Error code
Canon error 5100: the print head carriage can’t move
Canon support code 5100 means the print head carriage is blocked or can’t move as it should. Clear the path, seat the tanks and clean the encoder strip.
Printer display · Canon
What it means
Support code 5100 means the print head carriage, the part that slides left and right carrying the ink, couldn’t move the way the printer expected. Usually something is physically in its way: a scrap of paper, packing tape left in a new printer, or an ink tank sitting high enough to catch. It can also mean the printer lost track of where the carriage is, which happens when the clear position strip it reads is smeared with ink, or when part of the drive is worn.
When you’ll see it
- The first time a brand-new printer is switched on
- After clearing a paper jam where the sheet tore
- Right after replacing an ink tank or cartridge
- With a knocking or grinding sound just before the error
- On an older printer that has printed a great deal
Usually caused by
- Most commonTorn paper or a small object in the carriage path
- SometimesPacking tape or foam left inside a new printer
- SometimesAn ink tank or cartridge not fully clicked into place
- SometimesInk smeared on the encoder strip the carriage reads
- Less commonA worn carriage belt, motor or guide rail
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
0 of 8 tried
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Cancel the job and turn the printer off
Cancel the print job on your computer, then press the printer’s power button. If the printer doesn’t respond, wait a minute and unplug it.
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Unplug the printer and open the top cover
With the power cord out, lift the top cover or scanner unit until it rests open. Some scanner units have a support arm or catch; make sure it’s holding before you reach in.
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Search the full carriage path
Shine a flashlight along the whole width of the printer, under the carriage and into the corners at each end. Remove paper scraps, sticky labels, clips, colored packing tape and foam blocks.
You should see: The path is clear from end to end, with nothing touching the rail the carriage slides along.
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Press every ink tank fully into place
Check that each tank or cartridge sits level with its neighbors. Press down on any that stand proud until you feel a click; a tank sitting a few millimetres high can catch on the casing as the carriage moves.
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Slide the carriage gently by hand
With the printer still unplugged, try moving the carriage a short way toward the middle. If it glides smoothly, move it back; if it feels gritty, stiff or locked, leave it and don’t push harder.
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Check the encoder strip for ink smears
Behind the carriage runs a thin clear plastic strip printed with very fine lines. If there’s ink on it, wipe along its length with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water, holding the strip only gently, then let it dry. Don’t pull it off its hooks or crease it.
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Close up, plug in and turn on
Close the cover, plug the printer into a wall outlet and turn it on. Watch and listen as the carriage moves during startup.
You should see: A smooth sweep with no knocking and no 5100 code means the carriage is free again.
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Print a nozzle check
Run a nozzle check pattern from the maintenance menu or the Canon driver. A clean pattern confirms the head and carriage are working; if 5100 returns mid-print, part of the carriage drive needs attention.
Common questions
Why did 5100 appear right after I changed an ink tank?
A tank that isn’t fully seated can stand slightly high and catch the casing as the carriage moves. Press each tank down until it clicks, and check that no protective cap or tape was left on the new one.
Can I keep using the printer once the error clears?
Yes. If 5100 stays away after a few pages, whatever was blocking the carriage is gone. If it keeps coming back, note when it happens; a pattern usually points to one spot in the path or a worn part.
Is 5100 the same as a paper jam?
Not quite. A paper jam message is about paper in the feed path, while 5100 is about the carriage itself. They’re linked, though: a torn sheet left behind after a jam is one of the most common causes of 5100.