How to Solve Canon Printer Errors
Printer errors can be very frustrating but thankfully are often quite easy to solve and this goes for Canon printer issues too.
Printer error: the Printer is not detected
- Check the USB connection between printer and computer and ensure the USB connectors are secured firmly in the ports at both ends
- Switch the Printer Off
- Unplug the USB cable from both ports and connect again
- Switch the Printer back on
If the above troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, you need to reinstall the Printer Drivers. Before reinstalling Printer Drivers, delete all unnecessary Printer Drivers by following steps set out below, this will help prevent any conflicts:
Steps to delete unnecessary Printer Drivers
- For Windows 8 users – From the Desktop Charms, select Settings > Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
- From the Program List, select “ABC Drivers” where ABC is the printer model number
- Click Uninstall
- For Windows 7 and Vista users – Go to Desktop, select Start > Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
- From the Program List, select “ABC Drivers” where ABC is the printer model number
- Restart computer
After uninstalling Drivers, download the latest Drivers from the Canon website or use a Driver Update Tool (see next section) for the Canon printer and install the Drivers.
Printing does not start
Make sure the printer is switched on and the connection between the printer and computer is established (check power and connection cables).
Try switching the USB cable to ensure there is no problem with this cable – by switching both the cable and the USB port you can rule out problems with the hardware, you want to test that the USB cable is working and the USB port is working.
Make the Canon printer the default printer by following steps set out below:
- Open the Control Panel and go to Devices and Printers
- You should see the list of Printers installed including your Canon Printer
- Select and right-click the Canon Printer in the list and select “Set as Default Printer” from the menu
Once you are done with setting the printer as default, you need to check if the right printer port is configured. Here are the steps you need to follow to do this:
Steps to check Printer port
- Log into your Windows user account with administrative privileges
- For Windows 8 – Open Control Panel from Settings Charms on the Desktop
- Go to Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers and select Canon Printer from the list
- For Windows 7 – Click Start Menu and select Devices and Printers from the list
- Right-click on the Canon Printer icon and select Printer Properties
- Click Ports tab in the Properties window
- Make sure the printer port is listed as “USB123” where “123” is a series of numbers. Also, make sure the Canon Printer name is appearing in the Printer column
- If the Printing port is not as described above, you need to reinstall the Printer Drivers
Download Canon Printer Drivers Updates
It is recommended you update your Canon Printer Drivers regularly in order to avoid conflicts. Driver updates will resolve any driver conflict issues with all devices and improve the performance of your PC.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Downloading the latest Driver releases helps resolve driver conflicts and improve your computer’s stability and performance. Updates are recommended for all Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11 users.
Download and install Canon Drivers
How Do I Install Driver updates?
To fix your Drivers problems you will need to know the particular model of the Canon device you are having problems with. Once you have the details you can search the Canon website for your drivers and, if available, download and install these drivers.
How do I know if I need to update my Drivers?
If you are unsure of whether or not you need to update your Drivers, or indeed which Drivers may need to be updated, you can run a Drivers scan using a driver update tool (you will need to pay to register this tool but usually the Drivers scan is free). This will allow you to assess your Driver needs without any commitment. Alternatively, you can use the device manager to check if there are problems with any of your hardware devices.
Can I update the Drivers myself?
In many cases the answer to this is yes, however in some cases the manufacturers no longer make the Drivers available so you need to use a Driver Update Tool to install the missing Drivers. The purpose of such as tool is to save you time and effort by automatically downloading and updating the Drivers for you.
How will a Driver Update Tool fix my Canon Printer Drivers?
A Driver Update Program will instantly resolve your drivers problems by scanning your PC for outdated, missing or corrupt drivers, which it then automatically updates to the most compatible version.
Why should I download Driver Update Software?
Apart from updating your Canon Printer Drivers, installing a Driver Update Tool gives:
- Up to 3 times faster internet connection and download speeds
- Better PC performance for games and audio applications
- Smooth-running of all your PC devices such as printers, scanners etc.
- Better all-round performance of your PC due to automatic driver updates which will keep all your devices and your PC in top condition