Canon Pixma Printer F15 Error Code Fix Guide

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What This Error Means

F15 on a Canon Pixma means: ink cartridge not recognized.

The printer can’t read the chip on one or more ink tanks, so it refuses to print anything.

  • Control panel shows F15 (often mis-read from E15) or a similar cartridge error.
  • Your computer may pop up a “cartridge not installed / not recognized” style message.
  • One ink tank light is off or blinking while the others are solid.

Official Fix

Here’s what Canon’s playbook wants you to do.

  1. Stop everything.
    Cancel any print jobs on the PC. Hit the printer’s Power button to turn it off. Wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
  2. Open the ink access cover.
    The carriage will move to the center. Don’t force it.
  3. Find the bad cartridge.
    • Look at the display for which color is flagged, and/or
    • Check the ink tanks: the one with its LED off or flashing fast is the problem.
  4. Remove that cartridge.
    Press the front tab and pull it straight out. Don’t pry it sideways.
  5. Check the basics on the cartridge.
    • Model number matches your Pixma’s required PGI/CLI type.
    • No tape, sticker, or plastic left on the vent or chip.
    • Gold chip contacts aren’t scraped off, soaked in ink, or physically damaged.
  6. Reinstall it correctly.
    • Front slightly down, slide along the rail.
    • Press until it clicks and the tank LED turns on solid.
  7. Close the cover.
    Let the printer whir and do its check.
  8. If F15 is still there, try a new OEM cartridge.
    Replace the suspect tank with a genuine Canon cartridge. Not refilled, not a super-cheap generic.
  9. Power-cycle once more.
    Turn the printer off, wait 10 seconds, turn it back on, and let it initialize.
  10. If F15 won’t clear even with a new OEM tank:
    Canon’s official line at this point is “service required” – they assume a bad ink sensor, cartridge slot, or carriage board.

The Technician’s Trick

When new ink doesn’t fix F15, it’s usually bad contact, not black magic. Here’s the field-fix techs actually use.

  • Kill the power, fully.
    Turn the printer off, then unplug it from the wall. No live power while you’re in there.
  • Pop all the cartridges out.
    Open the cover, release each tank with the tab, and line them up on a paper towel chip-side up.
  • Clean the cartridge chips.
    • Use a lint-free cloth or coffee filter lightly dampened with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol.
    • Wipe the gold pads on each cartridge chip. You’re removing oil and dried ink, not scrubbing paint off.
    • Let them air-dry for at least a minute.
  • Clean and tweak the printer’s contacts.
    • Look inside the carriage where the cartridge sits – you’ll see small gold spring contacts for each tank.
    • Lightly wipe them with the same alcohol cloth if they’re inky.
    • Using a plastic spudger or toothpick, very gently flex each spring contact outward just a hair. Goal: restore tension, not bend them flat or snap them.
  • Rebuild the ink row.
    Once everything is dry, reinstall the cartridges one by one until every single one clicks and its LED comes on.
  • Power it back up.
    Plug in, turn on, close the cover, and wait for the startup routine to finish.

If F15 disappears now, the issue was dirty or weak contacts. If it sticks to the same slot no matter which cartridge you put there, the carriage board for that color is likely blown. On low-end Pixmas, that repair usually costs more than the printer.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: If a single new cartridge or a quick contact clean clears F15 and the printer is under about 5–6 years old.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: If you’re buying multiple OEM cartridges just to chase the error and the total ink cost is within $20–$40 of a new printer.
  • ❌ Replace: If F15 stays even with fresh OEM ink and clearly bad cartridge slot hardware – carriage or main board work is usually not worth it on a consumer Pixma.

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