Canon Printer Error 5100 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 5100 means the print head carriage inside your Canon printer has stopped moving or is blocked. The carriage is the assembly that holds the ink cartridges and moves left and right during printing. Something is physically obstructing it — finding and removing that obstruction usually fixes this instantly.

Affected Models

Canon Pixma MG2500 series
Canon Pixma MG3600 series
Canon Pixma MX920 series
Canon Pixma TS5300 series
Canon Pixma MP280

Common Causes

A piece of paper or foreign object is blocking the carriage's path inside the printer
The printer was jostled or moved while printing, causing the carriage to lose its position
The carriage belt has slipped or broken, preventing movement
Dried ink has built up on the carriage rails and is causing friction
One of the ink cartridges is not seated correctly and is sticking out, hitting the printer wall

How to Fix It

Turn the printer off and open the top cover to access the print area. Look carefully along the entire carriage path for any paper scraps, rubber bands, clips, or foreign objects. Remove anything you find.

Even a tiny scrap of paper caught under the carriage can stop it completely.
Manually move the carriage to the center. With the printer off, gently push the carriage left and right by hand. It should move freely. If it feels stiff or grinds, something is blocking or the rails need cleaning.

Never force the carriage — if it does not move smoothly, do not push harder.
Check the ink cartridges. Remove and reinsert each cartridge firmly. A cartridge that is not fully seated can stick out far enough to hit the side of the printer.

You should feel each cartridge click firmly into its slot.
Clean the carriage rails. Use a dry lint-free cloth to wipe the metal rails on both sides of the carriage. A very light application of sewing machine oil on the rails (not on the belt) can help if the rails are dry.

Do not over-lubricate — a single drop of light oil is enough. Oil on the belt will cause problems.
Perform a hard reset. Turn the printer off, unplug the power cord, wait 5 minutes, then plug back in and turn on. The carriage initialization sequence at startup will attempt to re-home the carriage.

Watch and listen during startup. The carriage should move during initialization. If it does not move at all, the belt or motor may be faulty.

When to Call a Professional

If the carriage is stuck and you cannot identify any visible obstruction, the carriage belt or motor may be faulty. This is a mechanical repair that requires opening the printer. A repair shop can diagnose and fix mechanical carriage issues for most Canon Pixma models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I manually move the carriage when the printer is off?

Yes — with the printer fully powered off, you can gently slide the carriage by hand. Never try to move it while the printer is on — you could damage the motor. If it does not slide smoothly, look for an obstruction rather than forcing it.

My printer makes a grinding noise when I turn it on. Is that related to 5100?

Yes — a grinding noise during startup usually means the carriage is physically stuck and the motor is trying to force it. Turn the printer off immediately to avoid damaging the motor. Investigate the carriage area for obstructions before turning it back on.

Is error 5100 the same as a paper jam error?

Not exactly — 5100 is specifically a carriage error, not a paper path error. However, a paper jam can sometimes cause 5100 if a piece of paper blocks the carriage from moving. Check both the paper path and the carriage area when troubleshooting.