How to Fix Canon Pixma Printer Paper Pickup / Feeder Problems. Roller cleaning. MG3600

How to fix paper feeder problems in any small Canon Printer. Fixing Paper pickup Issues. This video addresses accessing/cleaning rollers on Canon MG3600 series. Cheap, easy, improvised solution.
The problem: The printer cannot pick up the paper to start the printing job. The rollers which should grip and pick up the paper just slip over the top and therefore need cleaning.
In a small printer, the rollers are difficult to access, therefore I had to improvise a little!
This took me about 5 minutes (including constructing the cardboard cleaner). I hope that the problem with the paper feeder in your printer is the same as mine. I didn't need to disassemble the printer to solve the problem and could not believe that the only issue was with the rollers and that this trick actually worked!

[@gregboyd8737]

Let me join the VERY large number of people below in thanking you, Helen, for such a simple but brilliant solution. As others have commented, it's so satisfying NOT to have to throw something out and waste a lot of resources in the process. Judging by the number of people who've commented, let's hope Canon's future printers are made a little more durable and that Canon are more helpful when something like this happens. All thanks to you, Helen! Greg

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Awww what a lovely message! Thank you so much Greg, super glad I could help a little and that it worked! May your canon printer live forever 🤗XX

[@beerme27]

@@helenspuddulike8160u ever thought about getting a patent for it?

[@maryf6284]

We live in an age when the manufacturers don’t supply the documentation they should… Thank you for being there… You saved my life today!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

This is so true! You're welcome, I'm really glad it helped!

[@Anchised]

You are fantastic Helen.. Worked for my Pixma 3150, which has been giving me grief for about 2 weeks past. Take a bow.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Aww thank you! It's good to see it works on different models!! Hope your pixma keeps going for a long while now :-)

[@serchizm]

Thank you! Step 1 literally saved me. My wife was complaining for days “why does the printer keep saying out of paper but it’s not out!?!?” I open the back and there was a cotton ball stuck in the rollers! Thanks again!

[@chrisfurlong8431]

Life saver. I've been going to the library for years because I could not fix it. Now the library is closed and I needed important docs printed. This fixed it. Champion! Thanx!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

You're very welcome :-) I'm really glad it helped!!

[@Theo_]

I've had my pixma 10 years and youve just saved me from buying a new printer. here to the next 10 years! thanks Helen x

[@CatherineJJJ]

Printer has been driving me mad during the home schooling. At the very least I thought I’d spend a frustrating evening taking the printer apart to try and fix it... at the worst I thought we might be paying out for a new printer. Turns out this worked and took about 5 minutes - brilliant! Thanks so so much for sharing!!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Wow that must keep you on your toes! :-) you're very welcome I'm really glad it could help a little! Thanks very much for your comment it made my day. Good luck with the homeschooling, bet the kids are loving it 😊

[@mace2505]

YOURE A LIFE SAVER I didn’t think this would work so well

[@lyraschneider6881]

THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED!!!!!!! The manufacturer recommends a "self-cleaning" process that absolutely does NOT work. But this worked on the first try! Thank you so much

[@dankaz8042]

I cannot believe, but it did work. you've prevented my printer of taking a premature flight to the bin! so much plastic saved

[@shanar7404]

I dread every single time I need to print off something because I would literally have to feed it one paper at a time and oh my goodness gracious....that drives me insane. And I have done everything you can think of to solve the problem. I currently started looking for a new printer because of the problem...good grief, no thanks lol. I just happen to find your video and thank goodness I did! Seriously thank you so much for this!! I used a sanitizer wipe, packaging tape, and a piece of cardboard, and it worked! Thank you again for this video!!!!!

[@davidyoung2183]

I used a piece of cardboard, sprayed with alcohol, then followed the same instructions as the video and my machine now works perfectly.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Oh that's a clever idea...maybe you don't need the wipes then...hmmm, haha think I just like the crafting :-D I'm glad it fixed your printer!!

[@BrianWMay]

I shall try that using the cardboard from an Amazon delivery and the IPA I bought last time I had this problem !! Grrrr . . . So thanks for the hints.

[@cchenactor]

This TOTALLY worked! My Canon MG3620 was pretty new. Some random dirt/dust had gotten in there. LOVE the household item-based roller cleaning tools! Cardboard, duct tape (I used packing tape), cleaner wipe sheet, rubbing alcohol. AWESOME!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Haha necessity is the mother of invention ;) I'm really glad it worked!

[@johanneshaedrich5461]

Dear Helen, you are the best! I was already giving up on my 6 months new Canon Pixma 3650 printer, tried your procedure and after 5 min total time including fixing wipes to a cardboard it works again! Thank you soooo much for saving me from buying a new printer!!! It may be interesting to other viewers that the rollers start turning after opening the (upper) paper output tray then pressing the red stop button until the orange warning light flashed 7 times (then immediately release the stop button)

[@dominicpereira9629]

Simply fantastic, I used the same method with a tissue on the carboard end, tissue moist with isopropyl alcohol, 4 to 5 rounds and its picking every paper now. Thank you!

[@tammyb8576]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for making this video. For months my printer and I have been battling it out to see who will win the "will it print today" game. I followed your procedure exactly and it worked!

[@princessdesy]

OMG! It works! I just used a folder and a floor tissue and spray some alcohol in it and rolled it in the roller for just few seconds. Viola! The printer has now detecting my papers! Thank you!!! 🧡

[@fredmatthews2374]

This worked for me. My Pixma was not picking up the paper. Family suggested I chuck printer and buy a new one.... The cardboard I used was from a Branflakes cereal box. Thanks ever so!

[@patriciaguerrero3091]

This video saved our printer and our sanity! So frustrated that the rollers weren’t rolling and was crossing my fingers that this would work and it did! I had a package of long q tips that I purchased from a discount store like dollar tree or 99cents and decided to dip the cotton in alcohol and pinch out the excess. I then inserted it through the open area in back to the second set of rollers hidden behind the visible rollers. My husband held the flashlight for me while I stuck in the q tip and manually rolled the rollers with pressure using the cotton. The cotton tip came out dusty and the rollers were cleaned! So thankful for this video!!!

[@wendywillder226]

Brilliant. It worked on my MG4250 printer. I had been pulling my hair out and then watched your video. 10 minutes later it's fixed. Thank-you so much. 12/12/2021

[@LisaDapprich1]

Worked like a charm! Thanks for saving me $100-200 for a new unit. You rock

[@rayqasawaqada7501]

I can’t thank you enough for this video. I had to print some documents with extreme urgency within a very limited timeframe when my Pixma stopped feeding paper. Your video saved my from a terrible disaster.

[@williamwilliams1139]

Absolutely incredible! Got this old old Canon printer,& was having the same problem. Spent all morning on the internet trying to solve this problem,& got nowhere! Took 5 mins with your video! Thank you thank you thank you!!!’ By the way when you stick the cardboard in,press the little tool icon at the same time. Once again thanx!!!!!

[@irjustineee]

Thank you so much for this video; I thought my printer had packed up and I got so frustrated that it wouldn't take paper, thought it was a problem with the ink or the tray itself as it was a pain trying to print anything beforehand, but all it needed was the rollers cleaning!! This helped me so much so I can finally print my stuff again.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Ah great, in really glad it helped! That's really nice to hear! Thankyou for your message 😁

[@renziarts9375]

i just wanted to pop in here and thank you! i have a canon mg3620 and you are still saving everyone time even in 2024! thanks so much!

[@Zach-by9ij]

Thank you!! I had a total of 3 papers stuck, I opened the back and I was able to perfectly remove all papers. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I was stuck with a jammed printer for days.

[@OldGuy62]

OMG Thank you! I was about to throw the printer out the window. I'd tried everything that Canon support had suggested and nothing worked. I thought this was a joke but tried it anyway and DAMN it worked! Zero page misfeeds now. You are brilliant!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Aww thank you so much! I appreciate the time you took to reply . Your reply made my day 😊🌈

[@ipekgullu7546]

Thank you! It’s not often a KZbin video on how to fix something actually works or is so straight forward. Thank you, thank you!!!

[@RipperStudio]

Yup! This totally works! I received a hand-me-down Canon Pixma 3620 and made this cardboard roller cleaner contraption with toilet paper, packing tape, and isopropyl alcohol annnd it worked perfectly. Cleaned the rollers and the printer is working fine now. Thanks Helen!

[@gladio2225]

Damn, FINALLY a working solution ! I made your system with what i had on hand (microfiber rag on a cardboax wich i used my own hands to keep it from rolling into it, with windows cleaning spray on it) made the roll 3 times, then change to the unwet part of the rag to dry the roller a bit, and after that it worked, thanks a lot Helen !

[@faerys_wheel6529]

Thank you so much! This saved me a trip to the service center. This video deserves more views because this totally works!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Aww thanks for the lovely comment, I'm really glad it worked :-)

[@Annaesthesia1]

Thank you for putting this video online....I was at the end of my tether with my printer and had a new one in my amazon basket...but decided to give it one last shot at fixing it and your technique worked like a charm. THANK YOU :))!!!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

You're really welcome I'm glad it worked!!

[@akom1219]

Thank you so much for this video! It worked like a magic. I, too, was giving up on my PixmaMG3620 after trying to fix it on my own. At first, I was skeptical with the “cleaning devise”. I inserted it and pressed Black and Color buttons at the same time to move the rollers. The alcohol wipe came out black. 😳 I waited a few minutes to make sure everything is dry. Now, it feeds paper beautifully!! Thank you!

[@user-cc7uy4bn4o]

You absolute genius, thank you. I've been feeding paper in by hand, and nearly losing my mind in the process. Can't believe this worked. You've made my day.

[@nataliejimenez6649]

Helen you are a life savor it worked the cardboard pushed out a thumbtack that jammed I had no idea. Best wishes and blessings in this coming year

[@saggybean]

Had to comment on this, as it worked perfectly. I gaffa taped a disposable face mask to a bit of card, sprayed it with switch cleaner, shoved it in and ran the copy function a few times. Works like a dream once again. I would also recommend a hoover out to get rid of the dust beforehand. This fault seems to be caused by using it after a period of non use, the dust just sitting on the paper coats the rollers. Thanks again, brilliant stuff!

[@Srirachaprince]

After all these years, this video was super helpful!! Fixed my paper collecting problem

[@sims801]

Thanks so much for this quick home fix. I have been facing this problem for days and was thinking of getting a new printer. This has saved both my time and money!

[@richardscott6079]

Omg you are a legitimate public asset it worked! i am now going to be able to print things for our charity! thank you

[@kelzakdub]

GENIUS! Thank you so much for this, I tried compressed air but it wasn't enough. I was ready to take it apart but this trick worked. Cardboard, paper towel folded up for some thickness, rubbing alcohol. That tool will be sitting next to the printer waiting for a spritz of alcohol on the paper towel next time this damned printer wants to cause problems! Thanks again!!

[@nathanhernandez2433]

Shoutout to you Helen. Worked perfect for our paper error code. :D saved my homeschooling wife from a lot of frustration 😁

[@charmaineaguilar1187]

This really works! I have a similar model that refuses to take paper. I used a microfiber cloth instead on the cardboard instead of wipes. I only did it one time and it works again! Thank you for this video!

[@luchokool]

Hi Helen: You cannot imagine how much time, money and stress you saved me!!! I was gonna throw the printer away. It worked! I don't know for how long but IT WORKED! Thanks so much.

[@richardstewart6900]

Another happy customer here! Watched a video yesterday in which the guy pretty much took the whole printer apart screw by screw. I reckoned that doing that was, for me, possible but last resort & maybe marginally better than junking the printer but with great potential for ending up much bad words, too many screws left and still no workee printer. Even if I got it back into something like the right shape. Found this, flagged it up to my wife - who also has this printer but, so far, with no problem - and we gave it a go. One ex-cereal packet, some kitchen wipes and a bit of duct tape later and it's all working again. Thank you. :-)

[@dougharrison385]

i did the same.

[@kierondec]

That fixed my problems and I love your spunky attitude and creativeness.

[@202kt]

You saved my day...and my sanity. Thank you! This absolutely works, and it's such a simple solution. I used a baby wipe on some random piece of cardboard and voila!

[@subramaniang6845]

Thank you so much, Helen. Your idea definitely helped me and excellent. Finally, my printer is working fine. Your English communication is too good and well explained.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

You're very welcome, I'm really glad it helped 😁 I hope your printer keeps working, thankyou for your message!!

[@olivierpeyroles7588]

Your technique worked perfectly, now my Canon MG3550 is picking up every paper. Thanks a million!

[@ObadiahHoss]

Thanks so much! I ended up damping the top of a blank page with isopropyl alcohol and running it between the rollers a few times, it did the trick

[@petekennedy159]

Brilliantly simple but fantastically effective!! Thank you so much...I'm so chuffed !!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Aww I'm really glad!! Thanks for the comment , I always get excited to hear when it's worked for someone else too 😁 gotto love a bit of improvisation!!

[@paulienkluver2764]

Thank you so much for posting this video Helen! I was on the edge of throwing my printer out of the window and ordering a new one... but your cardboard-alcoholwipe invention solved my problem 🙂

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Aww thank you so much! I'm so glad :-)

[@ann345]

I've been manually pushing in papers for years hahaha. this really helped. i just wrap alcohol swab on the end of the ruler, tape it and let the roller roll on it for a few times. it works now!

[@hitchio]

Works brilliantly, best solution yet to fix problematic Canon (MG3250) feed roller problems.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

That's great! I'm really glad it worked for you :-) thanks for your comment!

[@johnphillips8651]

Helen, Thank you . Picture mount board plus wipes plus cleaning fluid did the job

[@MichaelLack]

Thank you so much for providing such a practical solution to a popular problem. You've helped to make so many people's life a bit easier.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Aww thank you, glad I could help a little :-) Merry Christmas!

[@jamesborras7970]

Very helpful, fixed my pixma printer this way, thanks very much. I used a plastic ruler, j cloth, and duct tape to make the cleaning tool. 👍🏻

[@TheLLcoolAA]

OMG! Es funktioniert! So einfach! Ich habe es mit der Pappe und dem Desinfektionstuch versucht und es hat sofort geklappt - und ich hätte den Drucker beinahe verärgert entsorgt!!! 1000 Dank.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

I wish I could understand this 😂 but thankyou!

[@eugeniaedits]

OMG thank you so so so so much!!! I have a small business and I use printer to print personalized cards for the gifts boxes I sell. I always ship on time and was terrified that my printer is not grabbing paper. You saved the day! Thank so much!! :)

[@globalste]

I spent ages trying to work out how to clean those rollers as I knew it was the problem with the feeder but the bottom doesn't remove from the print; what a brilliant idea, stops me writing off the printer. I used a dry baby wipe and then sprayed isopropyl on it, I then kept pressing roller clean and moving the carboard side to side. Took about 10 goes but its feeding paper again now. Gave it a good clean inside as well while I was at it. I think you'd get more hits if you put "Canon Pixma" in the title.

[@ge-69-06]

Thank you for the video, I stand by with other commenters to say that is genius ! Used a toilet wipe with some alcool solution and glass cleaner, worked just fine !

[@tomasmorkunas3781]

Worked wonderfully :) tried to clean them with a q tip, but that extra pressure from padded cardboard did the trick

[@d3zzie]

Was a bit dubious at first, but after having shoved it in there, it definitely worked a treat. Much better than Canon's own troubleshooting! Thank you.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Aww thank you so much, I hope it lasts a long time now :-)

[@realwmm]

I used a piece of a paper milk carton for the card, and since I couldn't find a disposable wipe I used a piece of a disposable cleaning cloth. To my horror, the cloth ripped off the card and wrapped around the rear roller, making terrifying noises along the way. Fortunately I was able to remove it from the rear without much difficulty. The good news is that the feeder on my MG4130 now seems to be working! Thanks, Helen.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Amazing! That sounds like a proper deep clean 😆 I'm so glad it worked !

[@brendancoote3085]

Excellent. Until your video I was cleaning the back rollers without any effect. Your video enlightened me. Many thanks.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

I'm really glad, thanks for your message! Hope the printer keeps working now 😁

[@RogerHolden]

Wow that was sooooooo useful - I was just about to chuck mine in the bin. (and what a lovely voice to listen to!!!)

[@stevenicholls3081]

😃😃NIce one Helen, I was looking at those rollers thinking how to clean them, the cardboard tool worked perfectly

[@sprybug]

Thank you! I have different model Canon Pixma with the same issue. It took me a moment how to apply the same kind of method to my model but got it under the rollers after a few tries and leading in with the corner first, then straightening it out and it easily got in there. When I went back and forth and pulled it out, out came a little one of my jumper wires with it (I do electronics as a hobby), which had fallen into it unknown to me, which was causing it to think it was constantly jammed! Life saver, thanks!

[@nidiavalencia2003]

Thank you. Straight to the point no rubbish video too.

[@vickyhandy1489]

Thank you so much for this, is now sorted and printing double again. You were more help than canon!

[@hugofulcheri5800]

You are a fucking savior, I hope anyone with this problem finds this video. Your fix fixed it in less than two minutes. God bless you.

[@senordzabenda3271]

this easy hack saved my whole printer!!!! i cant believe it was this simple.appreciated!!!!!

[@abhinavgarg9003]

Thank you so much for sharing this awesome video ! My printer , canon 560 , works perfectly fine now with this trick ! 😊

[@jma9968]

Thank you so much. Amazing solution! I was looking for a solution everywhere and this solved it in 5 minutes and it was so simple. I am delighted! I think this is my first youtube comment ever. Best wishes for you on 2021!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

I'm honoured this is your first KZbin commet :-) really glad I could help you out!! Thankyou !

[@srividyadhavala1920]

Videos like this are life saviors ❤️❤️❤️❤️ did the same thing and voila my printer is working fine !!

[@mariconavarro-laudencia2929]

This totally fixed my problem! I use a Pixma E510 but the same technique worked. Thank you!!!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

That's great I'm really glad 😁 thanks for the message and I hope your printer keeps working!

[@daisykyriss8608]

You're a lifesaver! The cardboard worked.

[@TeeOffTowersey]

Thank you Helen for the simple yet very effective solution. I was about to give up and invest in a new printer. It not works as new. :D

[@catheresa_x]

This is my second time here :D (a few years later and I had forgotten this trick!) you saved the day again - thank you!!

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Amazing!! Thank you :-)

[@wreckanoid]

Thanks so much for the video. A good clean of the rollers has saved my MG3600 from the rubbish tip. 😎 👍

[@christopherlord3441]

Great, thanks a lot. Fixed it after hours of trying the official methods.

[@dannyhannah2487]

Thanks alot! Your cardboard contraction worked after I watched your video and followed it, It worked liked a charm! Excellent solution saved me money in the process! Thanks you're a godsend! D.H.

[@dingaling1338]

Helen !!! ...............thank you for making this Video, it all worked just fine for me............... a Lady with "Practical Skills & Common Sense".................... you are indeed a rare find x ☺

[@dereklorrainephillippo7650]

Thank you Helen this worked fine, I used methylated spirits instead of alcohol on my MS 3660. All good.

[@autoair4637]

Perfect, worked a treat on my old pixma mg3250, really good video no bs straight to the point. Thanks very much!

[@christophmaier6]

Thank you so much. Your trick worked for my Canon Pixma MX452.

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Yey I'm so glad it worked! You're very welcome :-D

[@shrimpy8188]

This worked perfectly and saved me a lot of time and frustration, thanks so much!

[@jpet71]

Thanks for this! It helped where the Canon online docs definitely did not!

[@ckbond41]

Thank you, it worked for me as well. I was going to buy a new one, but all I have to do now is clean the rollers. Thanks for seen your video I don't have to buy one now. 🙏🤟

[@gematkinson6716]

wow, was skeptical this could sort my issues but it worked a treat! I used a unfragranced nappy wipe!

[@imdoggone]

Works! Thank you, thank you for ending my frustration! (I used a rough dryer sheet)

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Haha you're really welcome, love to see the different improvisation techniques! Glad it worked :-D xx

[@mrpopontour4949]

Hey What a clever idea. My Canon MG4250 had the same problem. I used your method - brilliant. Thanks you are a a gem! Cheers. I used a wet wipe on the card .

[@suncitycowboy]

What a great fix Helen. You just saved me a ton of money! Thank you.👍

[@andreamarquez8789]

i had my doubts that this would actually work, but it did! thank you so much :•) 💕

[@helenspuddulike8160]

Aw Yey glad it worked! I know right, somehow seems too simple 😁 you're welcome!

[@joanne5412]

Brilliant! I just tried it and it worked beautifully. Thank you so much.

[@richhahn2443]

Thanks for the gift that keeps on giving.

[@neilhinchcliffe2755]

This actually worked I used a wet wipe on abit of card. Thank you 😊

[@yammydave7880]

Worked a treat, thank you very much Helen.

[@keithbaker120]

This is great advice, Helen, and I am sure it would have worked. However, I found a small sliver of paper jammed at the back, and I only found this after using a torch! So it may be worth using your phones torch to quickly check first, because its quite difficult to see.

[@ximenamikhailova]

Thanks for pointing this out. I was almost sure the situation was calling for a roller cleaning. Turns out I had a small makeup brush wedged in there.

[@christopherbroers167]

Recycling hero - my only other solution was to see if a fall from out the window would work! I'll try this tonight

[@helenspuddulike8160]

I really hope it works! It did with my mine so I hope you don't have to lob yours out a window quite yet! Let me know :-)

[@jeanetteblee3231]

So helpful, have been looking for a new printer as this one had been giving me problems with not feeding and canon said to take to a repair centre, spent 10 mins after watching this video making and using the cardboard contraption and it worked. So pleased, my daughter not so much as I managed to print her school work 🤣,thank you so much OP