNOSIS The "cannot communicate with scanner" error on the Canon PIXMA TS3520 is almost always a result of a broken WSD (Web Services for Devices) handshake or a missing TWAIN driver. While Windows and macOS often auto-install a basic "Class Driver" that allows you to print, these generic drivers frequently lack the bidirectional communication protocols required for scanning. This creates a scenario where the printer is "Online" for printing, but "Offline" or "Not Found" for scanning. Further...
just got a ts3520 and it won't connect to my wifi during setup, it just keeps searching and failing.
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TS3520 is a budget-friendly unit with a limited wireless radio that operates exclusively on the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The "searching and failing" loop occurs because the printer cannot "see" or handshake with a network that is broadcasting only in 5 GHz, or a "Smart Connect" or "Band Steering" router that attempts to force the printer onto the 5 GHz band. When the router tries to steer the TS3520 to a higher frequency it cannot support, the connection request times ou...
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Strange Noises
my canon g3270 is making a loud grinding noise when it prints, like it's chewing on the paper.
DIAGNOSIS The loud grinding or "chewing" noise in the Canon MegaTank G3270 is typically caused by a mechanical obstruction in the paper feed rollers or a misalignment of the carriage rail. When the printer attempts to pull a sheet of paper, the pickup rollers engage with the media; if a foreign object (such as a staple, paperclip, or a small torn scrap of paper) is lodged in the feed path, the rollers slip or grind against the obstruction while the motor continues to push, creating a harsh, mech...
canon pixma mg3620 wireless setup is a pain, i never got the cloud printing email to register. what gives?
DIAGNOSIS The failure to receive the Canon Inkjet Cloud Printing registration email is typically caused by a handshake failure between the MG3620's internal network interface and the Canon Cloud servers. This often happens when the printer is connected via a "Weak" signal or when the router's firewall is blocking the specific outbound port used by Canon's registration service. Because the MG3620 uses a legacy wireless protocol, any momentary drop in connectivity during the "Registering" phase of...
my canon pixma ts6420a is making a horrible grinding noise when it prints, like it's chewing something
DIAGNOSIS The "chewing" or grinding noise in a Canon PIXMA TS6420a typically indicates a mechanical failure in the carriage drive system. Specifically, this happens when the printhead carriage (the assembly that holds the ink cartridges) cannot move smoothly along the horizontal metal rail. The noise is caused by the plastic gears of the carriage motor slipping or skipping teeth because the carriage has encountered a physical obstruction or is experiencing excessive friction. This is most commo...
can i use my canon mg3620 wirelessly without installing the cloud printing center stuff?
DIAGNOSIS The confusion stems from the distinction between "Cloud Printing" and "Local Wireless Networking." The Canon Inkjet Cloud Printing Center is a proprietary middleware service designed for remote printing from outside your home network (e.g., sending a document from a hotel to your home printer). It is an optional add-on service that requires a Canon account and internet-facing registration. It is entirely separate from the printer's physical ability to communicate with your Wi-Fi router...
the scanner makes a loud knocking sound and won't go home when i try to copy something.
DIAGNOSIS The loud knocking sound occurs because the scanner's CIS (Contact Image Sensor) carriage has lost its "home" position calibration. When you initiate a copy or scan, the printer sends a signal to the stepper motor to move the carriage to the home sensor. If the carriage is physically obstructed or the drive belt has slipped, the motor continues to push the carriage against the internal plastic chassis, creating a repetitive, rhythmic knocking or grinding noise. This is typically caused...
my canon pixma ts3520 is making a loud, rhythmic grinding or clicking noise when it prints, sounds terrible.
DIAGNOSIS The loud, rhythmic grinding or clicking noise in the Canon PIXMA TS3520 is typically caused by a mechanical obstruction or a failure in the carriage drive system. This specific model uses a plastic gear train and a rubber timing belt to move the print head carriage across the guide rail. When you hear a rhythmic "clack-clack-clack," it usually indicates that the carriage is hitting a physical stop or that a gear tooth is slipping because the carriage cannot complete its full travel pat...
the scanner on my pixma tr8620a makes a loud grinding noise when it tries to scan, sounds bad.
DIAGNOSIS The loud grinding noise in your Canon PIXMA TR8620a is caused by a mechanical failure in the scanner carriage assembly. Specifically, the stepper motor is attempting to drive the CIS (Contact Image Sensor) unit along its horizontal rail, but it is meeting physical resistance. This results in the gears slipping or "chattering," creating that harsh grinding sound. This typically happens when the lubricant on the carriage rail has dried out or become contaminated with dust, increasing fri...
my canon pixma mg3620 is making a weird grinding noise when i try to print, should i be worried?
DIAGNOSIS This grinding sound in the Canon PIXMA MG3620 is typically caused by a mechanical failure in the carriage drive system or an obstruction in the paper feed path. Specifically, the noise occurs when the print head carriage (which holds the PG-245 and CL-246 cartridges) attempts to move along the metal guide rail but encounters resistance. This can be caused by a foreign object—such as a staple, paper clip, or a torn scrap of 20lb bond paper—lodged in the track, or a failure of the pl...
my canon laser printer is making a horrible grinding noise from the back whenever it prints or copies
DIAGNOSIS The grinding noise emanating from the rear of the Canon imageCLASS MF453dw is almost always indicative of a mechanical failure within the fuser assembly or the drive gear train. In this specific model, the fuser uses a combination of a heating element and a pressure roller to bond toner to the page. When you hear a "horrible grinding," it is usually the sound of the drive gear slipping against a seized fuser roller or a stripped plastic gear tooth failing to engage. This occurs most f...
my canon printer makes a loud grinding noise every time it starts to print, sounds terrible.
DIAGNOSIS The loud grinding noise occurring during the initialization or start of a print job on the Canon imageCLASS MF269dw II is typically caused by a mechanical misalignment or a failure in the gear train that drives the fuser assembly or the toner cartridge. Specifically, this "chattering" sound happens when the drive gears cannot fully engage or when a gear tooth has sheared off, causing the motor to spin against a stationary or slipping component. In many cases, this is triggered by a "p...
it's making a horrible grinding or screeching noise from the back right side every time it picks up paper.
DIAGNOSIS The grinding or screeching noise emanating from the rear right quadrant of the Canon imageClass LBP236dw is a classic symptom of a failing pickup roller assembly or a misalignment in the registration gear train. When the rubber on the pickup rollers becomes "glazed"—meaning it has worn down into a hard, smooth, shiny surface—it loses the coefficient of friction necessary to grab the paper. Instead of a clean pull, the roller slips against the stock, causing the drive gears to skip ...
my canon ts3520 printer keeps showing 'error 5100' and won't print anything, just makes a grinding noise.
DIAGNOSIS Error 5100 on the Canon PIXMA TS3520 is a critical carriage error. This occurs when the print head carriage—the component that holds the ink cartridges—cannot move freely across the width of the printer. The grinding noise you hear is the stepper motor attempting to force the carriage forward while it is physically obstructed, which can eventually strip the plastic gears if not addressed immediately. This failure is typically caused by one of three things: a small piece of torn pa...
why is my canon pixma tr8620a making a loud grinding noise when it tries to print?
DIAGNOSIS The loud grinding noise in a Canon PIXMA TR8620a is typically caused by a mechanical failure in the carriage drive system or a critical obstruction in the paper feed path. When the printer attempts to move the print head assembly (the carriage) across the encoder strip, any physical blockage—such as a torn piece of paper, a fallen staple, or a buildup of dried ink—forces the stepper motor to skip teeth on the drive gear. This creates a harsh, rhythmic grinding sound as the motor co...
it's making a loud grinding or crunching noise from the right side when it starts up.
DIAGNOSIS The grinding or crunching noise emanating from the right side of the Canon PIXMA TS6520 is almost always caused by a mechanical failure in the Service Station (purge unit). This assembly is responsible for capping the printheads to prevent ink from drying and performing cleaning cycles. When the printer initializes, the carriage moves to the right to dock with this unit. If the purge unit is stuck or a gear is slipping, the motor continues to drive the mechanism against a hard stop, cr...
my printer is making a loud grinding or crunching noise when it tries to print.
DIAGNOSIS The loud grinding or crunching noise in a Canon PIXMA MG3620 is almost always caused by a mechanical obstruction in the carriage path or a failure in the timing belt system. When the carriage motor attempts to move the printhead assembly across the platen, it encounters resistance. Because the motor is geared to move at a specific speed, it continues to spin against the obstruction, causing the plastic gears to slip or the rubber belt to skip teeth, which creates that characteristic "c...
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Error Messages & Lights
canon pixma mg3620 keeps flashing its alarm lamp, what's that mean?
DIAGNOSIS The flashing orange Alarm lamp on the Canon PIXMA MG3620 is a visual telemetry system used to communicate specific hardware or software errors when the onboard LCD screen cannot display the full error code. Because this model lacks a complex diagnostic screen, it relies on "blink codes"—the number of times the lamp flashes before a brief pause—to indicate the nature of the failure. The root cause usually falls into one of three categories: consumable errors (ink or paper), mechan...
canon ts6420a scanner lid is up but the error says 'check scanner unit' and it won't do anything
DIAGNOSIS The "Check Scanner Unit" error on the Canon PIXMA TS6420a typically indicates a failure in the communication loop between the CIS (Contact Image Sensor) assembly and the main logic board. While the error message suggests a physical obstruction or an open lid, the root cause is usually an "indexing error." This happens when the scanner head fails to return to its home position (the far left side) or cannot detect the home position sensor, causing the firmware to trigger a safety lockout...
printer says 'support code 6000' and the orange light is flashing, can't do anything
DIAGNOSIS Support Code 6000 on the Canon PIXMA G7020 is a critical carriage malfunction error. It indicates that the printer's internal logic has detected an obstruction or a mechanical failure preventing the print head carriage from reaching its "home" position or moving freely across the encoder strip. This is rarely a software glitch and is almost always a physical blockage or a sensor failure. The error typically triggers when the carriage hits a physical stop—such as a torn piece of pape...
i keep getting a 'paper jam' error but there is absolutely no paper stuck anywhere.
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is prone to "phantom" paper jams where the printer reports a jam (Error Code 1300 or 1000) despite the paper path appearing clear. This happens because the printer relies on physical "sensor flags"—tiny, spring-loaded plastic levers—to detect the movement of paper. If a flag becomes stuck in the "down" position due to a microscopic tear of paper, a buildup of dust, or a lubricant leak, the printer assumes paper is still present in the path and halts all opera...
canon mg3620 power light is on but it won't print anything from my computer
DIAGNOSIS This issue typically manifests as a "Communication Error" or a "Printer Offline" status in Windows or macOS, despite the power light being solid. Because the power light is on, the hardware is receiving current, but the data handshake between the Canon PIXMA MG3620's wireless NIC (Network Interface Card) and your computer's print spooler has failed. This is most commonly caused by a dynamic IP address shift; your router assigned a new IP to the printer, but your computer is still tryin...
canon pixma mg3620 stop button won't do anything, the light just stays on
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA MG3620 "Stop" button (marked with a red circle and triangle) is not a general power or reset button; it is a command trigger for specific interrupt and maintenance functions. When the light stays on and the button appears unresponsive, it typically indicates a "Logic Lock" or a "Critical Error State." This happens when the printer's internal firmware is waiting for a specific hardware resolution—such as a cleared paper path or a recognized ink cartridge—before it wi...
the power light on my canon tr4720 just flashes orange and it won't do anything at all.
DIAGNOSIS The flashing orange power light on the Canon PIXMA TR4720 is a critical status indicator signaling that the printer's internal logic has detected a "Service Error" or a physical obstruction. Unlike a steady orange light, which usually indicates a simple "out of ink" state, a flashing light means the printer cannot complete its startup sequence or maintain a safe operating state. This is typically caused by a failure in the carriage movement, a sensor malfunction, or a communication err...
my canon mg3620 just shows a solid orange light and won't print or copy anything, what's wrong?
DIAGNOSIS The solid orange Alarm light on the Canon PIXMA MG3620 indicates a general hardware error state that has halted all print and copy operations. Unlike a flashing light, which usually signifies a simple "out of paper" or "ink low" warning, a solid light typically means the printer's internal logic has detected a critical failure that prevents the carriage from moving or the sensors from verifying a "ready" state. This is most commonly caused by a physical obstruction in the paper path, a...
my canon ts6420a just keeps flashing orange over and over, it won't print or scan, what do i do?
DIAGNOSIS The flashing orange Alarm lamp on the Canon PIXMA TS6420a is a general "Attention" signal, but the specific pattern of the flashes is the key to the problem. When the light flashes continuously without a corresponding error code on the small OLED screen, it typically indicates a mechanical obstruction or a failure in the ink delivery system. This happens because the printer's internal sensors detect that the printhead carriage cannot reach its home position or a piece of media is block...
fax won't send from my tr4720, it just beeps and says communication error.
DIAGNOSIS The "Communication Error" accompanied by a beep on the Canon PIXMA TR4720 indicates a failure during the "handshake" process. This occurs when the printer attempts to establish a physical connection with the receiving fax machine but fails to receive a valid fax-ready tone. Essentially, the printer is dialing the number, but it is either not reaching the destination or the signal is being interrupted by digital noise. This is most commonly caused by the use of VoIP (Voice over IP) ser...
printer just won't power on at all, no lights, no sound, checked the outlet and it's fine.
DIAGNOSIS The total absence of power—no standby light, no fan noise, and no display activity—on a Canon imageClass LBP236dw typically indicates a complete break in the electrical circuit before it reaches the logic board. While a dead wall outlet is the most common culprit, since you have verified the outlet is active, the failure is likely occurring at the AC inlet, the internal power supply unit (PSU), or the main power fuse. In many cases, the LBP236dw experiences "power surges" that tri...
i keep getting error e813-0000 on the screen and the printer just stops, what does that mean?
DIAGNOSIS The E813-0000 error on the Canon imageCLASS MF453dw is a critical hardware failure specifically related to the scanner unit's initialization process. This error triggers when the printer's logic board sends a signal to the scanner carriage to move to its "home" position during the startup sequence, but the carriage fails to reach that position within the allotted time or the optical sensor cannot confirm its location. In most cases, this is caused by a physical obstruction or a mechan...
the power light on my pixma mg3620 just blinks and it won't respond to any buttons.
DIAGNOSIS The blinking power light on the Canon PIXMA MG3620 indicates that the printer is trapped in a "Fatal Error" state or is failing its internal POST (Power-On Self-Test) sequence. When the light flashes continuously without an accompanying alphanumeric error code on the small LCD screen (like E05 or P104), it typically signifies a hardware initialization failure. This happens when the printer's logic board cannot communicate with the print head or the carriage assembly, or when there is a...
my tr8620a just shows 'error 6000' on the screen and won't print anything, what is this?
DIAGNOSIS Error 6000 on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is a critical paper feed mechanism failure. Unlike a standard "Paper Jam" error (which usually lets you clear the paper and press a button to resume), Error 6000 indicates that the printer's internal sensors detect a blockage or a mechanical misalignment that prevents the paper rollers from rotating freely. This is often caused by a "phantom jam"—a tiny scrap of torn paper, a staple, or a paperclip that has fallen into the feed slot and is obstru...
printer says 'replace toner' with the orange light but the cartridge is definitely not empty, how do i reset it?
DIAGNOSIS The Canon imageClass LBP236dw utilizes a "page-count" logic system rather than an optical sensor to determine toner levels. The printer tracks the number of rotations of the developer roller and the total page count processed by the cartridge (typically the Canon 064 or 064H models). Once the internal counter reaches a pre-programmed threshold, the firmware triggers a "Replace Toner" alert and activates the orange alarm LED, regardless of how much physical powder remains in the hopper....
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Filter & Maintenance
printer says 'replace toner' but the cartridge still looks full, is it a scam?
DIAGNOSIS The "Replace Toner" alert on the Canon imageCLASS MF269dw II is not a physical measurement of the powder remaining in the hopper, but rather a digital calculation based on the number of pages printed and the density of the ink used. The Canon Cartridge 146 utilizes a small electronic chip that tracks the "page yield." Once the internal counter reaches the manufacturer's estimated limit, the chip triggers a software flag that tells the printer the cartridge is empty, regardless of how m...
the colors on my prints look washed out and weird even though the ink tanks are full, how do i fix the print quality?
DIAGNOSIS The washed-out colors and "weird" hues on your Canon MegaTank G3270 are typically caused by partial nozzle obstructions or air bubbles trapped within the ink delivery tubes. Because the G3270 uses a continuous ink system, the ink must travel from the external tanks through a series of tubes to the printheads. If the printer sits idle for more than two weeks, the ink at the microscopic nozzle openings evaporates and crystallizes, creating a physical plug that prevents ink from flowing e...
my canon mg3620 printed pages have random ink smudges not from the document, how do i clean it?
DIAGNOSIS Random ink smudges, streaks, or "track marks" on the MG3620 are almost always caused by a contaminated bottom plate. This plate is the flat surface the print head glides over as it moves back and forth. Over time, excess ink from the PG-245 and CL-246 cartridges, combined with airborne dust and paper fibers, creates a sludge of ink residue on this surface. When the paper feeds through, the bottom of the page physically drags across this residue, picking up "random" spots of ink that ar...
can i use generic cleaning sheets for my canon mg3620 paper feed roller?
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA MG3620 utilizes a friction-based paper feed system where rubber rollers grip the top sheet of paper to pull it into the print engine. Over time, these rollers accumulate a mixture of paper dust, adhesive residue from labels, and airborne debris. This creates a "slick" surface on the rubber, leading to multi-sheet feeds (pulling several pages at once) or, more commonly, "Paper Feed Error" messages where the rollers spin without grabbing the paper. When you use a cleanin...
i replaced all the inks in my ts6420a but it still says one is empty or missing, what gives?
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TS6420a utilizes a specific chip-based communication system to monitor ink levels and authenticate cartridges. When the printer reports a cartridge is "empty or missing" immediately after a replacement, it is almost always a failure of the electrical handshake between the gold contact pins on the printhead and the copper pads on the cartridge chip. This is typically caused by a microscopic layer of oxidation on the contacts, a misalignment of the cartridge seat, or a "g...
my pixma mg3620 isn't feeding paper right, it jams or pulls multiple sheets. do i need to clean something?
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA MG3620 utilizes a friction-based pickup mechanism consisting of rubber rollers that grip the top sheet of paper to pull it into the print engine. Over time, these rollers accumulate a mixture of paper dust, adhesive residue from labels, and environmental debris. This creates a slick, glazed layer on the rubber surface, reducing the coefficient of friction. When the rollers can't grip the first sheet effectively, they may slip, causing a "Paper Jam" error (typically Erro...
how do i clean the print head on my canon pixma mg3620 from my windows computer?
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA MG3620 utilizes a fine-nozzle inkjet system where ink is pushed through microscopic holes in the print head. Over time, ink residues dry and crystallize at these exit points, creating "clogs." This typically manifests as horizontal white streaks (banding) in your documents, missing colors in photos, or completely blank pages despite the ink levels showing as full in the software. This issue is most common if the printer has sat idle for more than two weeks or if non-ge...
how do you clean the inside of a canon pixma mg3620? it's smudging the backs of my pages
DIAGNOSIS The smudging on the back of your pages is caused by an accumulation of waste ink and paper dust on the bottom plate (the internal platen) of the Canon PIXMA MG3620. This occurs because the printer uses a "U-turn" paper path; as the page is flipped for double-sided printing or simply passed through the rollers, it presses against the bottom surface of the chassis. Over time, ink mist from the print head or leaked ink from the PG-24/CL-24 cartridges settles on this plate. You can confir...
i replaced the ink cartridges but my mg3620 still says it's out of ink and won't print.
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA MG3620 utilizes a "chip-based" ink monitoring system. When you install new PG-245 (Black) or CL-246 (Color) cartridges, the printer reads a small electronic chip on the cartridge to determine the ink level. If the printer continues to report that ink is empty, it is usually because the printer is still referencing the "memory" of the previous depleted cartridge, or there is a physical communication failure between the gold contact pads on the cartridge and the spring-lo...
how do i clean the inside? there's toner dust everywhere and i'm worried it'll mess up my prints.
DIAGNOSIS Toner accumulation inside the Canon imageClass LBP236dw is typically caused by "toner migration," where microscopic particles escape the cartridge seal during the rotation of the developer roller. This is often exacerbated if the printer is kept in a high-humidity environment, causing the powder to clump, or if a non-genuine third-party cartridge was installed, as these often have looser tolerances around the hopper seal. When toner dust coats the internal chassis, it can be drawn int...
the black text from my g7020 looks faded or has streaks even after cleaning
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA G7020 utilizes a dual-ink system: a pigment-based black ink (PGBK) for crisp text and dye-based colors for photos. The PGBK ink contains larger particles that are prone to settling and drying out faster than the color inks. When you see faded text or horizontal white streaks (banding) despite running a standard cleaning, it indicates that the print head nozzles are partially obstructed by dried pigment residue or that air bubbles have entered the ink feed lines. This i...
how do i clean the scanner glass on my canon mg3620 all-in-one?
DIAGNOSIS Smudges, vertical streaks, or persistent white spots on your scanned documents or photocopies are almost always caused by debris on the scanner platen (the glass surface) or the underside of the document cover. Because the Canon PIXMA MG3620 uses a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) that moves along a fixed track, any particle of dust, a fingerprint, or a dried ink droplet on the glass creates a "shadow" or a line that repeats across the entire length of the page. To confirm the issue is phys...
prints have faint streaks and smudges down the page, cleaned the drum but it didn't help.
DIAGNOSIS The presence of vertical streaks and smudges that persist after cleaning the drum indicates that the issue is occurring during the final stages of the printing process—specifically during the transfer or fusing phase. While the drum (OPC) creates the image, the transfer roller pushes that image onto the paper, and the fuser unit melts the toner into the fibers. If you see repetitive smudges (ghosting) or streaks that appear at regular intervals down the page, the culprit is usually a...
my canon pixma mg3620 is smudging the back of pages when i print double-sided, how do i clean it?
DIAGNOSIS The smudging on the reverse side of your pages during duplex printing is caused by an accumulation of excess ink and paper dust on the "bottom plate" (the platen) inside the MG3620's internal duplexing mechanism. When the printer flips the page to print on the second side, the paper is pressed against this plate. If the plate is contaminated, it transfers ink back onto the clean side of the page, creating streaks or "ghosting" marks. This typically happens after printing a high volume...
the scanner glass on my megatank gets these weird streaky smudges every time i clean it, how do you get it actually clean?
DIAGNOSIS The streaky smudges on your Canon MegaTank G3270 scanner glass are typically caused by "residue redistribution." This happens when you use household glass cleaners containing ammonia or soaps that leave a microscopic chemical film on the surface. Because the G3270 uses a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) that moves across the glass, any residue—even a thin layer of oil from a finger or a dried soap streak—creates a refractive distortion that appears as a line or smudge on your digital sca...
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Physical / Mechanical
it keeps jamming every single time, paper stops right inside the front door before it gets to the toner.
DIAGNOSIS The consistent failure of paper to reach the toner cartridge in the Canon imageClass LBP236dw is almost always caused by a failure in the registration roller assembly. This specific jam occurs at the "pick-up to transfer" transition. When the paper stops right before the imaging unit, it means the pick-up rollers are successfully pulling the sheet from the cassette, but the registration rollers—which are responsible for timing and pulling the paper into the drum area—are failing to...
the touchscreen on my mf453dw is completely unresponsive, buttons don't work, it's just frozen
DIAGNOSIS The unresponsive touchscreen on the Canon imageCLASS MF453dw is typically caused by a kernel panic in the printer's embedded operating system. This occurs when the system controller (the motherboard) encounters a memory leak or a conflict during a firmware process, causing the User Interface (UI) layer to freeze while the hardware may still be attempting to process print jobs in the background. This is often triggered by a "stuck" print job in the queue that is sending incompatible PDL...
the touchscreen on my tr8620a is totally unresponsive, buttons don't work, it's just frozen.
DIAGNOSIS The unresponsive touchscreen on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is typically caused by a "firmware hang" or a memory buffer overflow within the main logic board. This occurs when the printer's onboard processor enters an infinite loop while attempting to process a complex print job, a network handshake (Wi-Fi/AirPrint), or a failed firmware update. Because the display is an integrated part of the control circuit, a software crash freezes the UI, making it appear as though the hardware is dead....
the paper keeps getting jammed halfway through when i try to print, it's all wrinkled and crooked.
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TS3520 utilizes a rear-feed tray system that relies on a single pickup roller to pull paper into the print engine. When paper jams halfway and emerges wrinkled or skewed, it indicates a "skew feed" condition. This occurs when the paper is not entering the feed slot perfectly perpendicular to the rollers, or when one side of the page is gripped by the roller before the other. Once the page enters at a slight angle, it hits the internal chassis walls, causing the paper to...
canon pixma mg3620 paper isn't feeding right, keeps jamming or misfeeding
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA MG3620 utilizes a friction-based pickup system where rubber rollers grip the top sheet of paper to pull it into the print carriage path. Over time, these rollers accumulate a mixture of paper dust, ink residue, and environmental debris. This creates a "slick" surface on the rubber, reducing the coefficient of friction. When the rollers spin but fail to grip the paper, the printer detects a "Paper Feed Error" or an "E03" error code because the internal sensors do not det...
the automatic document feeder on my canon jams on every single page, it just crumples them up inside
DIAGNOSIS The constant crumpling of paper in the Canon imageCLASS MF453dw Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) is typically caused by a "differential feed" failure. This occurs when the pickup roller successfully grabs the top sheet, but the separation pad (the small rubberized piece beneath the roller) fails to hold back the subsequent pages. Instead of feeding one sheet at a time, multiple sheets enter the narrow feed throat simultaneously, leading to an immediate accordion-style jam. Alternativel...
the touch buttons on the oled screen don't respond or i have to press them ten times.
DIAGNOSIS The unresponsive or "ghost" touching on the Canon PIXMA TS6520 OLED interface is typically caused by one of two things: a buildup of static electricity/surface contaminants or a physical separation between the capacitive touch layer and the OLED display panel. Because this printer uses a small 1.42-inch OLED screen, the touch sensors are highly sensitive to the electrical conductivity of your skin. If there is a thin layer of oils, dust, or humidity on the surface, it creates an insula...
canon pixma ts4320 not feeding paper properly, keeps jamming
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TS4320 utilizes a top-loading rear tray system that relies on a set of rubberized friction rollers to pull individual sheets into the print carriage path. When this printer fails to feed or jams frequently, it is almost always due to "roller glazing." Over time, microscopic paper dust and ink residue build up on the rubber surface, creating a slick film that eliminates the friction necessary to grip the paper. This results in the printer attempting to pull a sheet, fail...
canon pixma tr8620a scanner feeder is jamming every time i try to copy more than one page. what am i doing wrong?
DIAGNOSIS This issue is typically caused by a failure in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) pickup mechanism, specifically a loss of friction on the rubber intake rollers or a misalignment of the paper guides. When copying a single page, the motor has enough torque and the roller has enough grip to pull one sheet. However, when a stack is loaded, the cumulative weight and the "stiction" between sheets cause the roller to slip, resulting in a multi-page jam or a failure to pull the second sheet....
the touchscreen is completely unresponsive, can't press any buttons, printer is on.
DIAGNOSIS The unresponsive touchscreen on the Canon imageCLASS MF269dw II is typically caused by a firmware hang or a "buffer overflow" in the printer's volatile memory. This occurs when the printer receives a complex print job—often a large PDF with heavy vector graphics—that exhausts the available system RAM, causing the control panel's user interface (UI) process to crash while the main engine remains powered on. This is why the status lights may indicate the printer is "Ready," but the c...
my canon pixma tr8620a printer is stuck in standby mode and won't wake up, anyone else have this?
DIAGNOSIS The "stuck in standby" state on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is typically a result of a communication deadlock between the printer's internal logic board and the network interface. This occurs when the printer receives a malformed print command or a "half-packet" data stream via Wi-Fi, causing the firmware to hang while waiting for the rest of the data. Because the printer believes it is actively processing a request, it refuses to enter a full "Wake" state or respond to physical button pre...
my tr4720 printer just says 'paper jam' but i can't see any paper stuck anywhere inside.
DIAGNOSIS A "phantom" paper jam on the Canon PIXMA TR4720 usually occurs when a tiny fragment of paper—often a torn corner or a scrap from a previous jam—is obstructing a photo-interrupter sensor. Even if the main paper path looks clear, a shred as small as a confetti piece can keep the sensor tripped, preventing the printer from resetting its error state. FIX Follow these steps to clear the hidden obstruction: Power off the printer and unplug the power cord to prevent electrical shorts an...
Not Turning On / No Power
getting a 'E748-0000' error on the screen, printer is totally dead now.
DIAGNOSIS The E748-0000 error code on the Canon imageCLASS MF269dw II is a critical system failure indicating a communication breakdown between the main controller board and the firmware image. Essentially, the printer's "brain" has encountered a checksum error or a corrupted block of data during the boot sequence, preventing the operating system from loading. This typically occurs when a firmware update is interrupted by a power surge, a sudden loss of Wi-Fi connectivity during an OTA (Over-the...
my printer says 'ink absorber full' with an error 5B00, can i fix this or is it dead?
DIAGNOSIS The Canon PIXMA TR8620a is not "dead," but it has entered a hard-lock state triggered by Error 5B00. This error indicates that the waste ink absorbers—physical sponges located at the bottom of the printer chassis—have reached their calculated limit. When the printer performs head cleanings or power-up cycles, it pumps excess ink into these pads. To prevent ink from overflowing onto your desk, Canon implements a digital counter that tracks every drop of ink discarded. Crucially, th...
my canon pixma ts4320 won't turn on, the button does nothing
DIAGNOSISWhen a Canon PIXMA TS4320 fails to respond to the power button with no lights, no fan noise, and no mechanical movement, the issue is typically a break in the electrical circuit between the wall outlet and the logic board. Because this model uses an internal power supply rather than a bulky external power brick, the failure point is often the internal fuse or a capacitor on the main board that has failed due to a power surge. Another common culprit is the power button assembly itself. ...
trying to scan from the flatbed and it just says 'check document cover' won't start
DIAGNOSIS The "Check Document Cover" error on the Canon PIXMA G7020 is triggered by a failure in the physical interlock mechanism. The printer uses a small plastic actuator—a physical "finger"—that must be depressed into a recessed sensor switch when the scanner lid is closed. If the lid is not seated perfectly flush against the chassis, or if the actuator is bent or obstructed, the printer assumes the lid is open and halts the scan to prevent light leakage or mechanical interference. This ...
my canon pixma tr8620a printer won't turn on at all, no lights, nothing. is it dead?
DIAGNOSIS A completely unresponsive Canon PIXMA TR8620a with no indicator lights points to a power delivery failure. The primary suspects are a faulty power connection or a corrupted internal state. In rare cases, it indicates a critical internal hardware failure. FIX First, perform a full power cycle to reset the printer's internal power controller: Unplug the power cord from the rear of the printer and from the wall outlet. Wait at least 60 seconds to ensure any residual power drains from the...
Performance Problems
fax on my canon pixma tr8620a not working, just get a constant busy signal.
DIAGNOSIS The "constant busy signal" on a Canon PIXMA TR8620a typically indicates a failure in the handshake process between the printer's internal fax modem and the telephone exchange. This is rarely a hardware failure of the printer itself; rather, it is almost always a signal interference issue or a physical connection failure. In modern home networking, the most common culprit is the use of VoIP (Voice over IP) or digital phone lines provided by internet service providers. These lines simula...
canon pixma tr8620a printing super slow, like way slower than advertised, is this normal?
DIAGNOSIS This issue is typically not a hardware failure but a mismatch between the printer's "advertised" speeds and the actual software configuration. Canon advertises the TR8620a's speed based on "Draft" mode using 5ppm (pages per minute) standards, which ignore the time it takes for the carriage to travel and the ink to dry. When you print in "Standard" or "High" quality, the printer increases the DPI (dots per inch) and performs multiple passes over the same area to eliminate banding, which...
canon pixma mg3620 print head cleaning not working, lines still missing after i tried it
DIAGNOSIS When the standard cleaning cycle on a Canon PIXMA MG3620 fails to resolve missing lines or "banding," it is usually because the ink has dehydrated and solidified within the microscopic nozzles of the print head. This is common if the printer has been idle for more than two weeks or if you are using third-party inks that lack the proper surfactant balance. The standard cleaning cycle only pushes a small amount of ink through the nozzles; if the clog is a hard "plug" of dried pigment, th...
my canon pixma tr8620a is really slow printing color pages, like way slower than my old printer. is this broken?
DIAGNOSIS Your Canon PIXMA TR8620a is likely not broken; rather, you are experiencing the difference between "ISO print speeds" and "real-world rendering." The TR8620a uses a fine-nozzle inkjet system that must physically move the print head back and forth across the page. When printing a full-color image or a page with heavy saturation, the printer must perform multiple passes to layer the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black inks to achieve the correct hue and density. The perceived slowness usua...
Leaking & Water Issues
how do you refill the ink tanks on the g3270 without making a huge mess? it always seems to overflow.
DIAGNOSIS The overflow issue on the Canon MegaTank G3270 is typically caused by a failure in the pressure equalization process. Each ink tank is a sealed reservoir; as you introduce liquid ink, the air currently inside the tank must be displaced and vented out through the same narrow opening where the ink enters. If the ink bottle is tilted too steeply or forced in too quickly, the ink creates a liquid seal over the vent hole, trapping air inside. This trapped air eventually forces its way out i...
filled the ink tanks but now it's leaking blue ink inside the printer
DIAGNOSIS This issue typically occurs when the ink is overfilled beyond the upper limit line or when the ink is poured too quickly, causing air bubbles to trap ink in the ventilation channels. The Canon PIXMA G7020 uses a vacuum-pressure system to move ink from the MegaTank reservoirs to the print head. If ink enters the air vent channels—the small gaps designed to let air in as ink goes out—it creates a siphon effect. This disrupts the pressure balance, forcing excess cyan ink to leak out o...