Canon Support Code 5100: 5 Ways to Clear the Error

If your Canon printer isn’t working, don’t worry. Printers display an error code to let you know what the issue is so that you can fix it. Canon support code 5100 is a common error code.

The Canon support code 5100 means that the printer is jammed. This can be for many reasons, including a paper jam, a poorly seated ink cartridge, or a foreign object inside. It may also mean that the encoder strip needs to be cleaned or the printer is giving a false error and needs to be reset.

Canon Support Code 5100: 5 Common Errors

This article will cover Canon Support Code 5100. This error appears on Pixma and Maxify printers. We’ll cover the five ways to clear it to continue with your printing job.

Keep reading to learn more. 

1. Paper is Jammed

A paper jam is one of the most common reasons you’ll see a Canon Support Code 5100. Paper can get stuck inside the machine if crinkled or grabbed incorrectly. Thankfully this can be pretty easy to fix. 

1. First, start by locating the paper. Likely, this will be in the back of the printer.
2. Once you find it, discover the best place to try and remove it. In some cases, this may be from the front of the machine, from the back (often behind a removable panel), or from under the paper drawer. 
3. Once you locate the paper, very gently attempt to pull it free. 

Here are five steps to clearing a printer paper jam.

2. Ink Cartridge Isn’t Seated Correctly

If you see this error shortly after you change the ink, there is a good chance that the cartridge isn’t correctly seated inside the printer. 

1. With many Canon printers, you can fix this by first opening the ink door on the front of the machine. The ink cartridge holder will slide over for you to access the cartridges.
2. If you know which one isn’t seated correctly, you can pull on the cartridge eject lever (or press the eject button depending on the model) for the cartridge in question and ultimately pull it out. 
3. With the cartridge out, first, make sure it is oriented correctly. Ensure the pins on the cartridge are lined up with the pins inside the printer. Also, make sure the hole for the ink also lines up with the matching link in the printer.
4. Insert the ink by sliding it in until you hear a click. It would be best if you had to push too hard. 

Need more help with seating your ink cartridge? Here are four steps to correctly put ink in a Canon printer.

3. Something is Inside the Printer

This is very similar to if you have a paper jam. You may need to investigate if your printer senses something inside that shouldn’t be. Thankfully, many printers have a panel on the back that can pop off to make this easy. 

If your printer is brand new, one common issue is that some packing material may be left inside that stops the printer’s internals from moving.

Remember that plenty of little bits of tape and styrofoam help keep your printer protected while still in the box. 

4. Encoder Strip Needs Cleaning

The encoder, or timing strip, lets your printer know where the print head is along the horizontal print path.

If this gets dirty (or broken or dislodged), your printer will not be able to work correctly. In some models, you can clean the encoder strip.

Find out how you can find your model’s FAQ section on the Canon website. There you should find more information on how to clean it. 

5. Printer Needs a Reset

As with all electronics, sometimes you must turn it off and back on again.

1. Start by hitting the power button on the printer for a full reset.
2. Next, unplug the machine and leave it for at least 30 seconds before plugging it back in. 
3. You may now turn the printer back on and try printing again. If your printer still doesn’t work, attempt this method again, as it sometimes can take a couple of tries. 

Here’s more about the best ways to reset a Canon printer.

This error appears on Pixma and Maxify printers.

Keep reading: Canon Printer Troubleshooting Guide

Conclusion

Next time you see a Canon support code 5100, refer to this article to help you resolve the problem quickly.