Canon is one of the printers ' most respected and successful brands. Even though Canon is the best in its industry, it doesn't free its printers entirely. Canon users have reported different problems from time to time, just like any other printer. Today we'll talk about one of Canon Printer's most common error issues, the Canon Printer Error 5100.

Reasons for Canon Error 5100

There may be different reasons for forcing your printer to display the 5100 notification of the Canon printer error. These include:

• There may be a paper jam inside the machine
• The ink tank may need to be installed correctly
• The protective material may prevent the print head from moving properly
• There may be debris in the carriage head due to improper boot-up or shutdown.

How to Fix Canon 5100 Error Issue?

Sadly, the Canon 5100 error means that your printer has a hardware problem. If the error results from a broken motor / gear / belt, bent / damaged rail, or bad printhead, you can do nothing but fix the item immediately. Nevertheless, if the problem is the result of some defective setting or cleaning related items, then we have some solution that you can use to solve the problem. So, let's jump to the main topic without wasting more time.

Solution #1: Replace the ink cartridges and replace the ink cartridges

If the Canon error 5100 continues to occur after you adjust the ink cartridges, the cartridges may not be properly seated. In this scenario, to fix the problem, you must remove the cartridge and reinstall it again in its place. If you don't know how to install a cartridge properly, then carefully follow the steps below:

• Switch off the Canon printer at first and unplug the power cable from the power outlet.
• Now, when you plug the cable back in, press the Power button.
• Last, when holding down the power button, press the Stop / Reset button twice. By taking this step, you can trigger your printer's factory mode.
• Now use the navigation key from the control panel of your printer to find on the LCD display the Shipping Mode 3. Press the Ok button to select the option once you find it.
• After that, when you see the "No Cleaning" message, try to print a test page by clicking the "Stop / Reset" button.
• Now gently lift the Canon printer cover and wait to move the cartridges to the left. The printer will be unplugged from the outlet once the cartridges move to the left.
• Then lift the two ink cartridges and close the cover before turning on the printer.
• Now wait until you see the message that says Replace Cartridges and wait a few minutes until the printer recognizes the cartridges once its dose reinstalls the cartridge back in its place.

Solution #2: Clean the Printhead

Due to clogged nozzles, you may also face the Canon printer error 5100 problem. In this case, to correct this particular error, you need to run a nozzle test. If required, you can also clean the print heads. Once done, try checking the printer's status. Ideally, you will resolve the issue with your computer this time. If you are unable to run an automated printhead cleaning tool, then follow the steps below:

• In the input tray, load plain white paper at first.
• Instead, in the lower-left corner of the Canon printer control panel, press the button next to the Setup symbol.
• After that, pick Tools using the navigation key and then press OK.
• Next, click Clean Printhead with the Right Arrow button and press OK again. The printer begins the automated cleaning process once you do that.

Solution #3: Fix the Alignment (For Mac)

If the problem occurs after installing a new cartridge, due to the incorrect alignment, Canon error 5100 issue may be prompted.

• At first, load the Canon printer with a few sheets and then turn on your computer.
• From your computer's system preferences, open the' Print & Scan' option to select your Canon printer now, select the printer option' Options & Supplies' and then select Utility.
• Next, pick Print Head Alignment to open the Printer Utility and then press Next.
• After that, select Print to print a sheet of alignment and then check the pattern printed.
• Now follow the on-screen instructions to pick the number that represents the best-printed pattern for each set and press Next after selecting each pattern number. But, if one or more of the sets do not align patterns, select the closest one in each set and click Realignment.
• Then, print another alignment sheet and test it and press Finish button to complete the alignment once you get your desired result.

Solution #4: Check the Tape of the Cartridges

If the Canon Printer Error 5100 issue occurs after a new cartridge has been mounted and there is no problem like a wrong alignment or an incorrect cartridge seat, then the next thing you should do is test your new Canon Ink Cartridge Tape. Canon's new cartridges are usually equipped with a plastic protective strip to avoid spilling of ink. Many new users forget to remove this protective plastic from the cartridge that eventually causes the problem of the Canon 5100. And, if you notice the tape is still in the cartridge, you must extract it to solve the problem.

Solution #5: Check for Jammed Papers

Jamming of paper is a very common problem among all printer brands. It is also one of the possible reasons why 5100 error code is triggered. Therefore, you can also consider checking if the paper gets stuck in your printer or not if you get the 5100 error problem.

To test it, simply open the back panel printer. If it's really stuck, then immediately clear all the jammed paper. If you're still bothered by the jam paper issue, then you may use the wrong paper size for your printer. You can check the manual to get the correct printer size information.

Solution #6: Clean the Timing Film

If none of the above methods will help you solve the problem, your last option will be to clean your printer's timing film. According to the users, by cleaning this film, many people are able to solve the Canon 5100 problem. If you don't know what the timing film is then, it's a thin piece of plastic running down the drive belt across the width of the motor. If it gets dirty by a little, your printer will stop printing and show the 5100 error issue for some reason.