Canon Error 1700 — What It Means & How to Fix It
Updated August 2026 · Independent PrinterCare USA support guide
Canon error 1700 stops your printer dead because it is a safety feature that prevents ink overflow inside the machine. The absorber pad collects excess ink during cleaning cycles and printhead maintenance, and when it fills up, the printer locks printing to avoid permanent damage. This is frustrating, but it is completely fixable with the right approach.
How to fix it — step by step
- Power cycle and check error code confirmation. Turn off your Canon printer completely and unplug it from the electrical outlet for thirty seconds. Plug it back in and power it on, then check the display or connected computer to see if error 1700 reappears. If the error is gone, the issue was temporary and you can resume printing normally.
- Verify the error is not a communication glitch. If you are printing from Windows 11 or macOS, open the printer settings on your computer and check the printer status or run a diagnostic. Remove the Canon printer from your devices list, restart your computer, and re-add the printer using USB or your network to reset the driver communication.
- Access the maintenance menu on your printer. On your Canon printer's control panel, navigate to the Settings or Tools menu using the arrow buttons. Look for an option labeled Maintenance, Service, or Cleaning and enter it using the OK button. Write down the current counter value you see for the absorber pad to understand how full it is.
- Attempt a manual absorber reset if your model allows it. Some Canon printers allow users to manually reset the absorber counter without opening the device. In the Maintenance menu, look for an option called Absorber Counter Reset or Ink Pad Counter Reset and select it. Note that this option is not available on all Canon models, and doing this when the pad is physically full will eventually trigger the error again.
- Use Canon's remote reset service for forty-nine dollars. Visit the Canon support website and locate the Error 1700 reset service for your specific model. You will provide your printer serial number and pay forty-nine dollars via credit card, and Canon will send you a reset code by email. Enter the code into your printer's maintenance menu to clear the error without opening the machine.
- Contact a local authorized Canon service center. Search for authorized Canon service centers near you on the Canon website's service locator tool. Call ahead and ask for a quote on absorber pad replacement, which typically costs between seventy-five and one hundred twenty-five dollars including labor. This option includes a physical inspection of your printer and warranty coverage on the repair.
- Replace the absorber pad yourself only if you are comfortable with internal disassembly. Locate a service manual for your specific Canon model online and follow the exact disassembly steps, as these vary significantly between models. The absorber pad is usually located near the printhead carriage or in the maintenance station area and clips or screws into place. After replacement, you will need to reset the absorber counter through the maintenance menu to clear error 1700.
- Test the printer after any reset or replacement. Print a test page immediately after clearing error 1700 to confirm the fix worked. Run a cleaning cycle from the maintenance menu and print another page to ensure the printer operates normally. If error 1700 returns within hours or days, the absorber pad may be physically full and will require actual replacement rather than just a reset.
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Frequently asked questions
Will my warranty be voided if I replace the absorber pad myself?
Opening your Canon printer yourself may void any remaining manufacturer warranty, depending on your specific warranty terms and the age of the device. If your printer is still under warranty, contact Canon support or an authorized service center before attempting any internal repairs. For older printers outside the warranty period, self-service repair is generally safe if you follow the service manual carefully.
Can I just ignore error 1700 and keep printing?
No, error 1700 is a hard lock that prevents printing to protect your printer from internal ink damage. Ignoring the message will not make it go away, and the printer will refuse print jobs until the error is cleared or the absorber pad is replaced. Attempting to force printing by power-cycling repeatedly will only damage the printer further.
How often does the absorber pad need to be replaced on a Canon printer?
The absorber pad typically lasts between eighteen months and five years depending on how frequently you run cleaning cycles and how much you print. Heavy users who print daily and run frequent cleanings may see error 1700 sooner, while light users might go years without issues. You can check your absorber counter in the maintenance menu to predict when replacement will be needed.
Is the forty-nine dollar remote reset worth it, or should I just buy a new printer?
The forty-nine dollar reset is worth it if your printer is less than seven years old and otherwise working well, as it is much cheaper than replacement. If your printer is very old or has other mechanical issues, replacement may be more cost-effective in the long run. Calculate the cost of the reset plus potential future maintenance versus a new budget printer to make the best financial decision for your situation.