USB Printing Not Working on MacBook Pro v.10.13, Always Shows "Wait for the Printer to be Available"

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USB Printing Not Working on MacBook Pro v.10.13, Always Shows "Wait for the Printer to be Available"

Recently there is a USB Printing problem with old MacBook Pro, v.10.13, year 2012, with Canon Printer MF645Cx.

After added the printer as USB printer, the print queue is always showing "Wait for the Printer to be Available", and the print job never printed out.

I noticed that this only happened to USB printing. If I use the printer as Wi-Fi printing, everything goes smoothly without a problem.

I tested out with another MacBook Air, v10.15, year 2020, which brought recently, the Canon Printer MF645Cx works without problem. When plugged in, the MacBook Air (v.10.15) detected the printer as USB Multifunction, while MacBook Pro (v10.13) detected as USB only. I could conclude that the problem most likely is not from the printer or cable, and mostly suspected on the MacBook Pro itself.

I tried out multiple solutions but doesn't seems working. Among of them were (i) Reset Printing System, (ii) Reset SMC & NVRAM of the Mac, (iii) Reinstall printer driver downloaded from Canon Website, (iv) Running First Aid on the disk utility for the Mac Drive.

The USB seems working correctly on the MacBook Pro, detection of usb drive, mouse, etc are working correctly. Only that when performing USB printing, it appeared as "Waiting for the Printer to be Available", instead of printing out.

I am wondering if anything is missing and what can be done to resolve the USB printing. Please advise.

Posted on Jun 14, 2020 7:05 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

146,216 points

Jun 16, 2020 8:11 AM in response to KD_Rick

Upon reviewing my earlier replies I realize that I never stated what I thought to be obvious, in that macOS no longer supports anything other than AirPrint.

USB or wireless notwithstanding, if you intend to keep that printer in service using Macs running Catalina, then remove the existing USB printer entry in Printers & Scanners, and add it again as an AirPrint printer. Disconnect the USB cable and put it away.

To be completely technically accurate, the AirPrint communication protocol does not imply that it and USB are mutually exclusive. There are even some AirPrint devices that require a USB cable connection. However, that's a rare case, and those devices are listed in About AirPrint under USB-only devices. The Canon imageCLASS MF645Cx is not one of them.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

146,216 points

Jun 14, 2020 8:50 PM in response to KD_Rick

The Canon imageCLASS MF645Cx is an Apple AirPrint-enabled multifunction device. If it is not already installed as an AirPrint device, remove the existing entry in Printers & Scanners, and add it again. You may want to reset the printing system which will remove all entries from Printers & Scanners. Then, refer to Add a printer on Mac. When adding the printer again, you must specifically choose AirPrint.

Do not install any drivers. No drivers are necessary. Apple recommends that you do not install any drivers or other software from the device manufacturer.

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

146,216 points

Jun 15, 2020 7:37 AM in response to KD_Rick

Disconnect any USB cables connected to that printer, and set it up as an AirPrint device.

I tried out the "Reset Printing System", but does not work.

Resetting the printing system removes all entries in Printers & Scanners. Describe what did not work.

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Answer 4

KD_Rick Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 15, 2020 8:32 PM in response to John Galt

Hi John Galt,

Thank you for your reply.

John Galt wrote:

Disconnect any USB cables connected to that printer, and set it up as an AirPrint device.

The MacBook Pro works correctly if using as AirPrint Wi-Fi Printer.

Resetting the printing system removes all entries in Printers & Scanners. Describe what did not work.

It does removes all entries in Printers & Scanners.

After the "Reset Printing System", I tried to add back the printer using USB, and yet experiencing the same issues.

It will still showing the error message "Waiting for the Printer to be Available" when tried to print using USB.

Is there any things missed out?

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Answer 5

KD_Rick Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 14, 2020 9:15 PM in response to John Galt

Thank you for your reply, John Galt.

I tried out the "Reset Printing System", but does not work.

Below are the photo taken from the MacBook Pro. After reset printing system, MF645Cx detected as USB printer, and AirPrint option is not available, except the driver installed.

In comparison with my new MacBook Air, when I plug in, it shows as USB Multifunction and Used as AirPrint Printer.

I am not sure why the MacBook Pro (v10.13) does not yield the same result as my new MacBook Air (v10.15).

Is there any way to get the MacBook Pro work correctly?

Please advise.

Thank you very much.

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USB Printing Not Working on MacBook Pro v.10.13, Always Shows "Wait for the Printer to be Available"

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