How to Reset Canon Printer: 8 Methods (Hard, Factory, Cartridge)

Having some trouble with your Canon printer? The best solution can be to reset it. In this post, you’ll learn how to reset a Canon printer. Methods include hard reset, factory reset, and reset the ink cartridge.

A Canon printer reset can undo any weird settings and should get you back to printing.

Canon printers, including the Pixma inkjet range, are known for their excellence and are some of the best printers on the market today. 

However, there may be times when your Canon printer is not working optimally for whatever reason.

At such times, you should try doing a Canon printer reset. This can resolve technical issues such as your printer being slow, printing blank pages, or being unresponsive.

Resetting Your Canon Printer: Top 8 Methods 

There are several options to reset your printer.

• Reset Canon Printer Using Power Reset
• Reset Canon Printer Using Stop and Power buttons
• Reset Canon Printer Using Setup Option
• Reset Canon Printer using Hard Reset 
• Reset Canon PIXMA Printer to its Factory Settings
• Reset Canon Ink Cartridge Using Power Button
• Reset Canon Ink Cartridge Using Chip
• Reset Canon Ink Cartridge Using Color Start Button

1. Reset Canon Printer Using Power Reset

So, where is the reset button on a Canon printer? Most Canon printers do not have a reset button but will reset with the power.

This solution may be the most straightforward fix, and it’s always a good idea to try it first. 

You won’t need any software for this super quick method. While this method won’t necessarily restore your printer to its factory settings, it could provide the solution to your issue.

Here are the steps:

1. Turn off your printer.
2. Remove its power cable from the power source, ensuring that your printer is completely disconnected.
3. Wait 30 seconds
4. Plug the power cable back into the power source and connect the cable to the printer again.
5. Turn the printer back on. 

This quick-fix may well have resolved your issue. But if it hasn’t, try one of the other methods listed below.

2. Reset Canon Printer Using Stop and Power Buttons

This method is another quick and simple fix that is definitely worth trying. Again, you won’t need any software. 

Here are the steps:

1. Make sure your printer is on and connected to your computer.
2. Press the ‘Power’ button to turn your printer off.
3. Press the ‘Stop’ button for 2 seconds.
4. Keep the ‘Stop’ button pressed down, and press the ‘Power’ button for 2 seconds.
5. Release the ‘Stop’ button.
6. Keeping the ‘Power’ button pressed down, press the ‘Stop’ button 5 times.
7. Release the ‘Power’ button.
8. Your printer is now reset.

3. Reset Canon Printer Using Setup Option (Factory Reset)

This method will restore your device to its original factory settings. 

Factory resetting your Canon printer makes the printer like it was when it first came out of the box. 

Here are the steps:

1. Press the ‘Setup’ option. 
2. Using the arrow buttons, go to and select ‘Device Settings.’
3. Press ‘OK.’ 
4. Scroll to ‘Reset Setting’ with the arrow buttons.
5. Press ‘OK.’ 
6. Select the ‘Reset All’ option.  
7. Press ‘OK.’ 
8. Press ‘Yes.’ 
9. Press ‘OK’ again. 

Your Canon printer will now be reset to its factory settings.

4. Reset Canon Printer Using Hard Reset 

A hard reset will bring your printer back to its default factory settings. 

Here are the steps:

1. Press the ‘Stop’ button. 
2. Wait until you hear your printer’s alarm ring.
3. Press the ‘Start’ button at least 19 times.
4. Your printer is reset to its “out of the box” factory settings. 
5. Remove (by uninstalling) your printer’s drivers from your computer.
6. Reinstall the latest version of the drivers on your computer.

Resetting your printer is one way to fix a 5100 error code.

5. Reset Canon PIXMA Printer to Factory Settings

You can perform a factory reset on a Canon Pixma printer by following these simple steps:

1. Start your printer. 
2. Go to the menu, scroll with the arrows, and find and select ‘Device Settings.’  
3. Press ‘OK.’ 
4. Select the ‘Resetting’ option.
5. Press ‘OK’ to begin the device resetting process.
6. Turn off your Pixma printer.
7. Press both the ‘Stop’ and ‘Power’ buttons down simultaneously. 
8. Keeping the ‘Power’ button pressed down, release the ‘Stop’ button.  
9. Press ‘Stop’ two times.
10. Wait 30 seconds for ‘O’ to be displayed on Pixma’s screen.
11. Press the ‘Stop’ button four times.
12. Press the ‘Power’ button twice. 
13. Press the ‘Power’ button to turn off your printer one final time.

Your Pixma printer should now be reset.

Is your printer showing an error? Here’s how to fix a printer in an error state

6. Reset Canon Printer Ink Cartridges

You can often reset Canon ink cartridges just by reinstalling them. However, sometimes you will need to reset the cartridge.

Depending on your printer model, there are a few ways to reset the Canon ink cartridges. 

A. Reset Canon Ink Cartridge Using the Power Button

The usual way to reset a Canon printer’s ink cartridge is by using the power button.

Here’s how:

1. Switch off your printer.
2. Press the ‘Power’ button simultaneously with the ‘Stop’ button.
3. Release the ‘Stop’ button.
4. Wait a few seconds. 
5. Press the ‘Power’ and ‘Stop’ buttons together at the same time again.
6. Now press the ‘Stop’ button twice.
7. After 30 seconds, ‘0’ will be displayed on the screen. Press the ‘Stop’ button four times.
8. Press the ‘Power’ button twice.
9. Press the ‘Power’ button for the third time. The printer will now turn off. 
10. Undo the printer’s USB and power cables.
11. Press the ‘Power’ button to access the ink cartridge door. 
12. Reconnect the USB and power cables.
13. Close the ink cartridge door and release the ‘Power’ button.

Need a replacement printer cable? This one comes in 6-foot and 16-foot lengths.

B. Reset Canon Ink Cartridge Using the Chip

You can use a chip to reset the Canon printer’s ink cartridge. 

Here are the steps: 

1. Open the ink cartridge door. 
2. Remove the ink cartridge.
3. Put the cartridge into the main resetter channel, making sure the cartridge’s chip is in contact with the resetter contact plate.
4. Hold the cartridge there for a few seconds. The resetter’s LED light flashes a few times when there’s contact.
5. Once the light has stopped flashing and is constant, release the cartridge.
6. Install the cartridge back into your printer.

C. Reset Canon Ink Cartridge Using the Color Start Button

You can reset the Canon ink cartridge in Canon Pixma Series All Models using the Color Start button. 

Here’s how to do it: 

1. Make sure your printer is on.
2. Press the ‘Reset’ and ‘Color Start’ buttons together simultaneously. 
3. Hold them down for 5 seconds.
4. Release both buttons and wait 20 seconds. 
5. When you see ‘1’ on the display, press the ‘Tool’ button.
6. ‘A’ will now be on display. Press the ‘Tool’ and ‘Reset’ buttons simultaneously.
7. When the lights stop flashing, release both buttons.
8. Turn off the printer.
9. Press the ‘Power’ and the ‘Reset’/’Stop’ buttons. 
10. The Power LED will light up. Press the ‘Reset’/’Stop’ button twice while still pressing the ‘Power’ button.
11. Release both buttons. The printer will now be in service mode.
12. The LED lights will become green. Tap the ‘Stop’ or ‘Reset’ button.
13. Press the ‘Orange’ button once. (Service test print)
14. Press the ‘Green’ button twice. (EEPROM information print)
15. Press the ‘Orange’ button 3 times. (EEPROM initialization)
16. Press the ‘Green’ button 4 times. (Waste ink counter resetting)
17. Press the ‘Orange’ button 5 times. (Destination settings)
18. Press the ‘Green’ button 6 times. (Print head deep cleaning, both black and color)

Your ink cartridges should now be reset. The button sequence (steps 13-18) is from Printer Knowledge.

Keep reading: 3 Ways to Connect Canon Printer to WiFi

Here’s how to fix a common printer problem: How to Fix a Printer Not Responding Error

Conclusion 

You’ve now successfully reset your Canon printer or printer ink cartridges. If you’re still having trouble after trying out this guide, let me know below. If you found another solution, please share it to help others.

Still having trouble? Here is a Canon Printer Troubleshooting Guide (8 Steps)