How do I update or reinstall my canon printer drivers?

 

Your Canon printer is a vital tool, whether you use it for personal printing needs or daily work tasks. But like any technology, it relies on software to function correctly—particularly the printer drivers. These drivers act as a translator between your computer and printer. When they’re outdated, corrupted, or missing, your printer may stop responding, produce errors, or deliver poor print results.

What Are Canon Printer Drivers and Why Are They Important?

Printer drivers are small software applications that allow your computer and printer to communicate. They convert the data from your computer into a format that the printer can understand. Without these drivers—or if they’re outdated or corrupted—your Canon printer may not work correctly, or at all.

Symptoms of driver issues include:

Printer not responding to print jobs

Frequent printer offline messages

Print jobs stuck in the queue

Unusual error messages

Poor print quality or missing features

Keeping your drivers up to date ensures your Canon printer works seamlessly with your operating system, especially after system updates or changes.

How to Update Canon Printer Drivers

Updating your drivers can help fix existing issues and add new features or performance improvements. Here's how to do it depending on your operating system.

For Windows Users

Open Device Manager

Press the Windows key and search for “Device Manager.”

Open the Device Manager window and locate “Printers” or “Print queues.”

Find Your Canon Printer

Right-click on your Canon printer from the list.

Choose “Update driver.”

Select Automatic Update

Click on “Search automatically for drivers.”

Windows will search your system and the internet for the latest Canon driver and install it if available.

Restart Your Computer

Once the update is complete, restart your system to apply changes.

If Windows doesn't find a new driver, it might still be worth checking Canon’s official website for the latest version manually.

For Mac Users

Open System Settings or System Preferences

Click on the Apple icon and select “System Settings” or “System Preferences,” depending on your macOS version.

Go to Printers & Scanners

Click on your Canon printer in the list.

Update via Software Update

If an update is available, macOS will often prompt you automatically.

You can also check for updates manually under “General” > “Software Update.”

How to Reinstall Canon Printer Drivers

If updating doesn’t solve the issue—or if the driver has become corrupted—you may need to uninstall and then reinstall the driver. Here’s how.

For Windows Users

Uninstall the Printer Driver

Open the Control Panel and go to “Devices and Printers.”

Right-click your Canon printer and select “Remove device.”

Next, open “Device Manager,” find your Canon printer, and right-click > “Uninstall device.”

Confirm the action and restart your computer.

Download the Latest Driver

Visit Canon’s official support website.

Search for your printer model and go to the “Drivers & Downloads” section.

Download the latest driver compatible with your version of Windows.

Install the Driver

Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Restart your computer once the installation is complete.

For Mac Users

Delete the Printer

Go to “System Preferences” or “System Settings” > “Printers & Scanners.”

Select your Canon printer and click the minus (-) sign to remove it.

Remove the Driver Files

Navigate to your Mac’s Library folders and look for Canon printer drivers to delete.

You may need administrator access to do this.

Reinstall the Driver

Visit the Canon support page.

Download the latest printer driver for macOS.

Install it and re-add the printer in “Printers & Scanners.”

When Should You Update or Reinstall Canon Printer Drivers?

You don’t need to update or reinstall your Canon printer drivers every week. But here are a few signs that it’s time:

Your printer frequently shows as offline

Print quality has suddenly decreased

Features like scanning or duplex printing aren’t working

After upgrading your operating system

If the printer stops responding completely

New applications or software require updated drivers to function properly

Keeping the driver up to date ensures compatibility, security, and full feature availability.

Tips for Maintaining Healthy Canon Printer Drivers

To avoid future issues with your Canon printer, keep these best practices in mind:

Turn on automatic system updates to receive driver updates when available

Only download drivers from Canon’s official site or trusted sources

Avoid using generic or universal printer drivers unless necessary

Check for driver updates if you experience any sudden printer issues

Periodically restart your printer and computer to refresh their communication

By staying proactive, you’ll prevent many common printer problems from occurring in the first place.

FAQs

Why is my Canon printer not printing even though it's connected?

This could be due to an outdated or corrupted driver. Try updating or reinstalling the driver using the steps above.

How can I tell if my Canon printer driver is outdated?

If you're experiencing errors, missing features, or performance issues, it's likely outdated. You can also compare your current driver version with the latest one on Canon's support site.

Can I use third-party software to update Canon printer drivers?

While there are tools that offer automatic driver updates, it’s safest to use the manufacturer’s website or built-in operating system tools to ensure compatibility and security.

Will reinstalling the driver delete my print settings?

In most cases, reinstalling the driver won’t erase print settings, but it’s a good idea to take note of any custom configurations before proceeding.

My Canon printer is still not working after reinstalling the driver—what now?

Check the physical connections, update your operating system, and make sure the printer is set as the default. If problems persist, contact Canon support for additional troubleshooting.

Conclusion

Updating or reinstalling your Canon printer drivers is a straightforward yet powerful way to solve many common printer problems. Whether your printer is unresponsive, showing as offline, or not printing correctly, taking time to refresh the driver can restore full functionality.