Although printer errors can differ by model number, the E5 printer error for Canon printers refers to a problem with an ink cartridge. Possible causes of the error include:

  • Ink cartridge is not installed properly.
  • Wrong ink cartridge installed (unsupported type of cartridge).
  • Printer is not detecting the ink cartridge correctly, if at all.

Ink cartridge is not installed properly

If the ink cartridge is not installed correctly, try removing the cartridge from the printer and reinstall it. Make sure it is fully installed and snaps into place securely. Then try printing again. Make sure you turn off the printer and turn it back on to reset the error message.

Wrong ink cartridge installed

If the wrong cartridge is installed, you need to purchase the correct cartridge and install it into the printer. The printer models that a cartridge is supported by are usually listed on the side of the cartridge packaging.

Printer is not detecting the ink cartridge correctly, if at all

It’s also possible that the printer is not detecting the cartridge after you install it. This issue could be due to the printer being dirty (excess ink in the ink cartridge tray or ink overflow tray). Try cleaning the printer thoroughly and installing the cartridges again to see if this fixes the problem.

  • How to clean an inkjet printer.

Printer drivers

Another option to try is reinstalling the printer driver. If the driver has become corrupted, reinstalling the driver may fix the issue.

  • Computer printer drivers

Reset printer counters

There are other options to try, including resetting specific printer functions and counters. For these options, you need to either search the Internet for your printer model and specific reset instructions or contact Canon technical support. The reset instructions differ by model number, so you need to get the instructions for your specific printer.

  • See our error definition for further information and related links.
  • Printer help and support.