Canon 5B00 Error (Waste Ink Absorber Full)
What it means
The waste ink absorber, which collects ink from cleaning cycles, is reported as full. This is a maintenance limit rather than a breakage. It requires the absorber pad to be serviced and the counter reset, which on many home models is close to the cost of the printer.
Guides that cover this kind of fault
A guide written for 5B00 itself is still being checked against the manufacturer's documentation. These cover the same underlying problem and are filed under maintenance.
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Common questions
What does the 5B00 error mean on a Canon printer?
The waste ink absorber, which collects ink from cleaning cycles, is reported as full. This is a maintenance limit rather than a breakage. It requires the absorber pad to be serviced and the counter reset, which on many home models is close to the cost of the printer.
Is the 5B00 error serious?
This one usually points at a hardware fault rather than something a setting will clear, so treat an unchanged result after a power cycle as a reason to contact the manufacturer rather than to keep trying.
Different code or problem?
Switch off and unplug a printer before reaching inside it. If a fault involves the power supply or internal electronics, or the machine is under warranty, contact the manufacturer or a qualified technician. Full disclaimer. Brand and code names are trademarks of their owners; PrinterFixUp is independent and unaffiliated.