Stop printing if the same fault returns after one careful restart or basic recovery step.
Canon / TS5000 series

1401 - The printhead is not installed correctly or is not being recognized.

The printhead is not installed correctly or is not being recognized.

This guide is scoped to the TS5000 series family. Exact menu wording, cartridge naming, and service behavior can still vary by model variant and firmware.

Severity

High

Most likely cause

The printhead is not installed or is not seated fully.

Can you keep using it?

Usually no - see below

Consumables involved

Printhead

Can you keep using it?

Can you keep using it?

Contact customer support if any of these apply

  • !1401 returns immediately after reseating the printhead.
  • !The carriage or latch does not close normally or the printer will not finish startup.
If the printer still starts normally: Try one careful restart or the first official recovery step, then stop if the same error comes back straight away.

What to check first

Step-by-step checks

  1. 1

    Consumable check

    Turn the printer off before opening the printhead access area.

    Start with the official recovery step before moving on to parts or deeper servicing.

  2. 2

    Consumable check

    Reseat the printhead carefully and make sure the latch closes fully.

  3. 3

    Consumable check

    Restart the printer only after the printhead and ink tanks are reinstalled correctly.

Background

What this message usually means

Canon uses support code 1401 when the TS5000 series cannot detect the printhead in a normal installed state. That usually means the printhead is missing, not seated correctly, or was reinstalled without completing the latch and recognition steps cleanly.

Before the message

What users usually notice first

Messages like this often appear after the printer fails one of its normal startup, supply, or paper-path checks and cannot return to ready state cleanly.

Diagnosis

Likely causes

Most common

The printhead is not installed or is not seated fully.

Common

The carriage latch was closed before the printhead was aligned correctly.

Possible

The printer cannot complete the normal printhead recognition check.

Service

When service or replacement is more likely

  • -Treat 1401 as a printhead installation or recognition problem first, not an ink-level warning.
  • -Do not force the carriage or printhead if the fit does not feel normal.

Avoid wrong turns

Common misreads of this message

  • -Treating the message like a confirmed failed part instead of a support clue about which system has stopped the printer.
  • -Assuming any supply-related wording means the next step is automatically to buy a cartridge, toner, drum, or printhead.

See also

Related codes in this family

Explore more

More Canon printer families

Read this next

Helpful guides for this problem

Boundary

When to stop troubleshooting and move to support

If the same message returns immediately after one careful recovery attempt or the printer cannot reach ready state, stop there and use the family-specific support path.

Keep browsing

Where to go next

Source notes

Canon's TS5000-series support-code list places 1401 in the printhead recognition and installation group.

Built around Canon TS5000-series official support-code guidance. Exact wording can vary a little by regional model name and firmware, but the support-code meaning stays close across the family.

Printer error codes can vary a little by firmware, region, and exact model variant. Use this guide as a family-level starting point and stop if the next step would require disassembly or service-mode changes.

Known family variants: TS5010, TS5020, TS5040, TS5050, TS5051, TS5053, TS5060, TS5070, TS5080, TS5090

Last reviewed: 2026-04-12

Reference: Open reference

Privacy and advertising

Choose whether to allow ad personalization

FixThisError may use Google AdSense on broad browse pages. Your choice controls whether advertising-related cookies and ad requests can be used. Core site content remains available either way.