Canon G3012 Ink Absorber Full Reset

The “Ink Absorber Full” / service required message on Canon G3012 is common after many cleaning cycles. In most cases, a counter reset restores printing.

Inside Canon printers, absorber pads collect excess ink from cleaning and maintenance cycles. The printer uses an internal counter to estimate pad saturation.

This page is prepared for Canon G3012. Service mode instructions are shown only when a matching series procedure is known.

What You May Notice

• 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 G3012

To access maintenance functions, Canon G3012 may need to be placed in service mode first.

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.

Reset the Ink Absorber Counter

Once the counter is cleared, Canon G3012 should exit the locked state and printing should resume normally.

Warnings

Treat the reset as a maintenance step. If your printer has extremely high usage, consider cleaning/replacing absorber pads to avoid overflow.

Download & get started

For best results, avoid rushing button presses—consistent timing matters.

If It Doesn’t Work

• 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.
• Use the correct Stop/Reset press count for your series.

FAQ