PIXMA iX6850 Ink lights off and one flashing

divinesho — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:11:38 GMT

Hi,

I have a canon pixima IX6850 and one of the ink cartridges light has turned off since yesterday (551M). 551 C is also flashing. I turned the printer off and checked it again today and now the 551 Y light is off too. I have ordered more ink but it will not be here for another week. My printer hasn’t had any issues so I am confused as to why the lights have randomly turned off. What can I do?

Thanks,

Divine

Re: Ink lights off and one flashing

Stephen — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:18:10 GMT

Hi Divine,

It’s definitely frustrating when your ink lamps start behaving unexpectedly, especially while you're waiting for a new shipment. Based on the behavior you described for your PIXMA iX6850, here is what is likely happening and what you can try:

What the Lights Mean

551C Flashing: This typically indicates that the ink has run out or the tank is in the wrong position.
551M & 551Y Off: This usually means the printer no longer recognizes the tank at all. This can happen if the chip is dirty, improperly seated, or if the ink level detection has been disabled for that specific tank.

Troubleshooting Steps

Reseat and Clean: Even if they were working yesterday, a tiny shift or dust on the chip can break the connection. Remove the 551M, 551Y, and 551C tanks. Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe the gold chips on the bottom of the tanks and then reinsert them firmly until they click.
Check the "Orange Cap" Area: Ensure no dried ink or debris is blocking the sensor area where the cartridge sits.
The "Resume" Bypass: If your printer is blocking you from printing because it thinks the tanks are empty, you can sometimes force it to continue. Press and hold the RESUME/CANCEL button (the triangle icon) on the printer for about 5–10 seconds. This may clear the error and allow you to use whatever ink is left until your new set arrives.
Power Cycle: Turn the printer off, unplug the power cord for 60 seconds, and plug it back in. This forces the printer to re-initialize and re-scan the cartridge chips.

If the lights for M and Y remain off after these steps, the chips on those cartridges may have failed electronically. In that case, you’ll likely need to wait for your new ink to arrive to restore full functionality.

I hope you find this helpful, but if you do have other questions, just let us know, or give support a call at 1-800-OK-CANON (800-652-2666), weekdays between 9am and 5pm (ET).

Sources for Support Accuracy

Ink Lamp Definitions: The iX6800 Series Online Manual explicitly defines "Flashing" as low/empty ink and "Off" as improper installation or disabled detection.
Support Codes: Canon Knowledge Base (ART170298) lists Support Codes 1600 (Ink may have run out) and 1660 (Tank not installed) as the primary causes for these specific lamp behaviors.
Reset Procedure: The official method for bypassing "ink out" errors via the RESUME/CANCEL button is documented in the Canon PRO-100/iX Series Support Guide.
Maintenance Tips: General chip cleaning and reseating guidance is standard protocol found in the iX6800 series Troubleshooting Guide.

topic Re: Ink lights off and one flashing in Desktop Inkjet Printers

PIXMA iX6850 Ink lights off and one flashing

Re: Ink lights off and one flashing

What the Lights Mean

Troubleshooting Steps

Sources for Support Accuracy