If you are handy, you can open the printer, remove the old absorber pads (or wash and dry them), then use a legitimate reset tool to clear the counter. This extends printer life significantly.

Not officially. Many repacks rely on Win7/XP-era drivers. Forcing installation on Win11 often disables driver signature enforcement, which severely weakens system security.

Let’s be clear: Canon has never authorized the public release of the Service Tool v4905. Distributing or downloading this software is a violation of Canon’s intellectual property rights. The software is protected by copyright and trade secret laws.

Using the repack does not make you a hacker, but it does place you in a legal gray area. Canon does not typically pursue individual end-users for software infringement—they focus on distributors. However, from an ethical standpoint, the tool is intended for certified technicians who have paid for training and licensing.

That said, many users argue that Canon’s decision to lock a perfectly functional printer due to a non-critical counter (the waste ink pad can be reset and used further, even if not replaced) is anti-consumer and environmentally wasteful. This debate fuels the demand for such tools.

If you only reset the waste ink counter, it is difficult for Canon to detect remotely, but the internal EEPROM log changes. During repair, a technician can see it. For warranty claims, they may deny coverage.

If your printer is still under warranty, Canon will refuse service if they detect unauthorized EEPROM modifications. Even resetting the waste ink counter is logged internally.

Open the printer, physically replace the ink pads (or wash and dry them), then use a free open-source tool like WICReset (Windows) or SSC Service Utility (older models). WICReset is paid per reset but virus-free.

Regardless of the distribution type, the functionality of v4905 offers a robust suite of maintenance features: