Error code
Canon support code 1688: the ink has run out
Canon code 1688 means a cartridge or ink tank is reading empty. Find which one, replace or reseat it, and see what continuing without ink tracking means.
Printer display · Canon
What it means
Support code 1688 means the printer has judged that one of its cartridges or ink tanks is empty, so it stops printing to protect the print head from running dry. The judgment comes from the cartridge’s chip and the printer’s own ink count, which is why the code also appears when a refilled or reused cartridge is still remembered as empty. On many models you can choose to keep printing, but the printer then stops tracking ink for that cartridge.
When you’ll see it
- Partway through a job, with a message that the ink has run out
- After a low-ink warning was dismissed earlier
- After refilling a cartridge by hand
- After fitting a third-party or remanufactured cartridge
- When a new cartridge isn’t clicked fully into place
Usually caused by
- Most commonThe cartridge or tank really is empty
- Most commonA refilled or reused cartridge is still recorded as empty
- SometimesA cartridge not fully seated, so its chip isn’t read properly
- Less commonDirty contacts on the cartridge chip or in the carriage
How to clear it
Work down the list in order. Tick off each step as you go: your progress is saved on this device.
On the printer itself
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Find out which ink is empty
Check the printer’s screen for the color it names. On models whose ink tanks carry a small lamp, open the cover: the empty tank’s lamp usually flashes while the others stay lit.
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Open the cover and let the carriage stop
Open the top cover or scanner unit and wait until the carriage has moved to its replacement position and stopped. Keep your hands clear while it moves.
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Swap in a new cartridge
Remove the empty cartridge, unpack the new one, remove any protective cap and tape, and press it into the matching slot until it clicks.
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Close the cover and wait for the printer
Close the cover and let the printer finish its startup and any automatic cleaning before you send another job.
You should see: The ink warning clears, and the job either resumes or can be sent again.
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Decide whether to continue without ink tracking
If you refilled a cartridge and the printer still reports it empty, many Canon models let you keep printing by holding the Stop button for about five seconds while the message shows; check your manual for your model’s exact button. The printer then stops monitoring ink for that cartridge, so watch print quality yourself and refill before it runs dry.
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Reseat a new cartridge that still reads empty
If a brand-new cartridge triggers 1688, take it out, check its chip or contacts for leftover tape or ink, wipe them gently with a dry lint-free cloth, and push it back in until it clicks.
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Print a nozzle check
Print a nozzle check pattern to confirm every color is firing. If a refilled color shows gaps, it may have run dry before you topped it up; one cleaning cycle often brings it back.
Windows 11 and 10
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Open the printer’s preferences
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, choose your Canon printer and open Printing preferences. On Windows 10, start from Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
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View the printer status
On the Canon driver’s maintenance tab, look for the option to view the printer status. The Canon status window may also open by itself when the error appears.
You should see: The status window shows each ink level and marks the empty cartridge, often with the support code beside it.
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Replace the cartridge and resume
Replace the cartridge at the printer. If the job doesn’t resume by itself, open the print queue from the same Printers & scanners page, cancel it and print again.
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Install Canon’s driver if levels are missing
With the basic driver built into Windows, you may not see ink details. Download the full driver for your model from Canon’s official support site to get the status window.
macOS
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Open the printer’s supply levels
Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select your Canon printer, click Options & Supplies and choose Supply Levels. On older macOS, the same panel is in System Preferences.
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Identify the empty cartridge
The levels come from the printer itself. The empty color usually shows at or near zero, sometimes with a warning symbol.
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Replace it and check the queue
Replace the cartridge, then open the print queue from the printer’s Dock icon. If the job is paused, resume it, or delete it and print again.
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Get fuller status from Canon if needed
With AirPrint, some ink details may not appear. Canon’s official support site lists the Mac software available for your model if you want fuller status reporting.
Common questions
Does holding Stop to continue harm the printer?
Not by itself. It turns off ink tracking for that cartridge, so the risk is printing after it really runs dry, which can damage the print head. Watch print quality and refill early.
Why does a cartridge I just bought say it’s empty?
Usually it isn’t clicked fully into place, has tape over its contacts, or is in the wrong slot. Reseat it firmly; if it still reads empty, try another cartridge to rule out a faulty one.
Why does my refilled cartridge keep showing empty?
The empty status is tied to the cartridge’s chip, so adding ink doesn’t change what the printer reads. That’s when the continue-without-tracking option in your manual applies.