The Meaning of Canon Inkjet Printer Orange Light Flashes

Canon inkjet printer support

Canon Orange Flashing Light: What Does It Mean?

If your Canon inkjet printer is flashing an orange light, the number of flashes can help identify the fault. Count the orange flashes between pauses, then use the guide below to find the likely cause and the next step.

View flash codes Cartridge fixes Waste ink warning
Count the flashes Watch the orange light pattern and count the flashes before the pause.
Cartridge issue? 4, 7, 13, 14, 15 and 16 flashes are commonly linked to ink cartridge problems.
Paper or jam? 2 or 3 flashes usually point towards paper loading, tray or paper jam issues.
Waste ink warning 8 flashes can mean the waste ink absorber is nearly full and needs attention.

Before you start troubleshooting

A quick check can save time. Do these simple steps first before assuming the printer, print head or cartridge is faulty.

1
Count carefully

Count the orange flashes between pauses. The pause marks the end of one error cycle.

2
Restart safely

Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on and check if the error returns.

3
Check the paper path

Remove any jammed paper and make sure paper is loaded flat and correctly in the tray.

4
Reseat cartridges

Remove and refit the ink cartridges, making sure each one clicks firmly into place.

5
Do not force parts

If something will not move easily, stop and check the manual or contact support.

Canon orange light flash guide

Use this quick reference to identify the likely reason your Canon inkjet printer is flashing orange.

2

2 flashes

Meaning: The printer is out of paper or cannot detect paper.

Try this: Reload paper in the rear tray or paper cassette, then press the Resume / Cancel button.

3

3 flashes

Meaning: Paper exit tray closed, paper feed issue or paper jam.

Try this: Remove any jammed paper, reload paper correctly, then press Resume / Cancel.

4

4 flashes

Meaning: An ink tank or cartridge is not installed correctly or has run out.

Try this: Open the cover, remove the cartridge, refit it firmly, or replace it if empty or not recognised.

5

5 flashes

Meaning: Print head not installed, not detected or possibly defective.

Try this: Remove and refit the print head if your model allows it. Clean only the electrical contacts gently. If the fault remains, the printer may need a replacement print head or repair.

6

6 flashes

Meaning: The printer cover is open or not properly closed.

Try this: Close the cover firmly and check there is no obstruction preventing it from seating correctly.

7

7 flashes

Meaning: Ink tank or cartridge not installed correctly.

Try this: Remove the cartridge, check for protective tape, refit it, or try another cartridge if it is not recognised.

8

8 flashes

Meaning: Waste ink absorber or waste ink tank is almost full.

Try this: Read the waste ink warning below before attempting any reset. The absorber may be physically saturated with ink.

9

9 flashes

Meaning: The printer is not receiving a proper response from a connected digital camera or device.

Try this: Disconnect the device, restart the printer, and check the Canon manual for camera connection support.

10

10 flashes

Meaning: The printer cannot complete duplex or double-sided printing.

Try this: Check paper size, paper type and duplex settings. Some media cannot be printed double-sided.

11

11 flashes

Meaning: Automatic print head alignment has failed.

Try this: Press Resume / Cancel to restart. Check paper is plain white A4 and that cartridges have enough ink.

13

13 flashes

Meaning: Ink level cannot be detected.

Try this: Remove and refit the cartridge. If the printer asks to continue with ink level detection disabled, follow the on-screen instructions only if you are happy to monitor ink levels manually.

14

14 flashes

Meaning: Ink tank or cartridge cannot be recognised.

Try this: Refit the cartridge, clean the chip/contact area gently if needed, or replace the cartridge if it still fails.

15

15 flashes

Meaning: Ink tank or cartridge cannot be recognised.

Try this: Remove and reinstall the cartridge. If the same colour repeatedly fails, the cartridge chip may be faulty.

16

16 flashes

Meaning: The cartridge has run out or the printer believes the ink has been depleted.

Try this: Replace the cartridge. On some models you may be able to continue temporarily, but print quality and ink monitoring may be affected.

Cartridge-related orange light fixes

If the flash code points to an ink cartridge, the issue is usually caused by a loose cartridge, protective tape, dirty contacts, an empty cartridge or a chip recognition problem.

✓
Quick check

Remove and refit the cartridge

Open the printer cover, wait for the cartridge carriage to stop moving, then remove and reinstall each cartridge. Make sure each cartridge clicks into position.

  • Check the cartridge is in the correct colour slot.
  • Make sure any orange clips or protective tape have been removed.
  • Do not touch the copper contacts with your fingers.
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Recognition fault

Clean the cartridge contacts

If the cartridge is not recognised, carefully clean the cartridge chip or copper contact area with a dry, lint-free cloth. Refit the cartridge and restart the printer.

  • Avoid using water on the contacts.
  • Never scrape the chip or contacts.
  • If the same cartridge still fails, it may need replacing.
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Need replacement ink?

Find the right Canon ink

If the cartridge has run out or the chip has failed, replacing the ink cartridge is usually the quickest fix.

Shop Canon ink Ask for help
Tip: If a Canon cartridge light is not solid red when installed, the printer may not be recognising that cartridge correctly. Reseating the cartridge or replacing it will often resolve the fault.

8 flashes: waste ink absorber warning

An 8-flash error can mean the printer believes the waste ink absorber is nearly full or full.

Important: Resetting a waste ink counter does not empty or replace the physical waste ink pads inside the printer. If the pads are saturated, ink may leak from the printer. Avoid placing the printer on furniture, carpet or any surface that could be damaged by leaking ink.

What this error means

  • The printer has estimated that waste ink pads are near their limit.
  • The printer may stop to prevent further printing.
  • The pads may need replacing or servicing before continued use.
  • Some older Canon models had service-mode reset procedures, but these vary by model.

What to avoid

  • Do not keep resetting the counter without checking the absorber condition.
  • Do not use random reset tools from unknown websites.
  • Do not continue printing if ink is leaking underneath the printer.
  • Do not force the printer into service mode unless you are following the correct model instructions.
Good to know: On many lower-cost inkjet printers, replacing the printer can be more economical than replacing the waste ink absorber or print head. If you are unsure, contact Cartridge World and we will help you weigh up the options.

Print head and alignment faults

Some Canon orange light errors relate to the print head rather than the ink cartridge itself.

5 flashes: print head problem

This can mean the print head is missing, incorrectly fitted or defective. On Canon models with a removable print head, remove it carefully, clean the electrical contacts with a soft lint-free cloth, then reinstall it.

  • Always turn the printer off before handling removable print heads.
  • Only clean the electrical contact area gently.
  • If the fault remains, the print head may need replacing.

11 flashes: alignment failed

Automatic print head alignment may fail if the printer has low ink, blocked nozzles, incorrect paper or dirty feed rollers.

  • Use plain white A4 paper for alignment.
  • Run a nozzle check if print quality is poor.
  • Replace empty cartridges before trying alignment again.

Older Canon service reset notes

The older page included reset notes for legacy Canon printers. These are retained below as a reference only. Procedures vary by model and should be used carefully.

Please be careful: Service-mode resets are not normal cartridge troubleshooting. They can change internal printer settings and do not physically replace waste ink pads. For newer Canon printers, contact Canon support or a repair technician.
Canon S Series printers

Turn off the printer. Hold Resume, then hold Power. Release Resume while still holding Power. Press Resume twice, release everything and wait for the green light to stop flashing. Press Resume 4 times, then press Power to confirm.

Canon S200

Remove cartridges, disconnect the power cable and close the front cover. Hold Resume / Reset while reconnecting power. Release the button, then press again within 5 seconds. Press the button twice more for around two seconds each time, then disconnect and reconnect the power cable.

Canon i250, i255, i320, i350

Turn off the printer and disconnect USB. Hold Power and turn the printer back on. Press Resume once so the light turns orange, then press Resume again so the light turns green. Release Power, reconnect and use the printer configuration software to complete the reset where applicable.

Canon i475D

Turn the printer off. Hold Resume, then hold Power. Keep Power pressed and release Resume. Press Resume twice, then release both buttons. When the lights settle, press Resume 4 times. Press Power to turn off and confirm.

Canon PIXMA iP1000

Older instructions referred to using Canon service software after disconnecting USB and power, opening the cover, pressing Power, reconnecting power, closing the cover and releasing Power. Be cautious with third-party downloads and only use trusted service tools.

Canon i850, i950, S600, iP5300 and similar

With the printer off, hold Resume and Power. Release Resume, press Resume twice, then release Power. Wait until the green light stops flashing. Press Resume 3 or 4 times depending on model, then press Power to confirm.

Canon BJC legacy series

Many BJC models used combinations of Power, Resume and Cartridge buttons after disconnecting and reconnecting power. Because the exact button sequence differs across BJC-1000, BJC-2000, BJC-2100, BJC-5000, BJC-5100 and other BJC models, check the specific service manual before attempting a reset.

Canon PIXMA MP110, MP130, MP150, MP160, MP180 and MP450

Several older PIXMA MP models used service mode entered with combinations of Menu, Scan, Copy, Stop / Reset and Power. Common steps included accessing NVRAM or EEPROM clear menus and resetting ink count. Use only model-specific instructions because the menus differ between MP models.

Canon PIXMA MP140, MP160, MP170, MP180, MP210, MP220, MP460, MP470, MP500, MP510, MP530, MP600, MP610, MP800, MP820, MP810, MP830, MP960, MP970

Older notes suggest turning the printer off, holding Resume / Stop while pressing Power, releasing Resume, pressing Resume twice, then pressing Resume four times once in service mode before pressing Power to confirm. Only attempt this if it matches your exact model.

Canon MX700

Older instructions suggest holding Stop / Reset, then holding On / Off, releasing Stop / Reset, pressing Stop / Reset twice and releasing both buttons. When the Power LED is green, press Stop / Reset 4 times, then use On / Off to confirm and turn the printer off.

Common Canon orange light questions

A few quick answers to the questions customers often ask when a Canon inkjet printer starts flashing orange.

Why is my Canon printer flashing orange?

A flashing orange light usually means the printer has detected an error. The number of flashes between pauses gives the error code. Count the flashes and match them to the guide above.

What do 4, 7, 13, 14, 15 or 16 flashes usually mean?

These codes are commonly linked to cartridge installation, cartridge recognition, ink level detection or empty cartridge issues. Remove and refit the cartridge, check any protective tape has been removed, clean the contacts gently and replace the cartridge if needed.

Can I keep printing after an ink level warning?

Some Canon printers allow you to continue after overriding ink level detection, but you will need to monitor ink manually. Printing with an empty cartridge can cause poor print quality and may damage the print head.

Does 8 flashes mean I just need to reset the printer?

Not necessarily. 8 flashes can relate to the waste ink absorber. A reset may clear the counter on some older models, but it does not empty the physical waste ink pads. If the pads are saturated, the printer can leak ink.

When should I replace the cartridge?

Replace the cartridge if it is empty, not recognised after reseating, has a suspected chip fault, or if the printer repeatedly reports the same cartridge error after cleaning the contacts.

Need help with a Canon printer error?

If you are not sure which Canon cartridge you need, or your printer still shows an orange flashing light after troubleshooting, contact Cartridge World and we’ll help you find the next best step.

Contact Customer Support Shop Canon ink
Call us 01423 701704
Email us customerservice@cartridgeworld.co.uk
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Canon Orange Flashing Light

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