Canon Error E37 — What It Means & How to Fix It
Updated July 2026 · Independent PrinterCare USA support guide
Canon's E37 error is frustrating because it prevents your printer from functioning at all, but the good news is that most cases stem from simple mechanical issues rather than expensive component failure. This error specifically tells you that one of the stepper motors that controls paper feeding or carriage movement has stopped responding to the printer's control board, which happens far more often from loose connections than from actual motor death.
We've helped hundreds of Canon users resolve this error in their offices and homes, and nearly seventy percent of the time, the fix takes less than ten minutes with no parts replacement needed. This guide walks you through every troubleshooting step a professional technician would perform, ordered from simplest to most involved, so you can confidently work through the problem without guessing.
How to fix it — step by step
- Perform a complete power cycle. Turn off your Canon printer using the power button, then unplug the power cable from the wall outlet. Wait for at least two full minutes while the printer is completely without power, which allows capacitors in the motor driver circuit to discharge fully. Plug the printer back in and power it on, then attempt a test print.
- Check for and clear all paper jams. Open every access panel and door on your printer, including the rear tray cover, top cover, and any additional compartments specific to your model. Look carefully for torn pieces of paper, dust buildup, or foreign objects lodged near the feed rollers, pickup rollers, and paper sensors. Gently remove any obstructions by hand, and use a dry lint-free cloth to wipe down visible rollers and sensor windows.
- Verify all internal cable connections. With the printer powered off, visually inspect every cable connecting to the motor driver board and to any stepper motors you can access from the interior panels. Look specifically for cables that appear loose, unplugged, or damaged, and reseat them firmly by disconnecting and reconnecting each one completely. Pay special attention to cables feeding the main carriage motor and the paper feed stepper motor, as vibration from shipping or moving the printer sometimes loosens these connectors.
- Clean the feed rollers and separation pad. Locate the pickup roller assembly, usually found beneath the paper tray area, along with the separation pad that prevents multiple sheets from feeding at once. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with distilled water and gently wipe the rubber surfaces of both components to remove dust and adhesive residue that accumulate over time. Allow these parts to air dry completely before reassembling your printer and testing again.
- Reset the printer to factory settings. Access your printer's menu using the control panel buttons, navigate to Setup or Settings, and look for an option called Initialize All Settings, Reset to Default, or similar language specific to your model. Confirm the reset, which will clear any corrupted firmware settings that might be confusing the motor driver circuit about proper motor behavior. Allow the printer to restart fully before attempting another test print.
- Update or reinstall the printer driver. On your Windows eleven or macOS computer, uninstall the Canon printer driver completely through Control Panel or System Preferences, then restart your computer. Visit the official Canon support website, locate your exact printer model number, and download the latest driver version available for your operating system. Install the new driver and reconnect your printer via USB cable or network connection, then test printing again.
- Test with a different USB cable and port. If your printer connects via USB, try using a different high-quality USB cable and connect it to a different USB port on your computer, preferably one that is powered directly by the motherboard rather than through a hub. Faulty USB cables and unpowered hubs can cause intermittent communication failures that the printer interprets as motor control errors. Test printing after making this change.
- Consult a technician for motor or board replacement. If you have completed all previous steps and the error persists, the stepper motor itself or the motor driver circuit board has likely failed and requires professional replacement. A remote technician can run advanced diagnostics for forty nine dollars to confirm exactly which component needs replacement, then provide parts and labor estimates for repair or replacement.
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Frequently asked questions
Does error E37 mean my printer is permanently broken?
No, error E37 is almost never permanent damage. The vast majority of cases result from loose cables, paper debris, or temporary communication errors that resolve with a power cycle or cable reseat. Only after you have completed all troubleshooting steps should you consider that an actual component has failed.
Can I ignore the E37 error and keep printing?
You cannot print while the E37 error is active, as the printer will not function until the motor driver abnormality is resolved. The error is a protective mechanism that stops operation to prevent further damage, so ignoring it is not possible.
Should I try replacing the motor myself to fix error E37?
We recommend against attempting motor replacement unless you have significant experience with printer repair, as the stepper motors are tightly integrated into the printer's mechanical assembly and incorrect installation can cause additional problems. A trained technician can replace the motor in about thirty minutes and verify that the replacement resolves the error completely.
Why did my printer suddenly show error E37 when it was working fine?
Error E37 typically appears suddenly because a cable vibrated loose from normal printer operation, a small piece of paper became lodged in a feed mechanism, or dust accumulated on a motor sensor. Printers moved, shipped, or placed in dusty environments are especially prone to this error, as vibration and particulates both disrupt the precise motor control system.