Can't get printer to connect to my iMac

Question

Level 1

10 points

Can't get printer to connect to my iMac

I recently was given a iMac from my brother. It works very well. But, when I try and connect my Canon MP510 printer to the iMac, it won't print. It appears the iMac has identified the printer and I have followed the "add printer" instructions very carefully. A window appears from System Preferences showing "Printers and Scanners" and it shows my Canon MP510 and it seems the necessary info in that box or window. But I have noticed that window doesn't show Print/Scan in a box at the top of that window? Looking at a video of installing a printer to my iMAC, that video shows a Print/ San box at the top of the window, which I don't see in my window. Tried numerous times to install the printer to no avail. The printer works just fine with my older HP computer, so I know the printer works. Can someone please help me get my Canon printer to start printing with my newly acquired iMac. Thank you.

Windows, Windows 6

Posted on Oct 24, 2024 10:49 AM

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Answer 1

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Oct 28, 2024 12:15 PM in response to sciencemagic

Thank you for the information.

It is one thing that the Mac has identified the MP510 printer as such, but an appropriate printer driver must be found as well. This appears to be a problem here. The Canon drivers are for OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion or earlier, and it is not sure that Gutenprint drivers will work with macOS 10.15 Catalina or later.

The main objective would be to find a working printer driver. Even a driver for another/similar Canon model could perhaps be worth testing. However, be careful when looking for drivers on the Internet. There are several dubious third-party "support" sites, often with misleading names. Only download from a trustworthy source, such as Canon or Apple.

Everything you do here will be experimental. The Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac – Apple Support (UK) article has further information. See also Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem – Apple Support (UK).

Since MP510 drivers from Canon are available for up to at least Windows 8.1 (may work with a few later Windows versions as well), a workaround could of course be to print to/save as PDF on the Mac, and then transfer the files to the PC for printing. Not ideal, but possible.

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Answer 2

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Oct 24, 2024 1:04 PM in response to sciencemagic

Any information about the iMac model/year and its exact operating system version?

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/index-imac.html

Printer drivers from Canon for the PIXMA MP510 do not appear to exist for anything newer than Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (one should perhaps not rule out that a few later operating system versions possibly could be OK as well).

https://www.usa.canon.com/support/p/pixma-mp510

There were experimental third-party Gutenprint drivers for up to approx. macOS 10.14 Mojave (but Mac is no longer supported).

https://gimp-print.sourceforge.io/p_Supported_Printers.php

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Answer 3

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Oct 30, 2024 1:17 PM in response to sciencemagic

Hi Rick,

Yes, Canon says (on the support page) that the MP510 has been retired. It is per se possible to find/download an old printer driver via the following sequence, but I have to assume that the driver in question is not going to work either (you may have tested this exact route already):

https://www.usa.canon.com/support/p/pixma-mp510 -> DOWNLOADS -> Software & Drivers -> 1. Operating System Mac -> 2. Version OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 -> 3. MP510 CUPS Printer Driver Ver. 10.67.2.0 (OS X 10.5/10.6/10.7/10.8)

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Answer 4

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Oct 30, 2024 3:17 AM in response to sciencemagic

Hello,

If nothing else helps, maybe you could check whether the following dmg download from Apple possibly would work (despite the text Not compatible with macOS v12 and newer). If so, look for a Canon MP510 driver.

Canon Printer Drivers v3.4 for macOS - Apple Support

Since all this is experimental, make sure that you have made backup copies of any important files that you may have installed on the Mac. Software conflicts cannot be ruled out.

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Answer 5

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,395 points

Oct 31, 2024 2:32 AM in response to sciencemagic

If you use the exact route mentioned in my previous message, you will find the available drivers and other applications for OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. The one of interest for printing is a CUPS printer driver (date 09.01.17, that is, from 2017). You could try it, but I would not expect too much from this. See also the information under details.

If you would select a newer operating system version (under 2.), you will not find a later printer driver, so this is what can be done via the Canon support site. Under DOWNLOADS -> Manuals you will find an MP510 user manual (Mac), a quick start guide, and setup instructions, if necessary.

Gutenprint drivers would be totally experimental. It is unclear whether they would work with anything newer than macOS 10.14 Mojave, and since Mac is no longer supported by the Gutenprint project (see https://gimp-print.sourceforge.io/index.php), I cannot recommend this.

The User Guide for macOS Monterey could perhaps be of some help.

macOS User Guide - Apple Support

See, for example:

Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac – Apple Support (UK)

Print documents from your Mac – Apple Support (UK)

Solve printing problems on Mac – Apple Support (UK)

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Answer 6

sciencemagic Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 28, 2024 10:38 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan, Thank you for your reply. I didn't get a message I got a reply to my inquiry, so this is sort of late, sorry. The Apple computer is a iMac Retina 5K 27" late 2015. OS Monterey version 12.7.6

I have followed all the printer instructions as to marry the printer to the Mac but no success, even though it appears the iMac has identified the correct printer. Thats why it is very confusing? Sure would appreciate any further help you can be of. Thank you, Jan.

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Answer 7

sciencemagic Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 28, 2024 4:22 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan,

Thank you for your reply. While I'm far from a computer wizard sort of thought the printer drivers may be a cause of concern? None of the drivers that Apple was presenting in the choose driver seemed appropriate? So, I did experiment using some different drivers that Apple showed to no avail. Don't know anything about OS Mountain Lion or Gutenprint drivers, Jan. I've only had the iMac 27 for about 2 weeks and whole different ball game from the Windows 7 I was using for 13 yrs. So, it's a big learning process, one step at a time. I will contact Canon and see if they have recommendation about printer drivers I maybe can you with the iMac and OS Monterey? I will stay away from third party support as you recommend, Jan. Don't need to make this problem any bigger than it is already.

I will take your suggestions "Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on a Mac" and "Reset the printer system on your Mac to solve a problem" and see what may develop there. Let me "experiment" with those suggestions and see what may happen. I will get back to you, Jan. Certainly appreciate your help! Thank you, Jan.

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Answer 8

sciencemagic Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 30, 2024 11:14 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan,

Appreciate your help. Tried your suggestion. Unfortunately it didn't work. When I tried the download I got the message " This update requires mac OS version 12.0 or earlier" and the only option in the box was "close". It does appear I'm getting close running out of possible solutions? Going directly to Canon was no help. They simply won't support that printer model any longer. Can't even go to their community/ knowledge base for help!

I'll fiddle around some more and see if I can finally find a driver that is compatible with my mac version and my Canon old printer. If an idea pops into your mind, please let me know. Certainly appreciate your help and concern. Thank you, Jan for your help!

Rick

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Answer 9

sciencemagic Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 30, 2024 4:23 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan,

Thanks once again for help and suggestions. Always appreciated. I did look over the various drivers for the MP510, and found some, 8 to be exact that would allow a download? Yes, they all are for a different OS than mine, but not sure how if they may work??? Being there are 8 possible drivers that can be downloaded, would you have any preference? You mentioned Mountain Lion? Would it be best of to select a driver download that is the oldest? Like Lion v 10.7 or Snow leopard v10.6 that have a 7/22/11 date? Or the latest download in your opinion?

Once I select a new driver that may work with a MP510, how would I proceed from there? Would I somehow try and install that from the system preferences menu, printer menu and try and type in that new driver download where it may be possible to do so? Certainly appreciate you're not giving up attitude, Jan. Thank you.

Rick

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