topic MAXIFY MB5420 problems printing black ink, color inks are OK in Office Printers

MAXIFY MB5420 problems printing black ink, color inks are OK

philwright — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:30:13 GMT

I have been using my MB5420 printer successfully for a long time. Recently I have encountered a problem printing black ink only. CYM printing is fine. I have performed nozzle checks several times and have cleaned all colors and repeatedly cleaned the black ink. I have also performed deep cleaning. While repeated cleaning of the black ink improves the nozzle check results somewhat, the nozzle check result is never perfect. Also, printing after cleaning a multipage black typed document, say 4 pages, always results in a page or so of ok printing followed by the remaining pages being gray to blank with only a small amount of ink applied to the page. I have not yet changed the XL black ink cartridge since it is approximately 1/3 full at present. Please advise.

Re: MB5420 print quality problem

Stephen — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:33:09 GMT

Hello!

I’m sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with your printer. To help the community assist you better, we need a bit more information:

- Are you seeing any error messages?
- Which version of Windows or macOS are you using?
- How do you connect to your printer: via USB or Wi-Fi?

Any additional details you provide will help the community better understand your issue.

If you are in the United States and need urgent support, please click HERE to visit your My Canon Account for personalized support options.

If you are outside the USA, please click HERE to find support options for your country.

Thank you, and have a great day!

Re: MB5420 print quality problem

philwright — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:46:15 GMT

No error messages, Windows 11, USB connected

Re: MAXIFY MB5420 problems printing black ink, color inks are OK

Lisette_G — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:41:58 GMT

I have been having the same issue since December 2024. Where by the printer will list the black cartridge 2200XL with a ? above the black. I am using authentic CANON ink cartridges. The system tells me the is a clog and to perform a cleaning. I have already wasted one new cartridge each for Magenta, Cyan and Yellow printing the pattern after cleaning. I have also done a deep cleaning. The black cartridge will still have the ? on the screen stating that the level of ink cannot be determined and sometimes the printed pattern works. If I threaten to send the printer to recycling or leave it a day or two, it magically works for a short period of time.

No error messages other than the ? I am running Windows 10 Pro, USB connected the majority of the time, WiFi for my work laptop and also if I want to print something from my phone.

Is there a way to remove the Black cartridge for replacement? When I open the door, it does not move the cartridge to be able to remove it. All the others are new and working fine. I have another new Black cartridge waiting to be installed. This is impacting my work not being able to print.

Re: MAXIFY MB5420 problems printing black ink, color inks are OK

Hector — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:35:15 GMT

Hello,

If the first page prints correctly and the following pages start to fade, it looks like there is something wrong with the black ink tank or the printer hardware. In this situation, I would suggest replacing the black tank to resolve the issue. Fading pages is mostly caused by low/empty ink tanks.

If replacing the ink does not resolve the issue, it looks like the printer needs service. To check for any available service options, you can log into your MyCanon account using the link HERE.