How to Fix Canon Printer Error 5100 (Causes & Solution)

Usually, people believe that Canon printer error 5100 is due to some cartridge issues, but it’s not completely true. Therefore, in this guide, we will provide multiple solutions to fix Canon printer error 5100.

How to Fix Canon Printer Error 5100?

We have shared several solutions, try them one-by-one to check which one works for you. Kindly share your experience in the comments section below.

Solution 1: Reset the Ink Cartridge

In order to reset the ink cartridge, you will need the ink cartridge chip resetter device. Follow the steps given below to complete this process:

1. Unplug the power cable and USB cable.
   
2. Open the front door of your printer and take out its ink cartridges.
   
3. Place the ink cartridge on the Canon chip resetter device and make sure that the chip on the cartridge is properly aligned and in contact with the contact plates of the chip resetter.
   
4. Gently press and hold the cartridge for more than 20 seconds. The LED light on the chip resetter will start blinking, then it will get steady.
   
5. After the LED light becomes steady, remove the cartridge from the chip resetter.
6. Perform the resetting steps for all the ink cartridges, then replace the ink cartridges with their original slots and close the front door of the printer.
   
7. Reconnect the USB and power cables.
   

Now try to print documents and check whether you were able to fix Canon printer Error 5100 or not.

Solution 2: Printer Hard Reset

Here, we will perform a hard reset on Canon PIXMA MX432 printer to fix error 5100 code, but you can follow similar steps for other Canon printers as well.

1. Pull out the power and USB cables.
   
2. Wait for 10 minutes, then reconnect the power and USB cables.
   
3. Press ‘Power’ and ‘Stop’ button simultaneously until the power light turns-on, then release both the buttons. For, the Canon MX432 is the Stop button, but for other Canon printers it can be the Resume/Cancel button.
   

After the Canon printer is switched-on, try printing pages to check whether error 5100 is resolved or not.

Solution 3: Clear Debris Off the Encoder Strip

Any dust or debris on the encoder strip of the printer can cause the Canon error 5100 code. Clean the strip by following the steps given below:

1. Open the front door of your printer.
   
2. Look for the transparent thin film behind the ink carriage that runs through the width of the printer. If you see any smears, fingerprints or smudges on the encoder strip, then you should clean the strip gently with a clean cotton dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
   
3. Finally, make sure that the encoder strip is dry and close the front door of the printer.

Clearing the encoder strip should resolve Canon error 5100.

Solution 4: Remove Jammed Paper

Any paper or paper debris stuck in the printer can stop it from printing pages and cause Canon 5100 error. Follow the steps given below to remove paper jam from the Canon printer:

1. Open the back cover of your Canon printer and remove any paper or paper fragments stuck in the pathway. Finally, close the back door.
   
2. Open the front door and remove all the paper and/or paper debris obstructing the movement of the ink cartridge carriage. Make sure that the ink cartridge carriage is moving freely, then close the front door of the Canon printer.
   

Use your Canon printer to print pages. If the it starts printing normally, then the Canon printer error 5100 is fixed.

Solution 5: Clean the Dust from Printer

As mentioned above, the dust and debris inside your Canon printer can cause error 5100. Just take a clean cotton cloth damped in isopropyl alcohol and use it to gently clean the exterior, then the interior of your Canon printer. After properly cleaning your Canon printer, check if the error 5100 persists or not.

Solution 6: Reset the Ink Absorber

Follow the steps given below to reset the ink absorber in Canon PIXMA MX432 printer. You can follow the same steps for other Canon printers as well.

1. Switch off your Canon printer and pull-out its power cable.
   
2. Wait for one minute, then press and hold the ‘Power’ button and replug the power cable.
   
3. Keep holding the Power button for 5 seconds more, then release it.
4. Press the ‘Power’ button again as you would normally do, and the ink absorber will be reset.

Try printing with your Canon printer to check whether error 5100 is fixed or not.

Solution 7: Readjust the Ink Cartridges

If you don’t have chip resetter device and can’t perform Solution 1, then you should try readjusting the ink cartridges.

1. Open the front door of your Canon printer and pull-out its ink cartridges.
   
2. Replace the ink cartridges into their allotted slots one-by-one, then close the front door.
   

Doing this will resolve Canon error 5100.

Now you know how to fix Canon printer error 5100. If none of the solutions given above work for you, then contact Canon technical support.