How to get older printers working on newer macos versions (canon mx320 etc.)

This is more of a solution, than an actual question, because all posts where users asked about a solution are locked. As you can probably understand, I used an AI to write the post summarizing the workaround:

How to Get Older Printers & Scanners Working on Newer macOS Versions (Sonoma & Beyond)

If you have an older printer or scanner that’s no longer officially supported on macOS Sonoma (or newer), don’t give up just yet! Even if macOS doesn’t automatically detect the scanner function, you can often manually transfer the necessary drivers and support files from an older Mac where the device still works.

Steps to Manually Restore Printer & Scanner Functionality

If you have access to an older Mac (running macOS Monterey, Ventura, or even Sonoma) where your printer/scanner still works, try this method:

1. Identify and Copy the Necessary Files

On your older Mac (where the printer and scanner work), navigate to the following locations and copy any relevant folders related to your device:

Printer & Scanner Drivers:

• Printer drivers:

/Library/Printers/

(Look for a folder named after your printer brand, e.g., “Canon,” “Epson,” “HP,” etc.)

• Scanner drivers (TWAIN drivers):

/Library/Image Capture/TWAIN Data Sources/

and

/Library/Image Capture/Devices/

(If you find a .ds file related to your scanner, copy it.)

Support Files:

• Application support files:

/Library/Application Support/

and

~/Library/Application Support/

(Look for folders related to your printer/scanner brand.)

• Preferences and caches:

~/Library/Preferences/

~/Library/Caches/

2. Transfer the Files to Your New Mac

• Move the copied files to the exact same locations on your new Mac.

• You can transfer them using an external USB drive, AirDrop, or a shared network folder.

3. Restart macOS & Test the Scanner

• Restart your Mac to ensure the system recognizes the drivers.

• Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners and check if the scanner is now detected.

• If needed, try adding the printer/scanner manually.

4. Additional Fixes if the Scanner Still Isn’t Recognized

If the scanner still doesn’t work:

• Refresh macOS device recognition by running this command in Terminal:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

• Enable Rosetta 2 (for Intel-based drivers on Apple Silicon):

softwareupdate --install-rosetta