Canon Printer Error Code E06 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error E06 means your Canon printer cannot find paper in the tray. Either the tray is empty, the paper is not seated correctly, or the printer's paper sensor cannot detect it. Load paper into the tray and press the Resume button to continue.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA E400 Series
Canon PIXMA MG2500 Series
Canon PIXMA TS3100 Series
Canon PIXMA TR4500 Series
Canon PIXMA MX490 Series

Common Causes

The rear tray or front cassette is completely empty
Paper is in the tray but was not pushed far enough in for the sensor to detect it
The paper guides are set too loose, causing the paper to sit at an angle
The paper stack is very small — some Canon models need at least 5 to 10 sheets to feed reliably
The paper sensor inside the tray is dirty or jammed with a small paper scrap

How to Fix It

Open the rear tray or front cassette and check if it has paper in it. If empty, load a stack of 10 to 20 sheets of plain paper.

Do not overfill the tray past the maximum fill line marked inside.
Remove all the paper, tap the stack on a flat surface to align the sheets, and reload it firmly into the tray.

Paper that is unevenly aligned can sit too low in the tray for the sensor to detect it.
Adjust the paper guides so they sit snugly against both sides of the paper stack.

Guides that are too loose let paper shift. Guides that are too tight can buckle the paper. Aim for a snug but not tight fit.
Check that the paper size you loaded matches the size selected in your print job or the printer's paper size settings.

A size mismatch on some Canon models triggers the same paper detection error.
Press the Resume/Stop button on the printer to clear the error and retry the print job.

On most Canon PIXMA models, the Resume button has a triangle-circle icon. Hold it for about 5 seconds.

When to Call a Professional

Error E06 is almost always fixed by correctly loading paper. If the error persists after properly loading a full stack, the paper detection sensor may be blocked or faulty. A technician can clean or replace the paper sensor for $30 to $60. Contact Canon support at 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666) for model-specific guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Canon shows E06 but there is paper in the tray. Why?

The paper may not be seated far enough back in the tray for the sensor to detect it. Remove the stack, tap it to align the edges, and push it firmly all the way into the tray. Also check that the paper guides are snug against the paper edges.

Does E06 appear when I use photo paper?

Sometimes. Photo paper is thicker and can behave differently in the tray. Make sure photo paper is loaded in the correct slot — usually the rear tray, not the front cassette. Also confirm your print settings specify the correct paper type and size.

Can a dirty paper sensor cause recurring E06 errors?

Yes. A paper sensor blocked by a tiny scrap of paper or covered in paper dust may fail to detect loaded paper. Most Canon models have a small plastic sensor flag in the bottom of the tray. Check that nothing is blocking it from moving freely when paper is loaded.