Canon Pixma Printer F19 Error Code Fix Guide

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What This Error Means

F19 on a Canon Pixma is a general hardware/initialization fault. In plain terms: the printer powers up, runs its self-check, hits something it doesn’t like (carriage, print head, or electronics), and refuses to start printing. You usually see:
  • F19 on the display, maybe with flashing LEDs.
  • No printing at all, sometimes a short attempt to move the carriage, then stop.
  • Jobs piling up on the computer but nothing comes out.
So the brain of the printer is basically saying: “Something in the print mechanism or electronics failed self-test. I’m locking out.”

Official Fix

Canon’s playbook is the boring but safe route. Do it in this order:
  • 1. Hard power reset
    • Turn the printer off with the Power button.
    • Unplug the power cord from the wall and from the back of the printer.
    • Wait at least 60 seconds. Let the internal power supply discharge.
    • Plug it directly into a wall outlet (no surge strip, no UPS).
    • Turn it back on and see if F19 clears.
  • 2. Disconnect everything external
    • Unplug USB cable and/or Ethernet cable.
    • If it’s on Wi‑Fi, just leave it disconnected from the network for now.
    • Power it on standalone (no PC, no network) and see if F19 still shows.
    • If F19 vanishes when it’s standalone, you likely have a driver/PC communication problem, not a dead printer.
  • 3. Check for paper jams and obstructions
    • Open the front cover and rear access (if your model has it).
    • Pull out any stuck paper slowly, both directions if needed.
    • Look along the carriage path (where the print head travels) for bits of paper, labels, clips, or dried ink blobs.
    • Do not force the carriage while power is on.
    • Close all covers properly and power cycle again.
  • 4. Reseat ink tanks and print head (for models with removable heads)
    • With power on, open the top so the carriage moves to the access position.
    • Remove each ink cartridge and check for broken clips or obvious leaks.
    • If your model has a removable print head, release the latch and lift the head out carefully.
    • Inspect the gold contacts on the head and inside the carriage. No rubbing, no harsh cleaners.
    • Reinstall the head firmly, then reinstall all cartridges until they click.
    • Close the lid and restart the printer.
  • 5. Reset settings / run basic maintenance
    • From the printer menu, run: Nozzle Check → Cleaning (if it lets you past F19).
    • Also look for a “Restore defaults” or “Reset settings” option and run it.
    • Restart the printer again.
  • 6. If it still shows F19
    • Canon’s manual answer at this point: internal failure → contact service.
    • Likely suspects: print head, carriage motor, encoder strip, main logic board, or power board.

The Technician’s Trick

This is the stuff that usually doesn’t make it into the user manual but often clears an F19 without a shop visit.

  • 1. Kill the error latch with a deep power bleed
    • Turn printer off.
    • Unplug power cord.
    • Hold the Power button down for 20–30 seconds.
    • Release, wait another 30 seconds.
    • Plug back in and power on. This drains any stuck logic states that a normal reboot won’t clear.
  • 2. Free the carriage by hand (with power unplugged)
    • Unplug the printer. No power, zero volts.
    • Open the top cover.
    • Gently slide the carriage (print head assembly) left and right by hand.
    • If it hangs up, find what’s blocking it: scrap paper, label edge, built‑up ink.
    • Remove any obstruction; don’t yank. Tweezers are your friend.
    • Once it moves smoothly end-to-end, close up and power back on.
  • 3. Clean the encoder strip (the clear plastic tape)
    • That thin clear strip behind the carriage? That’s how the printer knows where the head is.
    • If it’s greasy or ink‑spattered, the logic thinks the carriage is lost and can spit out F‑style errors.
    • Power off and unplug.
    • Use a lint‑free cloth or coffee filter slightly dampened with distilled water or isopropyl alcohol (70%+).
    • Very gently pinch the strip and slide your fingers along it. Don’t pull it sideways or pop it out of its slots.
    • Let it dry 5–10 minutes, then power the printer back on.
  • 4. Service-mode reset (use with care)
    • This varies by model, but on many Pixmas the sequence is:
    • Printer OFF.
    • Hold Stop/Reset.
    • While holding Stop/Reset, press and hold Power.
    • Keep holding Power, release Stop/Reset.
    • Press Stop/Reset 4–5 times, then release Power.
    • Printer should start in a hidden service mode and clear some internal error flags.
    • Turn it off normally, then back on. If F19 is gone, you dodged a repair bill.
  • 5. Swap test the print head if you can
    • If you have access to another identical Pixma, drop your print head into the good machine.
    • If the other printer starts throwing errors, your head is bad.
    • If the other printer is fine, your problem is more likely the carriage wiring or main board.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Printer is under 4–5 years old, F19 clears with cleaning/reset, or it only needs a print head and you print often.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Needs a new head or power board that costs more than half the price of a new Pixma; you print just occasionally.
  • ❌ Replace: Cracked carriage, dead main board, or shop quote is close to a new printer price; older low‑end Pixma models are rarely worth a full board swap.

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