Canon Pixma Printer F01 Error Code Fix Guide

by

What This Error Means

F01 on a Canon Pixma means the printer has hit a fatal hardware fault, usually around the print head carriage or main logic board.

In plain terms: the printer starts its self‑check, detects that something in the drive or electronics is out of spec, and locks up with F01 instead of getting ready to print.

Official Fix

Canon’s official playbook for an F01 fault is basic. Do this first:

  • Turn the printer off with the Power button.
  • Unplug the power cord from the wall and from the printer. Disconnect USB or network cables too.
  • Wait at least 10 minutes so the power supply and logic board fully discharge.
  • Open all access covers and:
    • Pull out any jammed paper, labels, or torn scraps.
    • Check the carriage path (the metal bar the print head slides on) for pens, clips, or anything that doesn’t belong.
  • If your model exposes the print head:
    • Gently move the carriage by hand left and right. It should move smoothly with light resistance.
    • If it’s locked, don’t force it; note where it’s stuck and look underneath/behind for obstructions.
  • Reseat ink tanks and the print head (if removable):
    • Unlock the gray lever, lift the head straight up, check for ink sludge or bent pins.
    • Reinstall the head firmly and relock the lever.
  • Close everything, plug the power back in, and switch it on.
  • If F01 comes back immediately or within a few seconds, Canon’s official answer is: stop troubleshooting and book an authorized service visit for board/print head diagnosis.

The Technician’s Trick

Here’s what a real bench tech does before calling it dead.

  • Hard reset the electronics
    • Unplug the printer from the wall.
    • Hold the Power button for 15–20 seconds to bleed off leftover charge.
    • Leave it unplugged another 5 minutes. This can clear a latched protection circuit that a normal reboot won’t touch.
  • Sort out mechanical vs. electronic
    • With power off, slide the carriage slowly side‑to‑side.
    • If it binds, clean the rail with a lint‑free cloth and a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol; remove any gobs of dried ink.
    • Check the thin clear strip behind the carriage (encoder strip). If it’s covered in ink, lightly wipe it with a barely damp microfiber cloth, then dry it. Don’t yank or twist it.
  • Test with and without the print head (only if your model has a removable head)
    • Remove all cartridges and the print head.
    • Power the printer on with no head installed.
    • If the error changes from F01 to a “no print head” or cartridge error, the board is at least talking; that points to a bad head.
    • If it still shows F01 with the head out, that’s more likely a main board or power supply fault.
  • Look for ink-flood damage
    • Look down into the bottom pad area (waste ink sponge). If it’s swimming in ink, it can wick onto cables and short things.
    • Blot excess ink with paper towels (don’t dig the pads out). Let it dry out thoroughly, then retry power‑up.
  • Last-resort cable reseat (only if you’re comfortable opening it)
    • Unplug the printer. Pop the side cover off to expose the main board (screws + plastic clips).
    • Carefully unplug and replug the flat ribbon cables from the carriage and power supply, one at a time.
    • A half‑seated ribbon is a classic cause of intermittent F‑codes.

If you’ve done all this and F01 is still solid, you’re usually looking at a failed print head or logic board. At that point it’s a parts‑and‑cost decision.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Printer is under 4–5 years old, you can get a compatible print head or board for under half the cost of a new Pixma, and you’re okay doing basic disassembly.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: F01 appears only occasionally, you can temporarily clear it with cleaning/reset, but parts prices are close to a mid‑range replacement printer.
  • ❌ Replace: F01 is constant, both print head and main board are suspect, or a shop quotes you parts + labor over about 60–70% of a brand‑new Canon Pixma.

Parts You Might Need

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.