Attention required Canon

Canon Error 2900

What the code means · Diagnosis at a glance

Support code 2900 appears on Canon inkjet printers during print head alignment, when the printer fails to scan the print head alignment sheet placed on the platen glass. Canon's manuals for the G3010 and PIXMA MX490 series and Canon U.S.A.'s article for the PIXMA MG5520, MG5522 and MG6420 give the same checklist. Dismiss the error (OK button on the MX490 and MG models, Black or Color button on the G3010 series), make sure the sheet is in the correct position and orientation on the glass, make sure the glass and the sheet are not dirty, load one sheet of A4 or Letter plain paper, and print a nozzle check pattern to see whether the print head nozzles are clogged. After that, start the automatic alignment again from the beginning; if the error is still not resolved, perform a manual print head alignment. None of these steps involve opening the printer.

Jump to the fix ↓ Canon G3010 series online manual: support code 2900 ↗
Safe to tryEvery step Canon lists for support code 2900 is done from outside the printer: the platen glass, the alignment sheet, the loaded paper, a nozzle check and the alignment itself.
Model-specificThe button that dismisses the error differs by model: OK on the PIXMA MX490, MG5520, MG5522 and MG6420, Black or Color on the G3010 series. On other models, follow the support code 2900 page in your own manual.

Affected brands & models

Canon G3010 series (online manual page for support code 2900)Canon PIXMA MX490 series (online manual page for support code 2900)Canon PIXMA MG5520, MG5522 and MG6420 (Canon U.S.A. knowledge base article)Other Canon inkjet models: check the support code 2900 page in your own model's online manual

Diagnosis at a glance

Likely causes ranked, with severity and the recommended action.

The print head alignment sheet is not in the correct position or orientation on the platen glass Quick fix Likelihood: Listed first by CanonAction: Reposition the sheet on the platen glass as your model's manual shows, then repeat the alignment
The platen glass or the alignment sheet is dirty Quick fix Likelihood: Listed by CanonAction: Clean the glass and make sure the sheet itself is clean before scanning again
The loaded paper is not the right type or size for print head alignment Quick fix Likelihood: Listed by CanonAction: Load one sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper and start the alignment again
Clogged print head nozzles Attention Likelihood: Listed by CanonAction: Print the nozzle check pattern to check the condition of the print head
The automatic alignment still cannot scan the sheet after the checks Attention Likelihood: Last step in Canon's listAction: Perform a manual print head alignment; if that does not resolve it, use Canon's technical support options

What the code means

Canon describes the cause of support code 2900 in one line: scanning the print head alignment sheet has failed. Automatic print head alignment uses a sheet that you place on the platen glass so the printer can scan it. When that scan does not succeed, the printer stops with support code 2900. Canon U.S.A. titles its article "Support Code 2900: Scanning Alignment Failed".

The code is not a hardware fault in Canon's description. Every action Canon lists is a check you can make from outside the printer: where and how the sheet sits on the glass, whether the glass and sheet are clean, which paper is loaded, and whether the nozzles print a clean check pattern. Canon's last fallback is manual print head alignment.

Most frequent causes

  • The print head alignment sheet is not set in the correct position or orientation on the platen glass.
  • The platen glass or the print head alignment sheet is dirty.
  • The loaded paper is not suitable for print head alignment (Canon specifies A4 or Letter-sized plain paper).
  • The print head nozzles are clogged.

Quick fix: try this first

  1. Dismiss the error: OK button on the PIXMA MX490, MG5520, MG5522 and MG6420; Black or Color button on the G3010 series.
  2. Place the alignment sheet in the correct position and orientation on the platen glass.
  3. Make sure the glass and the sheet are clean, and that one sheet of A4 or Letter plain paper is loaded.
  4. Print a nozzle check pattern, then run the automatic alignment again from the beginning or align manually.

Step-by-step solution

0 / 8 done

Tick each step as you go. Your progress is kept while you work.

Before you start

  • Know your exact model, so you can open the matching support code 2900 page in Canon's online manual.
  • Have one sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper ready for the alignment.
  • Keep the print head alignment sheet the printer is asking you to scan, and check that it is clean.

What not to do

  • ×Do not use paper other than A4 or Letter-sized plain paper for automatic print head alignment.
  • ×Do not skip the nozzle check: Canon lists clogged nozzles among the things to rule out before you repeat the alignment.
  • ×Do not keep repeating the automatic alignment without changing anything: if the checks are done and it still fails, Canon's next step is manual print head alignment.

When to stop & call support

Stop retrying once you have done every check (sheet position and orientation, clean glass and sheet, A4 or Letter plain paper, nozzle check) and a manual print head alignment also does not resolve the error. At that point Canon U.S.A. directs you to your Canon Account for technical support options, or to the Canon Community.

If the error comes back

Canon's pages tie support code 2900 to the scan of the alignment sheet, so if it appears again during a later alignment, go back through the same checks: sheet position and orientation, a clean glass and sheet, one sheet of A4 or Letter plain paper, and a nozzle check. If it keeps returning after a manual print head alignment, use Canon's technical support options.

Related parts & consumables

One sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paperThe paper Canon specifies for automatic print head alignment.

Questions about Canon 2900

What does Canon error 2900 mean?

Canon describes support code 2900 as a failure to scan the print head alignment sheet. It appears during print head alignment, when the printer cannot read the sheet placed on the platen glass.

How do I fix Canon support code 2900?

Dismiss the error, then check that the alignment sheet is in the correct position and orientation on the platen glass, that the glass and sheet are clean, that one sheet of A4 or Letter plain paper is loaded, and that a nozzle check pattern prints without clogged nozzles. Run the automatic alignment again; if the error is not resolved, perform a manual print head alignment.

Which button clears Canon printer error 2900?

On the PIXMA MX490 series and the PIXMA MG5520, MG5522 and MG6420, Canon says to press the OK button. On the G3010 series, the manual says to press the Black or Color button.

What paper does print head alignment need on a Canon printer with error 2900?

Canon specifies one sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper for automatic print head alignment. Loading another type or size of paper is one of the causes Canon lists for support code 2900.

What if Canon error 2900 is still there after the checks?

Perform a manual print head alignment. Canon U.S.A.'s article for the PIXMA MG5520, MG5522 and MG6420 says to do it from a Windows PC or a Mac. If that does not resolve it, Canon points you to the technical support options in your Canon Account.

Does Canon printer error 2900 mean the same on other models, such as the G4110?

The pages verified for this entry cover the Canon G3010 series, the PIXMA MX490 series and the PIXMA MG5520, MG5522 and MG6420, and they describe the same cause and checks. For any other model, open the support code 2900 page in that model's Canon online manual.

PrinterErrors editorial team

Last updated · Content is independent and not sponsored by any manufacturer.

Sources & methodology

Spotted something inaccurate? Report a content issue

See all error codes Canon ›