Canon Printer Error 6001 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 6001 means your Canon printer detected a paper jam in the output area. This is where paper leaves the printer and lands in the output tray. A piece of paper is stuck at the exit point — removing it carefully clears the error.

Affected Models

Canon Pixma MP495
Canon Pixma MP280
Canon Pixma MG2500 series
Canon Pixma MG3600 series
Canon Pixma TS3300 series

Common Causes

A piece of paper became jammed at the output rollers as it was exiting the printer
The output tray is full and paper has backed up into the output path
Paper curling caused the sheet to fold back and block the exit slot
A torn piece of paper from a previous jam was left behind and is now blocking the path
The output paper sensor has a false trigger due to dust or debris near the exit slot

How to Fix It

Look at the output tray area at the front of the printer. Check for any paper that is partially ejected or stuck in the exit slot. Gently pull it out in the direction the paper normally exits — towards you.

Never pull paper backward through the output slot — this tears the paper and can damage the exit rollers.
Empty the output tray if it is full. A full output tray can cause paper to back up and jam at the exit rollers. Remove all printed pages from the tray before continuing.

Most Canon Pixma output trays hold about 20 to 30 sheets. Exceeding this can cause output jams.
Open the printer's rear access panel and look for paper stuck inside the paper path just before the exit. Any paper found here should be gently pulled out in the forward direction.

The rear panel gives you access to the section of the paper path just before the output rollers.
Turn the printer off, wait 60 seconds, then turn it back on. Watch as it initializes — the paper path rollers will run a brief test cycle which can free lightly stuck paper.

A restart also resets the paper output sensor, which clears false-positive jam detections.
Use straighter paper if curling is the issue. Curling happens more with thin paper and in humid conditions. Try a different stack of paper, or press the paper flat before loading it.

Storing paper in a sealed package in a dry room prevents moisture absorption that causes curling.

When to Call a Professional

If you can see no paper jam but the error keeps appearing, the paper output sensor may be faulty. This is a sensor replacement job that a printer technician can handle. Check whether the cost of repair is worthwhile compared to a new replacement printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is error 6001 dangerous? Will it damage my printer?

No — 6001 is not a damaging error. The printer stops itself to prevent further jamming. As long as you remove the jammed paper carefully and do not force anything, no damage is done.

Why does my Canon printer keep getting output jams with the same paper?

The paper you are using may be too light or have too much moisture, causing it to curl at the output. Try switching to a heavier, higher-quality printer paper such as 80 g/m² copy paper. Also check that the output tray is properly extended to support the full length of the paper as it exits.

What if I cannot see any paper but the error is still showing?

There may be a small torn piece of paper inside the printer that is not visible from the outside. Use a flashlight to look inside the output area and the paper path visible from the back panel. If you still find nothing, the paper detection sensor itself may be stuck — a hard reset usually clears this.