Why Is Canon PIXMA Printer Not Responding? [Fixed]

The Canon PIXMA printer not responding is a common issue for many users. While it can happen for various reasons, connection issues are often the main culprit. I faced this problem many times during my early printing days. At first, I sought help from my college seniors, but eventually, I learned to troubleshoot it myself. In this blog, I am going to share the five best methods to resolve this error and get your printer working again.

Fix 1: Restart the Print Spooler

The print spooler is a Windows feature that manages print jobs. When it malfunctions, your Canon PIXMA printer may stop responding to print commands. Here is how you can restart this feature on your computer.

• Press the Windows and R keys together on the keyboard to open the Run command box.

• Type services.msc in the box and click OK.

• Locate and right-click on the Print Spooler, and select the Restart option.

Check if the printer responds to print jobs after rebooting the print spooler service.

Fix 2: Temporarily Turn Off Firewall

Sometimes, a firewall may also interfere with the Canon PIXMA printer’s functioning, leading to the printer not responding to the issue. You can temporarily disable it and then use your printer like before.

• Open the Run box by pressing the Windows and R keys together.

• Type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter.

• On the Programs and Features screen, find your firewall software. Instead of uninstalling, temporarily disable it from its settings.

If your PC has more such programs installed, consider uninstalling them too. It will boost your printer’s performance, leading to uninterrupted printing.

Fix 3: Update Canon Printer Drivers

Printer drivers are the software programs responsible for communication between a printer and a computer. If they are outdated, the printer will not print anything and will show error messages. Use the steps below to update this software and fix the printer issue.

• Click the Windows icon on the computer’s taskbar at the bottom left and search for Device Manager.

• Click the Printers or Print Queue option under Device Manager to expand the menu, and locate your Canon printer model.

• Once you find it, right-click on it and choose the “Update Driver” option.

• Select “Search automatically for updated driver software”.

• Your computer will start to find and install a suitable printer driver package automatically.

• Once the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure that the changes have been implemented.

That’s how to update the necessary Canon printer drivers on your computer to fix the printer’s not responding issue.

Fix 4: Check Canon Printer Ink Levels

Sometimes, the low ink levels in the printer can make it unresponsive. In this situation, you should check the ink levels and replace the toner cartridges if needed. Here are the instructions on checking ink levels in a Canon PIXMA printer. Have a look at the steps to check estimated ink levels.

1. Go to the printer’s touchscreen, and drag the screen to the right side using your fingertips.

2. Select Setup, and scroll down to Estimated ink levels.

The screen will display the current ink levels. Replace any empty cartridges to restore normal printing. You must check your printer’s manual for the ink replacement process. This is because different Canon printer models have different processes to replace ink. Some printers have a refill method, while others need replacement of toner cartridges.

Fix 5: Disable the “Use Printer Offline” Option

When this option is enabled on the computer, it won’t allow it to print and respond normally. Therefore, use these steps to turn off this option and allow the printer to work again.

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and look for the Settings option.

2. Select the Bluetooth & Devices option from the left side bar, and then click on Printers & Scanners.

3. From the list, choose your printer model and click on the Open print queue option.

4. Click on Printers in the new window.

5. Check if the “Use Printer Offline” option is selected. If it is, deselect it to allow normal printing.

This is how you can fix an unresponsive Canon PIXMA printer and resume printing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

Why Does My Canon Printer Stop Responding?

There are multiple reasons for a Canon printer not responding. For instance, connection problems, incorrect printer settings, outdated printer drivers, third-party software interfering with the printer functions, etc. 

Question

What Is a Firewall Program in Windows?

A firewall is a security software in a Windows PC that monitors the network traffic of the computer. It filters out unauthorized access and suspicious content from the network. Thus, it protects the PC’s functions from all the potential vulnerabilities. 

Question

How Do I Fix an Unresponsive Canon Printer?

To fix an unresponsive printer, you can follow the given methods: 

● Temporarily turn off the firewall on your computer. 

● Restart the print spooler. 

● Check the printer’s connectivity. 

● Update the printer drivers. 

● Run the printer troubleshooter on the PC.

Source: Why Is Canon PIXMA Printer Not Connecting