Canon Support Code 1660 Ink Tank Not Inserted — Fix Guide

Joe B.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Windows 11/10, Printers, Networking, Group Policy, Print Servers

Fix Canon error 1660 — “ink tank not inserted / not installed / not recognized” on PIXMA TS, MG, G-series (MegaTank)

Technician

Hi! We’ll clear Canon Support Code 1660 — the printer thinks an ink tank isn’t inserted or isn’t recognized.
First questions: Which model (PIXMA TS/MG or G-series MegaTank)? Did you replace an ink tank or cartridge recently, and is the tank’s orange tape/air-vent seal fully removed? Any tank LEDs flashing or showing solid light?

Customer

It’s a Canon PIXMA TS6420a. I replaced the black tank. Now the display shows “1660 ink tank not inserted”. The LED on the tank is off.

Technician

Thanks. On TS-series, 1660 triggers when the printer can’t detect the tank’s IC chip/contacts or the tank isn’t fully latched in the print head. It also appears with non-genuine or empty tanks, or if the air-vent sticker wasn’t removed.
Plan: 1) Reseat the ink tank correctly. 2) Check the chip contacts and clean them. 3) Verify the vent and protective tape. 4) Power-cycle and run the built-in reset. 5) If needed, temporarily disable ink level detection with the Stop button so you can print.

Customer

Where exactly should I press? It feels like it clicks, but the error stays.

Technician

Step 1 — Reseat the tank
• Lift the top cover; the carriage moves center. Push the black tank down and toward the back until it snaps firmly. On many PIXMA tanks the LED lights when seated.
• Confirm the tank is in the correct bay (BK, CLI/PGI size). Mis-slotting causes ink tank not inserted even if it feels secure.
• Close the cover and wait 20–30 s for detection.

Customer

Reseated. The LED still doesn’t light. The sticker might still be on?

Technician

Step 2 — Remove tape and open the air vent
• Take the tank out. Remove all orange protective tape and the air-vent label (small film on the top). A blocked vent can trigger 1660 or ink not recognized.
• Gently wipe the gold chip with a lint-free cloth and a drop of isopropyl alcohol; also wipe the spring contacts inside the carrier if reachable. Reseat firmly.

Customer

Done. Still shows Support Code 1660 after I close the cover.

Technician

Step 3 — Power cycle + detection reset
• Turn the printer off. Unplug power for 60 seconds, then power it on and wait for initialization.
• If 1660 persists, press and hold the Stop/Reset button for 5–10 seconds. This disables ink level detection for that tank on many PIXMA models, allowing printing with a replaced or third-party tank. You’ll see a warning icon instead of ink level, which is normal.

Customer

After holding Stop the error disappears, but will it print safely?

Technician

Yes, you can print — just monitor quality. With detection off, the printer can’t sense low ink, so avoid running the tank bone-dry (risk of print head damage). If the tank LED never lights after reseating and cleaning, the tank’s chip is faulty. Replacing with a genuine Canon ink tank usually restores normal detection.

Customer

What about MegaTank (G-series)? My friend has a G6020 and saw the same 1660 message.

Technician

On G-series MegaTank, the message often appears when the maintenance cartridge or the ink bottle cap wasn’t handled correctly, or a FINE cartridge adapter wasn’t seated during priming (model-specific). The same checks apply: open the air vents, ensure covers are fully closed, and reseat any user-replaceable tanks. If the display references a specific color, inspect that bay first.

Customer

If I switch back to my old Canon tank, the printer detects it. The new one seems defective.

Technician

That confirms it. Either the IC chip on the new tank is dead or its code isn’t accepted by your firmware. Two options:
• Exchange the tank for a genuine, correct model number (PGI/CLI family that matches your TS6420a).
• Update the printer firmware via Canon’s utility, then try again. Some updates improve ink recognition.

Customer

After replacing the tank with a Canon original, the LED lights and the printer is ready. Any final checks?

Technician

Summary: For Canon Support Code 1660 — ink tank not inserted, reseat the tank in the correct slot, remove orange tape, open the air-vent, clean the chip contacts, power-cycle, and if needed hold Stop for 5–10 s to disable ink level detection. If detection still fails, replace the tank (preferably genuine Canon) or check the print head carrier for bent contacts. Need help choosing the right tank or running the reset? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when Canon shows Support Code 1660: reseat the affected ink tank in the correct bay, remove protective tape and open the air vent, clean the chip contacts, then power-cycle. If the message remains, hold Stop for 5–10 s to bypass ink monitoring, or replace the tank with a genuine Canon part.

FAQ

Step-by-step (Canon PIXMA)

1. Open cover; when the carriage centers, remove and reseat the indicated tank until it clicks and the LED turns on.
2. Remove orange tape and open the air-vent. Clean the chip and carrier contacts with lint-free cloth.
3. Power off for 60 seconds; power on. If 1660 remains, hold Stop/Reset for 5–10 seconds to bypass.
4. If still not recognized, replace with a genuine Canon ink tank that matches your model; optionally update firmware.

Note for macOS/Windows drivers

1. After clearing 1660, run a Nozzle Check and, if needed, Cleaning/Deep Cleaning from the driver utility.
2. If the printer was paused by the OS after the error, resume the queue and retry the print job.

Sources

• Canon Support — PIXMA troubleshooting & support codes
• Canon Online Manual — Ink tank handling and error messages

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