Canon Pixma Printer F17 Error Code Fix

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What This Error Means

F17 on most Canon Pixma printers means: ink absorber almost full (waste ink pad warning).

The printer thinks the internal sponge that catches spilled/cleaning ink is at its limit, so it locks or limits printing to avoid ink overflowing inside the case.

Nothing is wrong with your cartridges or PC; the problem is inside the printer base where excess ink is soaked up.

Official Fix

Canon’s official line: the ink absorber must be serviced or replaced by an authorized center. Here’s the clean, warranty-friendly path:

  • Power the printer off and unplug it.
  • Check around the base for visible ink leaks. If you see wet ink puddles, stop using it and put it on plastic or old towels.
  • Look up your exact model on Canon’s support site and confirm that F17 = ink absorber almost full (wording may be “ink absorber is almost full” or “support code 1700”).
  • Contact Canon support or a Canon-authorized repair shop and tell them you have an F17 / ink absorber error.
  • They will:
    • Open the machine and replace or clean the waste ink pads.
    • Reset the internal waste-ink counter using Canon’s service software.
    • Test for leaks and return it to you.
  • Until it’s serviced, the official advice is: don’t bypass the error for long-term use, because a saturated absorber can eventually spill ink inside the printer and onto your desk.

The Technician’s Trick

What a field tech actually does when it’s out of warranty and the customer just wants it working:

1. Protect your space

  • Kill the power and unplug the printer.
  • Move it somewhere you don’t mind getting dirty (old towels or cardboard under it).
  • Put on disposable gloves. Waste ink is nasty and stains everything.

2. Deal with the pads

  • On most Pixma models, the waste pads sit at the bottom, under the carriage park area (where the print head rests on the right side).
  • Open the top cover, slide the carriage gently to the center with power off, and look down to the right. You’ll see white or gray sponge blocks soaked with ink.
  • If you can reach them without full disassembly:
    • Use tweezers to lift the pads out.
    • Either:
      • Replace them with new absorber pads of similar size, or
      • Rinse the old pads in warm water until the water runs mostly clear, squeeze them out, and let them dry completely.
    • Once fully dry, reinstall the pads in the same orientation.
  • If your model hides the pads behind the bottom shell, you may need to remove a few screws and pop the bottom cover. If that sounds like too much, stop here and go to a shop.

3. Reset the waste-ink counter (the secret sauce)

  • This is the part Canon doesn’t document. You need to put the printer into service mode and reset the counter.
  • The exact button combo varies by model, but the pattern is usually:
    • Printer off, USB connected to a Windows PC.
    • Hold the Stop/Reset button.
    • While holding Stop/Reset, hold the Power button.
    • Release Stop/Reset, keep holding Power.
    • Press Stop/Reset 4–5 times, then release Power.
  • When it enters service mode, Windows should see a new Canon device.
  • Techs then use a small utility often called a “Canon Service Tool” to:
    • Select your model.
    • Run the Clear Ink Counter / Waste Ink Counter reset.
    • Power the printer off and back on.
  • On a few basic models, holding the Stop/Reset button for 5–10 seconds after the F17 appears will temporarily clear the warning, but that’s a band‑aid, not a fix.

Reality check: if you only reset the counter and never deal with the saturated pads, you’re betting the printer won’t overflow. For heavy printing, that’s asking for a mess.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Printer is under 4–5 years old, prints well otherwise, and you’re comfortable with some ink mess or a modest repair bill.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Mid‑age Pixma with fading print quality or other minor issues; worth fixing only if you need it urgently and parts/labor are cheap.
  • ❌ Replace: Very old, low-end Pixma, already jamming or streaking; if a shop quotes close to the price of a new printer, walk away and buy new.

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