Question 1

fax won't send from my tr4720, it just beeps and says communication error.

Accepted Answer

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) services, such as Xfinity Voice, Spectrum, or Vonage. Digital lines compress audio data, which often strips away the precise frequencies required for legacy fax protocols. Additionally, plugging the phone cord into the "EXT" port instead of the "LINE" port prevents the printer from accessing the external network, as the EXT port is designed solely for attaching a telephone to the printer, not for incoming service. FIX To resolve this communication failure, follow these precise steps to isolate the hardware and configure the transmission speed: Verify Physical Connections: Locate the two RJ-11 ports on the back of the TR4720. Ensure your phone cable is plugged firmly into the port labeled LINE. If the cable is in the EXT port, the fax will never send. Use a standard 2-wire phone cable; do not use a coaxial or ethernet cable. Test for Dial Tone: Unplug the phone cord from the LINE port and plug a standard analog telephone directly into that same wall jack. Listen for a clear, steady dial tone. If you hear static or a digital hum, the line is too noisy for faxing. Adjust Transmission Mode: On the printer's home screen, navigate to Setup > Device Settings > Fax Setup > Transmission. Change the setting from "Auto" to "T.38" if you are using a VoIP line. If that fails, switch it to "Standard." Lower the Baud Rate: In the same Fax Setup menu, locate Fax Speed. Change this from "High Speed" to "Half Speed" (9600 bps). High-speed faxing often fails on modern digital lines; slowing the speed increases the likelihood of a successful handshake. Check Dialing Prefixes: If you are in an office environment, ensure you have entered the required outside line prefix (e.g., dialing '9' or '0' before the number). Navigate to Fax Setup > Dialing Settings to verify the prefix is correctly applied. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Disable Call Waiting: If your phone line has call waiting, the "intrusion" tone from a second incoming call can disrupt a fax handshake. Disable call waiting through your service provider or use a dedicated fax-only line. Bypass Power Filters: If your phone line is plugged into a surge protector or a DSL filter, remove it. Plug the line directly from the wall jack into the TR4720 LINE port to eliminate signal interference. Test with a Known-Good Number: Send a test fax to a verified service like an online fax testing number. This determines if the issue is with your printer's hardware or the specific recipient's machine. Perform a Hard Reset: Power off the printer, unplug the power cable for 60 seconds, and remove the phone line. Plug everything back in and restart. This clears the internal fax buffer and resets the modem handshake protocol. HEADS UP VOIP Warning: Many modern "digital" phone lines are fundamentally incompatible with traditional faxing. If you use a cable-provider phone, you may need to request a "True Analog" line. Ink Levels: The TR4720 will often refuse to initiate a fax transmission if the ink cartridges are completely empty or missing, as it cannot print the confirmation page. Cable Quality: Replace old, frayed, or extremely long phone cords. Any cable longer than 15 feet can cause signal attenuation, leading to the "Communication Error" beep. Paper Jam Check: Ensure the Auto Document Feeder (ADF) is clear. A microscopic piece of torn paper in the feeder can trigger a sensor error that prevents the fax from sending.

Question 2

the power light on my canon tr4720 just flashes orange and it won't do anything at all.

Accepted Answer

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 error between the print head and the motherboard. To confirm the exact cause, look at the small LCD screen on the front panel. The flashing light is the general alarm, but the screen will display a specific alphanumeric support code, such as "E03" (Paper Jam), "P02" (Cartridge Error), or "5B00" (Waste Ink Absorber Full). If the screen is completely blank while the light flashes, the issue is likely a power supply failure or a catastrophic motherboard short, often caused by a piece of conductive debris or a leaked ink cartridge touching the electronic contacts. FIX Follow these steps in precise order to clear the error and reset the hardware: Perform a Hard Power Reset: While the printer is on and flashing, pull the power cord directly from the back of the machine. Unplug the other end from the wall outlet. Wait exactly 120 seconds to allow the capacitors on the mainboard to discharge fully. Plug it back in and power on. Clear the Paper Path: Open the scanning unit/cover. Gently slide the print carriage to the center. Check for any torn scraps of paper, staples, or dust bunnies in the far left and right corners of the carriage path. Open the rear tray and check for any skewed paper. Ensure the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) tray is pushed completely flush against the chassis. Reseat the Ink Cartridges: Open the access door. Push down on the PG-260 (Black) and CL-261 (Color) cartridges to release them. Remove both cartridges and use a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water to gently wipe the gold electrical contacts on the back of the cartridges and the corresponding pins inside the carriage. Re-insert them firmly until you hear a distinct click. Verify Cover Closure: Ensure the scanning unit cover is snapped shut tightly. If the hinge is slightly loose, the sensor will not register the cover as closed, triggering the orange flash. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Check for "Ghost" Jams in the ADF: Sometimes a tiny piece of paper is stuck in the Automatic Document Feeder rollers, which doesn't trigger a "Paper Jam" message but causes a general hardware error. Open the ADF cover and use a can of compressed air to blow out the rollers and the sensor flags. Reset the Ink Counter: If the error code is 5B00, your waste ink absorber is full. While this usually requires a professional technician, you can sometimes bypass this by entering "Service Mode." Power off the printer, hold the Stop button, then hold the Power button. Release Stop while still holding Power, and press Stop five times rapidly, then release both. If the light turns green, the counter has been reset. Inspect the Encoder Strip: Look for a thin, clear plastic strip running horizontally across the width of the printer behind the carriage. If this strip is smeared with grease or ink, the carriage doesn't know its position and will flash orange. Carefully wipe it with a dry cotton swab; do not use alcohol as it can strip the timing marks. Test a Different Power Source: The TR4720 is sensitive to voltage drops. If you are using a surge protector or power strip, plug the printer directly into a wall outlet to rule out insufficient amperage causing a boot-loop. HEADS UP Avoid using "generic" or "refilled" cartridges that leak; ink seepage into the carriage electronics is the leading cause of permanent motherboard failure on this model. Never pull paper out of the printer from the front; always pull from the rear or the ADF to avoid bending the internal plastic guides. Keep the printer away from humid environments, as the TR4720 sensors are prone to triggering false "paper jam" errors when moisture affects the paper feed rollers. Run a "Nozzle Check" once a week even if you aren't printing frequently to prevent ink from drying and causing carriage movement resistance.

Question 3

how do i scan from the automatic document feeder on my tr4720? it just feeds the paper through and nothing happens.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The issue where the Canon PIXMA TR4720 feeds paper through the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) without capturing an image is typically caused by a "Source Mismatch" in the driver settings. By default, the printer software is often set to the "Platen" (the flat glass bed). When you trigger a scan, the printer may physically pull the paper through to clear the tray or initialize the mechanism, but because the software is telling the sensor to look at the glass, no digital image is created. Furthermore, this can happen if the "Paper Feed" sensor is triggered but the scan command hasn't been fully handshake-verified between the Canon IJ Scan Utility and the printer hardware. If the documents are sliding through too quickly without the scanner lamp moving, it confirms that the hardware is functioning (the rollers are turning) but the logic board has not been instructed to engage the CIS (Contact Image Sensor) for the ADF path. You can confirm this by looking at the scanner bar; if the light remains stationary at the far end of the glass while the paper moves, the source is incorrectly set to the flatbed. FIX To force the TR4720 to recognize the ADF as the primary scanning source, follow these precise steps using the Canon IJ Scan Utility on your Windows or macOS machine: Load your documents into the ADF tray. Ensure the paper is pushed in until the printer beeps or the screen displays that documents have been loaded. The documents must be face-up. Open the Canon IJ Scan Utility from your applications folder or start menu. Click on the Settings... button located in the bottom right corner of the main utility window. In the left-hand sidebar, select Document Scan. Look for the Paper Source dropdown menu. Change this selection from "Platen" to ADF. Under the "Scan Options," ensure the Paper Size is set to "Auto Detect" or specifically "Letter 8.5" x 11"" to avoid premature stops. Click OK to save these settings. Return to the main utility screen and click the Document button to initiate the scan. The scanner lamp should now move in synchronization with the paper feed. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Perform a Hard Power Cycle: Unplug the power cord from the back of the TR4720 while the printer is still on. Wait exactly 60 seconds. Plug it back in. This clears the temporary cache in the printer's memory that may be locking the scan source to the platen. Update the ScanGear Driver: If the "ADF" option is missing from the dropdown menu, your driver is likely the generic Windows Class driver. Download and install the specific "MP Drivers" package for the TR4720. This replaces the basic driver with the full ScanGear utility, which unlocks ADF functionality. Check for ADF Jam/Sensor Blockage: Open the ADF cover and check for any small scraps of paper or dust buildup on the small plastic trigger lever (the sensor that detects paper entry). If this lever is stuck in the "up" position, the printer may feed the paper but fail to trigger the scan start command. Try the "Copy" Test: Place a page in the ADF and press the "Black" or "Color" copy button on the printer's physical panel. If it copies correctly, the hardware is 100% functional, and the issue is strictly a software configuration in the IJ Scan Utility on your PC. HEADS UP Paper Weight Warning: The TR4720 ADF is designed for standard 20lb bond paper. Avoid using cardstock, photo paper, or labels in the ADF, as these will either jam or slip, resulting in "blank" scans or skewed images. Cleaning the ADF Roller: Every 500 pages, wipe the rubber feed rollers with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water to prevent the "paper slide" effect where documents feed through without being gripped properly. Multi-Page PDFs: When scanning multiple pages via ADF, always select "Save as PDF" in the IJ Scan Utility settings to ensure all pages are compiled into a single file rather than saved as individual JPEGs.

Question 4

printer says 'support code 1688' what does that mean on a tr4720?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Support Code 1688 indicates that the ink absorber is almost full. Inside your Canon PIXMA TR4720, there are physical sponges designed to collect excess ink generated during print head cleaning cycles and nozzle checks. The printer tracks the volume of ink sent to these pads via an internal counter; once that counter reaches a specific threshold, the 1688 warning triggers to prevent ink from overflowing onto your desk. FIX Since this is a maintenance warning and not a critical failure, you can typically continue printing for a short period. However, to clear the alert and maintain the device, follow these steps: Perform a Hard Reset: Turn the printer off, unplug the power cord for 60 seconds, and restart. This sometimes clears temporary glitches, though the counter usually persists. Check Ink Levels: Ensure your cartridges are seated correctly and have ink, as low ink levels during a cleaning cycle can sometimes trigger absorber warnings prematurely. Clear the Warning: On many TR-series models, you can acknowledge the message by pressing the "Stop" or "Resume" button to bypass the alert and continue printing until the absorber is completely full (at which point the printer will lock entirely). IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If the printer has transitioned from a warning to a complete lockout (Support Code 5B00 or similar), the internal counter must be reset. Service Tool Software: You will need a Canon Service Tool (ST) software utility to reset the waste ink counter to zero. This requires a PC connection via USB. Physical Replacement: If you reset the software without replacing the physical sponges, the ink will eventually leak out of the bottom of the chassis. If you are comfortable opening the device, you can replace the absorbent pads or install an external waste ink bottle (waste ink diverter). Professional Service: If you are not comfortable with hardware modification, send the unit to an authorized Canon technician for a physical pad replacement and a factory counter reset. HEADS UP Do not simply reset the software counter and ignore the hardware. If the pads are physically saturated, ink will leak from the bottom of the printer, which can damage your furniture and potentially cause a short circuit on the printer's main logic board.

Question 5

my canon pixma tr4720 is making a loud grinding noise when it starts up.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The loud grinding noise on startup is almost certainly the print head carriage assembly scraping against an obstruction or moving along a dry, unlubricated rail. This printer uses a carriage that slides on a silver metal rod; when the factory grease dissipates or dust accumulates, the carriage's plastic parts grind against the metal. Alternatively, a foreign object like a dropped paperclip or a broken internal piece may be blocking its path. FIX Turn off and unplug the printer to prevent injury and electrical damage. Open the scanner unit (the top cover) fully to access the interior. The print head carriage should be parked on the right side. Gently grasp the carriage and slowly move it back and forth along the entire length of the silver metal rail. Note any spots with noticeable resistance or catching. With a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water (not alcohol or solvents), carefully wipe the entire length of the silver rail to remove dust and old grease. Ensure it's completely dry before proceeding. Apply a tiny amount of pure white lithium grease or a specific printer rail lubricant (like Super Lube) to the rail. Spread it thinly with the cloth. Never use household oils. Manually move the carriage a few times to distribute the lubricant, then plug the printer back in and power it on to test. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If the noise persists, a physical obstruction is likely. With the printer unplugged, use a flashlight to thoroughly inspect the carriage path, the area under the carriage, and the paper feed path for any debris like bits of paper, plastic fragments, or staples. Also check that the carriage belt is intact and properly seated on its pulleys. If you find and remove debris, test again. If the noise remains and you've confirmed the rail is clean and lubricated, the carriage motor or encoder strip may be failing. HEADS UP Continuous operation with a grinding noise can permanently damage the carriage motor, strip gears, or wear out the carriage itself, leading to a costly repair or replacement. If cleaning and lubrication don't resolve it, discontinue use and contact Canon support for service.

Question 6

printer won't connect to wifi, tr4720 just shows the wifi light blinking.

Accepted Answer

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 2.4GHz. In many cases, this happens after a power surge or router firmware update that resets the DHCP table, leaving the printer with a stale IP address that is no longer recognized by the gateway. You can confirm this by checking the printer's network status via the LCD panel; if the network icon is flashing and the "Wireless LAN" status shows "Disconnected" or "Connecting," the hardware is functional but the software handshake is failing. FIX To resolve the blinking light and establish a stable connection, you must perform a hard network reset and a manual "Easy Wireless Connect" sequence. Power off the printer completely. Unplug the power cable from the wall for 30 seconds to clear the temporary cache. Plug the printer back in and turn it on. Press and hold the Setup button (the button with the pliers/screwdriver icon) until the LCD screen displays the maintenance menu. Use the arrow buttons to navigate to Device settings and press OK. Select LAN settings > Reset LAN settings and confirm with OK. This wipes any corrupted SSID or password data. Press and hold the Wireless Connect button (the button that looks like a smartphone/tablet) for approximately 3 seconds. The screen will prompt you to "Follow the instructions on the computer or smartphone." Open the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app on your mobile device or the setup software on your PC. Select "Add Printer" and choose the TR4720. When prompted, enter your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi password exactly. Wait for the Wi-Fi light to stop blinking and remain a solid blue. Once solid, the printer has successfully leased an IP address. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Separate Your Router Bands: Many modern routers use "Smart Connect" to merge 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands into one SSID. The TR4720 often fails to connect to these merged signals. Log into your router settings (usually 192.168.1.1) and create a separate SSID specifically for 2.4GHz (e.g., "HomeWifi_2G"). Connect the printer to this dedicated band. Assign a Static IP Address: If the light stops blinking but the printer frequently disconnects, the DHCP lease is expiring. Use the printer's embedded web server (EWS) by typing the printer's IP address into a web browser. Navigate to Network Settings > IPv4 and change the IP assignment from "Automatic" to "Manual," assigning an address outside your router's dynamic range (e.g., 192.168.1.200). Disable MAC Filtering: Check your router's security settings to ensure MAC address filtering is turned off. If it is on, the router will reject the TR4720's connection request even if the password is correct. You will need to find the MAC address on the printer's network configuration page and whitelist it in the router admin panel. Perform a Factory Reset: If the network settings reset failed, perform a full system reset. Navigate to Setup > Device Settings > Reset all settings. This will clear all custom configurations and force the wireless card to restart from a factory state. HEADS UP Avoid 5GHz: Never attempt to connect this printer to a 5GHz network; it is hardware-incapable of seeing those signals and will cause the Wi-Fi light to blink indefinitely. Distance Matters: Ensure the printer is within 15 feet of the router during the initial setup process to prevent packet loss during the handshake. Firmware Updates: Once connected, go to Setup > Device Settings > Firmware Update. Outdated firmware on the TR4720 often causes compatibility issues with newer WPA3 security routers. Power Save Mode: If the printer "disappears" from the network after being idle, disable "Auto Power Off" in the settings to keep the wireless card active.

Question 7

canon tr4720 keeps printing blank pages, just got new ink cartridges.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The occurrence of blank pages immediately following a cartridge replacement on the Canon PIXMA TR4720 is typically caused by a vacuum lock or dried ink residue within the print head nozzles. When you swap cartridges, air can enter the ink delivery system, creating an air pocket that prevents the new ink from reaching the paper. Because the TR4720 uses integrated print head cartridges (where the nozzles are built into the bottom of the cartridge), the issue is usually isolated to the specific cartridge that isn't firing, rather than a separate permanent print head assembly. Another common culprit is the failure to fully remove the protective orange plastic tape from the bottom of the new PG-275 (Black) or CL-276 (Color) cartridges. If the vent hole or the nozzle plate is still covered, the ink cannot flow due to atmospheric pressure. You can confirm this by performing a "Nozzle Check" print; if the page is completely blank despite the ink levels showing as full on the LCD screen, the issue is mechanical flow rather than a software or connectivity error. FIX Power off the printer and open the scanning unit/cover to access the cartridge installation area. Remove the PG-275 and CL-276 cartridges. Inspect the bottom of each cartridge to ensure the orange protective tape has been completely removed. If any adhesive residue remains over the gold-colored contacts or the ink nozzles, clean it off with a lint-free cloth. Perform a "Manual Prime": Dampen a clean, lint-free paper towel with warm distilled water. Gently press the nozzle end of the cartridge onto the damp towel for 3 seconds. You should see a solid, crisp line of black ink or three distinct stripes of color. If no ink transfers, the cartridge is defective or severely clogged. Reinstall the cartridges firmly until they click into place and close the cover. On the printer's operation panel, press the Setup button (pliers and screwdriver icon). Use the arrow buttons to navigate to "Maintenance" and press OK. Select "Cleaning" and press OK. Let the printer run its cycle for 2-3 minutes. Perform a "Nozzle Check" from the same Maintenance menu to verify the ink is flowing. If the patterns are broken, repeat the "Cleaning" process once more. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Perform a Deep Cleaning: If standard cleaning fails, navigate back to the Maintenance menu and select "Deep Cleaning." This uses a higher pressure pump to force ink through stubborn clogs. Warning: This consumes a significant amount of ink, so only do this twice before seeking other options. Hard Reset the Logic Board: Unplug the power cord from the back of the TR4720 while the unit is still powered on. Wait exactly 60 seconds. Plug the power back in and restart. This clears the internal print queue and resets the ink delivery sensors. Clean the Encoder Strip: Locate the thin, clear plastic strip that runs horizontally across the width of the printer behind the cartridge carriage. If a smudge of grease or ink is on this strip, the carriage may "think" it has printed but actually skip the page. Gently wipe it with a dry, lint-free swab. Check Paper Settings: Ensure the paper type selected in the print dialog (on your PC or mobile app) matches the actual paper in the tray. If "Photo Paper" is selected but plain paper is loaded, the printer may adjust the ink volume in a way that results in faint or blank output. HEADS UP Avoid leaving the printer idle for more than two weeks; the TR4720 nozzles dry out quickly, leading to permanent clogs in the integrated heads. Always use genuine Canon PG-275 and CL-276 cartridges. Third-party "remanufactured" cartridges often have poorly sealed vents, leading to the exact air-lock issues described above. Never use rubbing alcohol or harsh chemicals to clean the gold contacts on the cartridges, as this can strip the conductive coating and cause "Ink Cartridge Not Recognized" errors. If you frequently print high-volume documents, keep an eye on the waste ink absorber levels; once full, the printer will lock and require a service reset.

Question 8

my tr4720 printer just says 'paper jam' but i can't see any paper stuck anywhere inside.

Accepted Answer

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 and motor damage. Open the rear cover (the duplexing unit) and inspect the rollers. Use a bright flashlight to look for small white scraps lodged in the gears or rollers. Open the scanning unit/cover to access the print head carriage. Gently slide the carriage to the center if it isn't already there. Inspect the far left and right ends of the carriage path. Small pieces of paper often accumulate in the "parking" area where the ink cartridges rest. Use plastic tweezers or a can of compressed air to remove any debris. Avoid using metal tools, as scratching the encoder strip (the clear plastic band) will cause alignment errors. Close all covers and plug the unit back in. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If the error persists, the jam may be located in the Auto Document Feeder (ADF). Open the ADF cover and check the small rubber rollers for debris. Additionally, perform a "hard reset" by unplugging the printer and holding the power button for 15 seconds to discharge remaining electricity, then restarting. If the error remains, the sensor arm itself may be stuck in the "down" position; gently blow compressed air around the sensor flags in the paper path to flick them back into place. HEADS UP Never force the print head carriage if it feels locked; you may snap the timing belt. Always ensure the printer is completely powered down before reaching deep into the internal mechanisms to avoid pinching your fingers in the motorized gears.

Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black

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