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For many Canon printer owners—from home users with a Pixma to small businesses running a Maxify or imageRUNNER—seeing an error like “Service Mode Required” or “5B00” (Ink Absorber Full) can feel like a death sentence for the device. Often, the suggested fix is an expensive trip to a repair center or, worse, buying a new printer.
However, there is a powerful software key that can bypass these issues: Canon Service Mode Tool Version 1.050.
This article provides a deep dive into what this tool is, why version 1.050 is significant, how to download it safely, and step-by-step instructions for its use. Disclaimer: Using this tool voids your warranty if not performed by an authorized technician. Proceed at your own risk. canon service mode tool version 1.050 download
If you need service-level resets without risking malware or bricking:
The Canon Service Mode Tool (often referred to as ST4905 or SST for Service Support Tool) is an official utility developed by Canon for authorized service centers. It is not meant for public distribution, which is why finding a legitimate source is difficult.
The tool allows technicians to bypass standard user controls and interface directly with the printer’s EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). This grants access to critical functions such as: If you Google the keyword, you will be
The original tool was 32-bit with low-level USB access that modern Windows (10/11) blocks. You’d need a virtual machine running Windows XP — and even then, USB passthrough is finicky.
Version 1.050 sits in a sweet spot of compatibility. Later versions (1.080, 2.0) often require encrypted USB dongles or online authentication. Earlier versions (1.020, 1.030) lack support for newer printer models. Version 1.050 is widely regarded by repair forums as the last “universal” tool that works with both legacy PIXMA models (MG2100, MP280 series) and mid-2010s printers (MG3500, MG5700, TS series up to 2020).
It supports the USB-BOOT (Service) mode commonly activated via a key combination on the printer’s control panel. If you need service-level resets without risking malware
You cannot simply open the software and click reset. The printer must first be put into "Service Mode."
Once you have obtained a clean copy of the tool, here is the standard workflow to reset a waste ink counter.