Wondering why the Canon printer won’t print from front tray? You are at the right place!
Not being able to print a document or certain image with your Canon printer right away could be bothersome.
The front tray is the printer location where copy papers are withdrawn and then the newly printed papers are produced, so let’s have a look at what could go wrong with that aspect.
If your Canon printer won’t produce from the front tray, check if the device is receiving a stable power supply and reload the front tray with a new copy paper batch.
Furthermore, test the Wi-Fi connection of the printer and if nothing worked, factory reset your printer.
Let’s dig deeper!
Why Canon Printer Keeps Trying to Print From Rear Tray?
The front tray on your Canon printer is situated above the paper loading dock and this is where copied and printer documents come out once done.
If the front tray of the printer doesn’t seem to function properly, it could be related to the printer’s software or hardware state.
Let’s review all of the influencing factors on your Canon printer’s printing ability:
Canon Printer Won’t Print From Front Tray – 6 Quick Solutions!
1. Reload the Front Tray Paper
The Canon printer will not be able to produce printing from the front tray if there is not enough paper or the paper guide is positioned incorrectly.
To resolve the problem, you must reload the front tray of the printer and make sure that the guide is lined up correctly.
Here’s how to properly reload the front tray of the Canon printer:
- Take out the paper currently positioned in the front tray.
- Next, push the paper guide nodes more together.
- Place a new batch of copier paper onto the guide.
- Then, make sure that the paper guide is not loose.
- Position the copy paper in designated guide spots.
Info: The maximum a Canon printer can hold from 500 sheets, up to 5000 or even more!
2. Hard Reset the Canon Printer
Perhaps, the problem with producing printing through the front tray is due to a power shortage or a hardware issue with the Canon printer.
To address any temporal issues with the device, you should conduct a hard reset process to discharge the printer from the current electricity.
Follow these instructions to perform a hard reset on the Canon printer:
- First, hold the “power” button on the Canon printer.
- Once the printer shuts down, unplug it from power.
- Wait for ~60 seconds while the printer is unplugged.
- Reconnect the power cable of the printer to power.
- Hold the “power” button to turn on the Canon printer.
- Check if the printer can now print through the front tray.
How to Detect Power Issues with a Canon Printer?
The most recognizable signs of an underlying power malfunction with the Canon printer are random rebooting and shutting down.
If the printer stops printing out of nowhere or powers off during printing, it could be a sign of defective power equipment or power source problems.
To address issues with the printer’s power flow, connect the device to a different outlet and inspect the power cable for signs of damage.
Alert: If any of the printer’s equipment seems damaged, deliver the device for repair!
3. Reconnect the Canon Printer to WiFi
One of the reasons why the Canon printer won’t work with devices connected to the local network is a failed Wi-Fi connection.
The printer might have disconnected as a result of a network outage, or an issue with the wireless connection, which ultimately prevents the printing.
Here are the steps to reconnect the Canon printer to Wi-Fi:
- First, tap the (A) button on the Canon printer.
- Choose “Wi-Fi” and navigate to “Settings”.
- Press on “Wi-Fi Setup” and choose “WPS”.
- Tap “OK” and go next to your network router.
- Then, hold the “WPS” button for 5-6 seconds.
- Tap “OK” on the printer to confirm the connection.
Canon Printer Keeps Disconnecting from Wi-Fi?
In case the Canon printer has repeatedly unpaired from the wireless access point, it could mean a malfunctioning printer Wi-Fi chipset or router/modem troubles.
To resolve the error, you must run a basic troubleshooting check on your network equipment as follows:
- Power cycle the network router by unplugging it from power for 60 seconds.
- Reduce network traffic and bandwidth usage by unpairing unused WiFi devices.
- Check your service and subscription state and test on other connected devices.
Alert: If you’re still encountering network/Wi-Fi issues, get in contact with the ISP!
4. Correct the Printing Settings
In order to produce a proper, full-sized A4 printing, you must specify the correct “print” settings and use compatible software.
If you’re not copying on the printer, but simply want to print a document from your computer or laptop, you may have specified incorrect print settings.
Alert: You must open the paper output tray and the output tray extension for proper printing.
How to Print with Correct Printing Settings?
- The printer must be turned on and connected to Wi-Fi.
- Connect your PC/laptop to the same Wi-Fi as the printer.
- Open a WORD page or launch a Windows document.
- Press on the “Print” button at the top right/left of the page.
- Set the print format to “A4” and also adjust the print size.
- Then, press the “Print” button to start the printing process.
Can’t Print Copies with Canon Printer?
If you’re attempting to copy a document and the front tray won’t produce it, there could be a problem with the positioning of the document on top of the platen glass.
If you’re unable to print copies and the Canon printer not printing from front tray, attempt the following:
- Re-adjust and centralize the copied document on top of the platen glass.
- Verify that the printer’s compartment is closed properly and also secured.
- Inspect the printhead of the Canon printer and clean it out of any clogging.
Info: The printhead is in the docking compartment and usually accumulates lots of dust.
5. Conduct a Printer Factory Reset
In case there was a problem with the printer’ settings, it is recommended to conduct a factory reset.
This process will erase all print settings and connections memorized on the Canon device and revert the printer back to factory state settings.
Alert: You have to re-establish a Wi-Fi connection on the printer after the factory reset!
Follow these steps to perform a factory reset on the Canon printer:
- Press the “Setup” option on the printer.
- Highlight “Device Settings” in the menu.
- Press “OK” and scroll to “Reset Setting”.
- Press “OK” and choose “Reset All” next.
- Press “OK” and confirm by choosing “Yes”.
Info: The printer will be initialized after 2-3 minutes of starting the factory reset process!
6. Change the Ink Cartridge
If you weren’t able to print anything so far using the Canon printer, this looks like a problem with the ink cartridge.
If connected improperly or there is already no ink remaining, you may want to install a brand new cartridge to fix all issues with the Canon printer’s front tray.
Here is a step-to-step guide on how to replace the ink cartridge of the printer:
- Purchase an identical ink cartridge to the one inserted.
- Slide open the printer’s cover compartment on the side.
- Remove the empty ink cartridge from the cartridge slot.
- Find the correct position for the new cartridge and point it.
- Embed the new cartridge into the slot and push it downwards.
- Once the cartridge has clicked in, close the printer’s cover.
How to Confirm Ink Cartridge Replacement?
Once the new cartridge is detected by the printer, you will be prompted to confirm the change by pressing the “Start” button on the printer.
A few papers from the front tray should be used up until the ink from the cartridge has been drained equally and tested successfully.
Alert: If the new ink cartridge is positioned improperly, the printer will notify you of the problem!
Quick Recap:
Hence, the reason why the Canon printer won’t print from front tray is due to an issue with the cartridge or printing settings.
To overcome this hurdle, reload the front tray with new printing paper, check the paper guides, and perform a factory reset on your printer.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.