Canon Support Code 4102 — print head overheat protection & media mismatch fix

Joe B.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Canon PIXMA/MAXIFY, Inkjet print heads, Windows/macOS printing, Color management, Paper profiles

Canon Support Code 4102 — media type / paper size mismatch & print head overheat protection

Technician

Hey, thanks for reaching out. Let’s sort out this Canon Support Code 4102 so you can print safely again.
This code usually means the media type or paper size in the driver/app doesn’t match what’s set on the printer, and the device pauses the job as a print head overheat protection / hardware protection step.
To target the fix: which Canon PIXMA/MAXIFY model are you using, what paper size and type are selected on-screen, and what’s actually loaded (plain, matte, glossy, photo paper, envelopes, labels)?

Customer

It’s a Canon PIXMA. Every time I try to print photos on glossy paper, I get Support Code 4102. I cancel, check things, try again, and it comes back. Worried I’ll overheat or damage the print head.

Technician

Got it. The good news: Support Code 4102 itself is a protective warning — it stops the job before the print head can overheat, overspray ink, or fire into the wrong area because the printer thinks it’s using a different media.
Common triggers:
• App or driver set to Photo Paper / borderless, but tray has plain A4/Letter.
• Printer panel set to one size (e.g. 10×15cm) while the job is A4/Letter.
• Using unsupported media (too thick, non-standard) without matching the media type.
We’ll align your settings so 4102 clears and your print head stays safe.

Customer

Where exactly do I change this? I’ve tried different options, but maybe I’m missing something between the printer and the PC.

Technician

Step 1 — Confirm the exact error & cancel safely
1) When Support Code 4102 appears, press Stop / Cancel on the printer once — don’t keep forcing reprints.
2) Note the message text: it usually says “The media type and paper size are not set correctly”.
3) This pause is part of Canon’s overheat protection: it prevents the print head from firing too densely or in the wrong zone on the wrong stock.
Once canceled, we fix the mismatch before sending another job.

Customer

Okay. I’m using A4 glossy photo paper. In the app it’s set to “Photo Paper” and A4. Still getting 4102.

Technician

Step 2 — Match driver settings with printer tray settings
On Windows or macOS:
• Open Printer Properties → Preferences (or app print dialog).
• Set the correct Paper Size (e.g. A4) and Media Type (e.g. Photo Paper Plus Glossy II, Glossy Photo Paper, or the closest allowed type for your PIXMA model).
On the printer panel / Canon PRINT app:
• Confirm the loaded tray is also set to the same size & media.
If driver says “A4 Glossy” but printer thinks “10×15cm” matte, you’ll repeatedly hit Support Code 4102 until they match.

Customer

I’m trying borderless A4 photos. Could that cause 4102? It works with normal documents.

Technician

Yes, if the printer doesn’t support that exact borderless + paper + media type combination, it can throw Code 4102 instead of letting the job run hot and wrong.
• Check your model’s list of supported sizes for borderless photo printing (many PIXMA units allow 10×15cm, 13×18cm, some A4, but only with specific Canon photo papers).
• In the driver, pick a supported media preset for borderless. If you choose a non-supported mix (e.g. cheap generic paper + borderless A4), the device halts with 4102 to protect the print head and maintain alignment.
Quick test: disable borderless, select the exact Canon-type media closest to what you use, and reprint.

Customer

Sometimes it starts to pull the sheet and then errors. Could that be overheating or a hardware fault?

Technician

Step 3 — Check for loading issues that can trigger 4102
4102 itself is not “your print head is burnt”; it’s a preventive lockout when the device detects the wrong sheet or settings.
Please check:
• Paper guides snug, stack not curled or wavy.
• No photo paper upside-down if your model requires printable side up.
• Avoid very thick, textured, or coated media not listed in the manual; this can stall feeding and cause the firmware to stop the job, again to protect the print head and platen.
If you fix loading + settings and still see 4102 on every attempt, we’ll move to reset and inspection.

Customer

I’m using third-party glossy paper and non-Canon ink. Could that be causing Support Code 4102 or overheating risk?

Technician

Third-party paper/ink is often fine, but you must:
• Choose a media type that closely matches that paper (e.g. “Glossy Photo Paper” for most RC glossy).
• Keep sizes exact — A4 vs Letter mismatch is a classic 4102 trigger.
• Watch for heavy or slow-drying stock: excessive passes on unsupported media can stress the print head and cause poor cooling.
If in doubt, test with Canon-recommended media and default profiles; if 4102 disappears, you’ve confirmed it was a media mismatch, not a failing head.

Customer

Is there any way to disable this protection or force it to print even with 4102?

Technician

Short answer: you shouldn’t and effectively can’t bypass it from the user menu.
Recommended safe reset path:
• Power off the printer, unplug for 2–3 minutes, then restart.
• Reinstall or update the Canon driver and check print settings fresh.
• Make sure tray/paper settings on the device match what you send from Windows, macOS, or mobile.
If Support Code 4102 still shows with correct media & size, that can indicate a sensor fault or control board issue. That’s when it’s time to talk to a technician instead of trying risky overrides.

Customer

Got it. If I match paper size/type and use supported media, it should clear and keep the print head safe, right?

Technician

Exactly. To fix Canon Support Code 4102: cancel the job, align paper size and media type between driver and printer, use supported photo or plain media, and reload correctly. That’s how the built-in print head overheat protection is meant to work — protecting the device, not blocking you forever.
If 4102 keeps returning even after these steps, open the chat and an expert will walk through model-specific checks and tell you if service is actually needed.

Quick answer: the accepted fix for Support Code 4102

Accepted fix for Canon Support Code 4102: cancel printing, set the correct paper size and media type in both the printer driver and on the device, reload supported media, then reprint. This clears the media mismatch and lets the printer’s overheat protection do its job without blocking normal prints.

FAQ — Canon Support Code 4102

Step-by-step: clear Support Code 4102 from your computer

1. Cancel the job when 4102 appears (press Stop once).
2. Load the correct paper in the specified tray (e.g. A4 plain, A4 Canon photo paper).
3. On Windows/macOS, open printer preferences and set the exact Paper Size and Media Type that matches what’s loaded.
4. On the printer screen or Canon PRINT app, confirm tray settings match your driver/app selections.
5. Print a test page or single photo. If successful, reuse those saved settings for future jobs.

Note for macOS & mobile printing

1. In macOS or iOS, check the print dialog’s paper size and media/paper type options if available.
2. Ensure the Canon printer’s registered paper information matches those values; mismatches can still cause Support Code 4102.
3. For AirPrint jobs, update printer firmware and re-add the printer if 4102 persists.

Sources

• Canon Support — Support Code 4102 (Media Type and Paper Size Not Set Correctly)
• Canon PIXMA MG3020/3022 — Support Code 4102 guidance
• Canon Support — Support Code 4102 overview

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