The “Ink Absorber Full” / service required message on Canon TS5180 is common after many cleaning cycles. In most cases, a counter reset restores printing.

During head cleaning, surplus ink is routed to internal absorber pads. Canon TS5180 monitors this via a counter and can lock printing at a threshold.

This page is prepared for Canon TS5180. Service mode instructions are shown only when a matching series procedure is known.

Typical Signs

• Service / maintenance warning on the screen or driver
• Printer refuses to print even with ink available
• Blinking lights and queued jobs fail
• Error reappears after restart

How to Enter Service Mode on Canon TS5180

Some Canon series require entering service mode before the ink absorber counter can be reset.

1. Turn the printer OFF.
2. Press and hold Stop/Reset.
3. While holding Stop/Reset, press and hold Power.
4. Release Stop/Reset (keep holding Power).
5. Press Stop/Reset 5 times.
6. Release Power — the printer should enter service mode.

If it doesn’t work, repeat the sequence carefully. The press count depends on the series.

Finalize the Reset and Restore Printing

Once the counter is cleared, Canon TS5180 should exit the locked state and printing should resume normally.

Warnings

If absorber pads are truly saturated, ignoring maintenance can lead to ink leakage inside the printer. The counter reset only removes the software lock.

Need a reset solution?

If your model does not show a service mode section, it means no matching procedure was found for its series.

If It Doesn’t Work

• Use the correct Stop/Reset press count for your series.
• Repeat the service mode steps carefully (timing matters).
• Close other Canon printer utilities while resetting.
• Try a different USB cable/port if using PC software.
• Power-cycle the printer and try again.

FAQ