Professional service Canon

Canon Error B200

What the code means · Diagnosis at a glance

Canon error B200 means the printer measured an abnormal voltage at the print head and stopped to protect itself. It commonly points to a print head that is overheating, clogged or failing, or to a faulty cartridge. On some models a careful reseat or cleaning temporarily clears it, but a persistent B200 usually means the print head needs replacement or service.

Jump to the fix ↓ Canon official support ↗
Disconnect power firstUnplug and wait 10 minutes before removing the print head so residual charge clears.
Ink can stainA removed print head can drip, so handle it over paper and wear gloves.
May need a technicianA B200 that persists after cleaning indicates head failure that needs replacement or service.

Affected brands & models

PIXMA MG seriesPIXMA MX seriesPIXMA iP seriesPIXMA TS series

Diagnosis at a glance

Likely causes ranked, with severity and the recommended action.

Print head overheating, clogged or failing Service Likelihood: Most likelyAction: Reseat/clean; replace head if it persists
Faulty or poorly seated ink cartridge Attention Likelihood: CommonAction: Reseat or swap the cartridge
Dried ink on the print-head contacts Quick fix Likelihood: OccasionalAction: Clean contacts, dry fully, refit

What the code means

B200 is a protective shutdown: the printer’s logic measured a print-head voltage outside the safe range and halted before any damage could spread to the mainboard.

Because the print head is a replaceable module on many PIXMA models, the practical question is whether the head can be revived (reseat and clean the contacts) or whether it has failed and must be replaced.

Most frequent causes

  • The print head is overheating from repeated cleaning cycles or a clog.
  • A cartridge is faulty, empty or not seated correctly.
  • Dried ink or debris is bridging the print-head electrical contacts.
  • The print head has reached the end of its service life.

Quick fix: try this first

  1. Turn the printer off, unplug it for 10 minutes, then power on. This alone clears some B200 events.
  2. Open the cover, remove the cartridges and the print head, and gently clean the gold contacts with a dry lint-free cloth.
  3. Refit the head and cartridges firmly until they click, close the cover and retry.

Step-by-step solution

0 / 6 done

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

Before you start

  • Have the model number ready.
  • Work over a protected surface, as ink can drip from a removed head.

What not to do

  • ×Do not run repeated deep-cleaning cycles, as they can worsen overheating.
  • ×Do not touch the nozzle plate or scratch the contacts.

When to stop & call support

Stop if B200 returns immediately after reseating and cleaning, if the printer is under warranty, or if you see burnt marks on the head. These indicate a hardware failure best handled by Canon service.

If the error comes back

A B200 that returns straight after cleaning almost always means the print head itself has failed. Price a replacement print head against a new printer, since on entry-level models the head can cost close to a new unit.

Related parts & consumables

Print head (removable module)User-replaceable on many PIXMA models
Ink cartridgeSwap to rule out a faulty cartridge

Questions about Canon B200

Can I fix B200 without replacing the print head?

Sometimes. Reseating and cleaning the contacts clears intermittent B200 events, but if the head has genuinely failed no reset will fix it.

Is B200 caused by cheap cartridges?

A faulty third-party cartridge can trigger it, so testing with a known-good cartridge is a valid step, but B200 is fundamentally a print-head voltage fault.

PrinterErrors editorial team

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

Sources & methodology

Spotted something inaccurate? Report a content issue

Related error codes

5B00 Ink absorber (waste ink pad) full 7700 Error requiring repair 5100 Carriage or paper obstruction 5200 Print head error (check ink, clean the head)
See all error codes Canon ›