You sent a document to your Canon MAXIFY GX5020, the queue says it went through, and yet the rear tray stays empty or the page comes out blank. It is a frustrating spot, especially on a refillable MegaTank printer where the ink supply is sitting right there in full view. The good news is that a printer that "won't print" almost always traces back to a short list of fixable causes such as a stalled connection, a stuck queue, or clogged print head nozzles. Work through the steps below in order, starting with the quickest and safest, and save the resets for the end.
One thing to keep in mind as you go is that the GX5020 is a single-function, print-only printer, so there are no scan, copy, or fax menus to chase. It also uses GI-26 pigment ink bottles in refillable tanks rather than cartridges, which means "replace the cartridge" advice does not apply here. When output is blank or streaky, the fix is a nozzle check and cleaning, not a new cartridge.
Check the Printer and the LCD First
Before touching your computer, confirm the printer is actually ready. Make sure it is plugged in securely and powered on, press the ON button, and wait until the ON lamp stops flashing and stays steadily lit. A flashing lamp means the printer is still busy or reporting a condition, not ready to receive jobs.
Next, check the LCD for any error message. Canon's printer guidance notes that the paper settings must match the paper actually loaded in the rear tray or cassette. If they do not match, an error appears on the LCD with instructions to follow, so read the screen and correct the paper size or type before trying again. If the printer still shows a stall after that, turn it off and unplug it, wait about 30 seconds, plug it back in, and turn it on. A power cycle clears a surprising number of stuck states, and it is the same first step Microsoft recommends when a printer shows offline.
Check the Cable or Wi-Fi Connection
If the printer is healthy but jobs still are not arriving, the link between it and your device is the next suspect. For a USB setup, make sure the cable is firmly seated at both ends and connect the printer directly to the computer rather than through a USB hub. If it still fails, try a different cable.
For a wireless setup, confirm the printer is connected to your router by checking the Wi-Fi icon on the LCD, and verify the printer and your computer or phone are on the same network. The GX5020 supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi as well as wired Ethernet, so if your wireless network is unstable, a LAN cable is a reliable alternative.
Take the Printer Off Offline and Clear the Windows Queue
On Windows, a printer marked offline or a jammed queue will silently swallow every job. Set the printer as the default and flush any stuck items with these steps.
- 1.Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (on Windows 10, Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners).
- 2.Turn off "Let Windows manage my default printer" first, then select the Canon printer and choose "Set as default."
- 3.Choose "Open print queue," then select the "..." (ellipsis) and "Cancel all" to clear stuck jobs.
- 4.On Windows 10, clear the checkmarks on "Pause Printing" and "Use Printer Offline" if either is set.
Restart the Windows Print Spooler Service
If jobs remain frozen in the queue even after canceling them, the print spooler service may be hung. Restarting it clears the backlog without a full reboot.
- 1.Open Search and type "services," then open Services.
- 2.Right-click "Print Spooler" and choose "Restart."
- 3.Send your document again once the service comes back up.
Confirm the Right Driver, Then Restart the Computer
It is easy to lose a print job to the wrong destination, especially if you have more than one printer or a PDF saver installed. In the Print dialog, make sure the correct printer is selected, since the printer will not print properly if you choose a driver for a different printer. On Windows, pick the "Canon ... series" entry, and on a Mac confirm the printer name shown in the Print dialog. After verifying the selection, restart the computer and try printing again to clear any lingering software state.
Reset the Printing System on a Mac
If your Mac still cannot print after the checks above, resetting the printing system gives macOS a clean slate. Be aware that this is a heavier step. Apple notes it deletes all printers, completed-job info, and presets, so try the earlier fixes first.
- 1.Open the Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
- 2.Control-click the printer in the list and choose "Reset printing system."
- 3.Add the printer again, then send a test print.
Run a Nozzle Check, Then Clean the Print Head
When pages come out but they are blank, faded, or streaked, the cause on this MegaTank model is almost always clogged nozzles rather than empty ink. Print head cleaning is the single most common fix for that symptom here. Start with a nozzle check so you can see exactly what is wrong before spending ink on a cleaning cycle.
- 1.Load A4 or Letter plain paper.
- 2.On the printer, press Setup > select Maintenance > OK > select Nozzle check > OK, then examine the printed pattern.
- 3.If lines are missing or streaked, press Setup > select Maintenance > OK > select Cleaning > OK to clear the clogged nozzles.
- 4.If a normal clean does not fully restore the pattern, run Deep Cleaning.
If the printer has sat unused for a long stretch, the problem may run deeper than a surface clog. Canon documents an Ink Flush procedure for that situation, which forces fresh ink through the print head when regular cleaning and deep cleaning have not restored color or output. Use Ink Flush only as a stronger follow-up after cleaning, since it consumes a large amount of ink.
Reconnect Wi-Fi After a Router or Password Change
If the GX5020 was printing fine until you swapped routers or changed your Wi-Fi password, the printer is still holding the old network details and can no longer reach the network. The fix is to re-run Wi-Fi setup on the printer so it learns the new credentials. The encryption and authentication method and the password must all match across the router, the printer, and the computer.
To make this easier, Canon offers the Wi-Fi Connection Assistant for Windows and macOS, which diagnoses and repairs the printer's network connection and can perform network setup for you. It installs with the printer drivers and is also available from Canon support. The Canon PRINT app (free; iOS/iPadOS 16.0 or later, Android 7.0 or later) can also handle printer setup and let you check ink levels from your phone.
Update the Printer Firmware
Out-of-date firmware can cause connectivity and printing bugs that no amount of queue clearing will fix. With the printer connected to the internet, update it from the operation panel.
- 1.Press Setup > Device settings > Firmware update > Install update.
- 2.Confirm the prompts when asked.
- 3.Wait for the printer to restart automatically when the update finishes.
Reset Network or All Settings, Then Reach Canon Support
If nothing above brings the printer back, a reset is the last resort. The reset options live under Setup > Device settings > Reset setting, where you will see "Web service setup," "LAN settings," "Setting data," and "All data."
Choose "LAN settings" to clear just the network configuration, then run Wi-Fi setup again; this is the targeted fix when only connectivity is broken. Choosing "All data" restores every setting, including the administrator password, to default, so use it only as a final step. Note that "All data" does not reset the LCD language, the print head position, or the usage totals. If the printer still will not print after a reset, contact Canon support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Canon MAXIFY GX5020 printing blank pages even though the tanks have ink?
On this MegaTank model, blank or streaky pages usually mean clogged nozzles rather than empty ink. Load plain A4 or Letter paper and run a nozzle check from Setup > Maintenance > Nozzle check > OK, then run Cleaning, and Deep Cleaning if needed. If the printer sat idle for a long time, use the Ink Flush procedure as a stronger follow-up after cleaning.
The printer stopped working after I changed my Wi-Fi password. What should I do?
The printer is still trying to use the old network details, so you need to re-run Wi-Fi setup with the new password. You can do this on the printer, or use Canon's Wi-Fi Connection Assistant for Windows and macOS to diagnose and repair the connection. Make sure the encryption method and password match across your router, printer, and computer.
Does the Canon MAXIFY GX5020 scan or copy?
No. The GX5020 is a single-function, print-only printer, so it does not scan, copy, or fax. The all-in-one variant with a scanner and ADF is the GX6021.
How do I clear stuck print jobs on Windows?
Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the Canon printer, choose "Open print queue," then select the "..." ellipsis and "Cancel all." If jobs stay stuck, open Services, right-click "Print Spooler," and choose "Restart."
What does the "All data" reset option erase?
Under Setup > Device settings > Reset setting, the "All data" option restores every setting to default, including the administrator password. It does not reset the LCD language, the print head position, or the usage totals. If you only need to fix the network, choose "LAN settings" instead and then redo Wi-Fi setup.
