- Printers
- Inkjet printer
21F0
Canon Printer Code 21F0: Black Only Ink Selection Conflict
Risk level
Low
Usually safe to check without specialist tools.
Urgency
Low
Quick answer
Support code 21F0 on Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series printers means the current print settings conflict with Force ink tank selection set to Black only. Tap OK on the touch screen to bypass the restriction for this job, or press Stop and switch to plain paper or envelope.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Even when Force ink tank selection is set to Black only, printing and copying are disabled whenever any of the inks reaches the lower limit line.
- An administrator password is required to change Other printer settings if administrator password protection is enabled on the control panel.
Safe checks you can perform
- Tap OK on the touch screen to override for this job
- Press Stop and switch settings to plain paper or envelope
- Change Force ink tank selection to All ink tanks
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Administrator unlock if control panel settings are password-protected
- Do not attempt this professional task: Canon support if driver defaults keep triggering code 21F0
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Administrator unlock if control panel settings are password-protected
What they doIf your office printer requires an administrator password to edit Other printer settings, have your IT or office administrator update Force ink tank selection.
They must show youForce ink tank selection set to All ink tanks or the approved office media profile.
In writingwhether Force ink tank selection is kept on All ink tanks or Black only for your workgroup.
Canon support if driver defaults keep triggering code 21F0
What they doIf code 21F0 still appears even after selecting plain paper in your application, contact Canon support to check your saved printer driver presets.
They must show youa test print sent from the computer that completes without pausing on code 21F0.
In writingthe default driver printing preferences updated on the computer.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Tap OK on the touch screen to override for this job
- Who:
- you, at the printer touch screen.
- How:
- if you want to ignore the Force ink tank selection setting and print immediately with your current print settings, tap OK on the printer touch screen.
- Result that matters:
- the printer bypassing the Black only restriction and starting the print job right away.
- If printing starts after tapping OK:
- support code 21F0 is resolved for this job.
- If you want to keep using only black ink:
- do not tap OK and use the Stop button instead.
- Evidence to keep:
- whether the job required color ink or photo media.
Evidence: Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series support code 21F0
Press Stop and switch settings to plain paper or envelope
- Who:
- you, at the printer and in your print dialog.
- How:
- press the Stop button on the printer to cancel the job, then change the media setting in your print dialog to plain paper, bordered hagaki, or envelope and send the print job again.
- Result that matters:
- printing with Force ink tank selection kept on Black only.
- If the document prints without code 21F0:
- the media setting mismatch was the only cause.
- If you want to print on photo or specialty media regularly without prompts:
- update the panel setting.
- Evidence to keep:
- the media type selected in the print dialog.
Evidence: Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series support code 21F0
Change Force ink tank selection to All ink tanks
- Who:
- you (or the printer administrator), on the control panel.
- How:
- open Setup, Device settings, and Other printer settings on the control panel, tap Force ink tank selection, and change it from Black only to All ink tanks.
- Result that matters:
- allowing the printer to use both color ink and black ink across all supported media types.
- If the setting saves as All ink tanks:
- future color and photo jobs will print without triggering 21F0.
- If the panel asks for an administrator password:
- ask the administrator who locked the control panel.
- Evidence to keep:
- the Force ink tank selection setting shown under Other printer settings.
Evidence: Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series support code 21F0 · Other printer settings (Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series)
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- Printers
- Brand
- Canon
- Product type
- Inkjet printer
Known code variants
- Canon 21F0
- Canon GX7000 21F0
- Canon GX7050 21F0
- Canon support code 21F0
- código 21F0 Canon
- código de asistencia 21F0
- Force ink tank selection Black only Canon
- Forzar selección depósito tinta Solo tinta negra
- MAXIFY 21F0
- MAXIFY error 21F0
What it means
On the Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series, support code 21F0 reports a print setting mismatch: Force ink tank selection on the printer control panel is set to Black only, while the incoming job specifies a media type or layout that requires color ink tanks. When Black only is active, the printer only allows printing on plain paper, bordered hagaki, and envelopes. Other Canon families handle grayscale restrictions differently in the driver, and this code never indicates a hardware fault in the print head or ink supply.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Lowsource verified
Even when Force ink tank selection is set to Black only, printing and copying are disabled whenever any of the inks reaches the lower limit line.
Evidence: Other printer settings (Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series)
- Lowsource verified
An administrator password is required to change Other printer settings if administrator password protection is enabled on the control panel.
Evidence: Other printer settings (Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series)
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Print job media settings conflict with Black only modeCommon
Force ink tank selection on the printer panel is set to Black only while the print job calls for media other than plain paper, bordered hagaki, or envelopes.
Evidence: Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series support code 21F0
- Black only lock left enabled in Other printer settingsPossible
Black only was enabled under Other printer settings on the control panel without matching the media type in the computer or mobile print dialog.
Evidence: Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series support code 21F0 · Other printer settings (Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series)
Virtual technician
Does 21F0 still appear after these checks?
Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.
Sources and technical references
- 1
Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series support code 21F0
Canon PIXMA Manuals · 2021 · official_doc
- 2
Código de asistencia 21F0 de Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series
Manuales de Canon PIXMA · 2021 · official_doc
- 3
Other printer settings (Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series)
Canon PIXMA Manuals · 2021 · official_doc
- 4
Configuración otros dispositivos (Canon MAXIFY GX7000 series)
Manuales de Canon PIXMA · 2021 · official_doc
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