Canon MX870 Ink Absorber Full Reset

If your Canon MX870 suddenly refuses to print and shows a maintenance or service warning, the ink absorber counter may have reached its limit.

During head cleaning, surplus ink is routed to internal absorber pads. Canon MX870 monitors this via a counter and can lock printing at a threshold.

This page is prepared for Canon MX870. Service mode instructions are shown only when a matching series procedure is known.

How the Error Appears

• ‘Ink Absorber Full’ / ‘Service Required’ message
• Support/service code (varies by series)
• Printing blocked after cleaning cycles
• Reset required to continue printing

Reset the Ink Absorber Counter

Completing the reset clears the internal ink absorber counter stored in printer memory and restores normal operation.

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.

Reset tools and instructions

Use a reliable USB connection and follow the steps in order.

Common Fixes

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