Canon PIXMA TS6120: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon PIXMA TS6120 right for you?

The TS6120 was Canon's first mid-range TS model with five individual ink tanks, giving far better photo output and cheaper running costs than the two-cartridge TS3000 and TS5000 lines. The removable printhead is both a strength and a weakness: it can be cleaned or replaced, but a dried head after months of disuse is the usual cause of the dreaded B200 error. Many are still in service, though ink absorber counters on 2017 units are now frequently close to full.

Best for: Home users who want better photo quality than a two-cartridge printer

Setting up the Canon PIXMA TS6120

Use the 3-inch color screen to pick your 2.4 GHz network directly, or pair over Bluetooth in Canon PRINT for hands-free Wi-Fi setup. Seat the printhead firmly and lower the lock lever before installing the five tanks, then let the printer complete its first-time ink charging without opening the cover. Print the nozzle check pattern from the Maintenance menu once a month if you print rarely.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Canon's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Canon PIXMA TS6120 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• PGI-280 PGBK
• CLI-281 BK/C/M/Y
• PGI-280XL / CLI-281XL / XXL
• UK: PGI-580 / CLI-581

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications