How Do I Fix My Canon PIXMA Printer Not Responding​? (Full Guide)

Canon PIXMA Printers are known for their quality and reliability, whether for home use, small offices, or larger businesses. They are made to be easy to set up and deliver sharp, accurate prints. However, sometimes your printer may stop responding, leaving you frustrated and not able to complete your important tasks. This issue can happen due to connection issues, outdated printer drivers, or software glitches. Don’t worry - there are the top 3 ways to fix it. Here, I am going to walk you through practical solutions to get your Canon PIXMA Printer back to working smoothly.

Common Reasons Why Canon PIXMA Printers Don’t Respond

Canon PIXMA Printers may not respond for several common reasons. The printer might be turned off or not ready, cables could be loose, or the USB port may not be working. For wireless printers, network issues like a faulty router or weak connection can cause problems. Checking these basics first often resolves most connectivity issues and helps your printer respond properly.

Solutions to Resolve Canon PIXMA Printer Not Responding​

If your Canon printer isn’t responding, it can be frustrating when you need to print urgently. Many of these issues are caused by connection or software problems that can be fixed with a few steps. Below are some easy solutions to help get your printer working again.

Solution 1: Basic Troubleshooting

If your Canon printer isn’t responding, then the first step is to check its connection.

• For USB connections: Make sure the cable is properly plugged into both your printer and computer. Do not use a USB hub and try another USB port if needed. If the cable looks damaged, then you should test it with a different one.

• For network printers: Check your network, router, and modem. Ensure your printer shows a proper connection. If it’s wired, then reconnect or replace the network cable. For wireless printers, you need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network following your printer's manual.

• For Bluetooth printers: Keep the printer close to your computer, and try re-pairing the devices. Follow the manual if needed.

Solution 2: Restart the Print Spooler Service

Sometimes, your printer may not respond because the Print Spooler service on your computer isn’t working properly. This service handles all print jobs and manages communication between your device and printer. Restarting it can fix the issue.

To reset the Print Spooler service:

1. First of all, press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

2. After that, type services.msc and click on the OK button to open it.

3. On the following screen, find Print Spooler, click it, and then select the Restart option.

4. Now, you can try printing again to see if your printer responds.

Solution 3: Update or Reinstall Your Canon Printer Driver

Your printer may not respond if its driver or software is outdated or corrupted. You can fix this problem by either updating or reinstalling the printer driver.

Option 1: Update the Driver

1. Visit Canon’s official website https://ij.start.canon/ and download the required driver or software for your printer model.

2. After that, you have to open Device Manager on your computer.

3. Right-click your printer, then select the Advanced tab, and click New Driver.

4. Next, browse to the folder where you saved the downloaded driver file and select it.

5. Now, your Windows computer will install the updated driver software, and your printer should be ready to use.

Option 2: Reinstall the Driver

1. In the beginning, go to the Canon Support page and enter your printer model number.

2. Then, select your printer’s name and navigate to the Drivers & Downloads section.

3. After that, you need to download the driver and follow the steps shown on your screen to install it.

4. Once the file is installed, try printing to see if the problem is fixed.

   Frequently Asked Questions

Question

Why Is Canon Printer Not Responding?

A Canon printer might not respond for many reasons, such as loose or faulty cables, no power, paper jams, or a disabled wireless connection. Outdated printer drivers and stuck print jobs can also cause issues. To resolve this problem, first you have to check the connections and power, make sure the printer is on the right Wi-Fi network, restart the printer and your operating system, and clear any pending print jobs. If needed, you can also update or reinstall the printer driver software from Canon’s official website, run the Windows troubleshooter, or temporarily turn off your firewall to see if that resolves the problem.

Question

How Do I Reset Canon PIXMA Printer?

Learn How to Reset the Canon PIXMA Printer to its factory settings, first power it on. First, press the Setup button on the control panel of your printer to open the Setup menu. Then, you have to use the arrow buttons to find Device Settings and press the OK button. Now, scroll to Reset Settings and tap on OK. Next, select the All Data (or Setting Data) option for a full factory reset and press the OK button. When asked, you have to confirm by choosing Yes and pressing OK. Finally, your printer will return to its original settings. After this, you may need to set up the printer again, such as reconnecting it to Wi-Fi if you are using wireless printing.

Question

Where Is the Reset Button on My Canon Printer?

On most Canon printers, there isn’t a single dedicated “Reset” button. To reset your printer, you must go to the Control Panel and navigate to Setup > Device Settings > Reset Settings, then select Yes to confirm. Some models may use a button combination instead, like holding the Power and Stop buttons together for a few seconds, then pressing Stop multiple times. The method depends on your printer model, so check your user manual if you are not sure about it. This will restore your printer to its factory settings and can help fix unresponsive or persistent problems.

Source: How to Fix Canon Printer Not Responding Error