Canon PIXMA Error 1700 — Ink Absorber Full, Waste Ink Counter Reset

Fix Canon PIXMA error 1700 indicating the ink absorber (waste ink pad) is almost full, requiring a reset or pad replacement to continue printing. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: Error 1700 means the waste ink absorber pads are nearly full (warning level). Error 5B00 means the pads are completely full (printer stops entirely). Waste ink pads absorb excess ink from printhead cleaning and borderless printing. Canon's official resolution is 'contact Canon service center' for pad replacement. Third-party reset tools exist but using them without replacing/emptying the pads can cause ink leaks. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Normal accumulation of waste ink over the printer's lifetime. Frequent printhead cleaning cycles consuming extra ink into the waste pads. Heavy borderless photo printing which directs excess ink to the absorber. Error counter reaching the manufacturer-set threshold (not an actual sensor measurement). Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Press the Stop/Resume button to clear the warning temporarily (1700 only, not 5B00). Continue printing until 5B00 appears (printer completely stops). For DIY: route waste ink to an external container by adding a tube to the waste ink port. Reset the waste ink counter using a service tool (varies by model — search 'Canon service tool' for your model). Replace or clean the waste ink pads if performing DIY maintenance. Consider professional service if not comfortable with DIY — Canon service centers replace pads. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Printer Error Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.