Canon Printer Error 1700 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Canon error 1700 means the printer's ink absorber is full or almost full. The ink absorber is a sponge-like pad inside the printer that soaks up ink during cleaning cycles and when you first install cartridges. When it reaches capacity, the printer stops working to prevent ink from overflowing inside the machine. This requires either a professional reset or resetting the counter yourself using Canon's service tool.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MG series
Canon PIXMA MP series
Canon PIXMA MX series
Canon PIXMA iP series
Most Canon PIXMA inkjet printers

Common Causes

Ink absorber pad inside the printer has reached its designed capacity after years of use
Running excessive printhead cleaning cycles that deposit extra ink into the absorber
Printing a very large volume of documents over the printer's lifetime
Running ink flush or deep cleaning repeatedly which uses much more ink than standard cleaning
Normal wear — the absorber has a finite capacity that will eventually fill up

How to Fix It

Download Canon's Service Tool (also called the Waste Ink Counter Reset Tool) for your printer model. Canon provides this tool free of charge on some platforms, and it is also widely available from reputable printer support sites. Search for your exact model number plus 'waste ink counter reset tool.'

Use caution when downloading tools from third-party sites. Stick to well-known printer support forums or the tool's official source.
With the printer connected to your computer via USB (not WiFi), open the service tool. Click 'Main' to set the main ink absorber counter to zero, and 'Platen' to reset the platen waste ink counter. Click 'Set' to apply.

The service tool connects via USB only — wireless connection is not supported for this process.
After resetting the counter, turn the printer off and back on. The 1700 error should be cleared and the printer should function normally again.

The counter reset does not physically empty the absorber pad. It only resets the software counter that tracks how full the pad is.
To avoid the ink absorber filling up as quickly again, reduce the frequency of printhead cleaning cycles. Only run a cleaning when print quality actually degrades — not as regular maintenance.

Each cleaning cycle deposits a significant amount of ink into the absorber. Running unnecessary cleanings dramatically shortens absorber life.
If you want a proper long-term fix, have the ink absorber pad physically replaced by a Canon service center or do it yourself if you are comfortable disassembling the printer. The absorber pad is a foam pad inside the bottom of the machine.

Replacement absorber pads for many Canon PIXMA models are available online for $5–$15. Several YouTube disassembly guides exist for popular models.

When to Call a Professional

Canon designed the 1700 error to require a service reset. Canon authorized service centers can replace the ink absorber pad and reset the counter — typically $50–$100. Alternatively, you can reset the counter yourself using Canon's free service tool (see steps below), though the absorber pad should eventually be replaced.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ink absorber in a Canon printer?

The ink absorber (also called the waste ink pad) is a foam sponge inside your printer. Every time you run a printhead cleaning cycle, or when ink is purged during startup, the waste ink is directed into this pad. It collects all the ink that does not go onto paper. After years of use, the pad becomes saturated and the printer stops to prevent the excess ink from leaking inside or out of the machine.

Is it safe to reset the waste ink counter without replacing the pad?

It is common practice and generally fine for continued use. However, be aware that the physical pad is still full. If you continue printing for a long time after the reset, the pad can begin to leak ink inside the printer. For heavy users, replacing the pad along with the reset is the complete and proper fix.

How long does it take for the ink absorber to fill up again after a reset?

It depends entirely on how much you print and how often you run cleaning cycles. For average home users printing a few pages per week, the absorber can take several years to fill up again after a reset. Heavy users who run frequent cleaning cycles may see the error return much sooner.