Canon printer not working via USB on MacBook Pro; driver issues

"Canon printer not working via USB on MacBook Pro; driver issues"

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Troubleshooting Printer Issues:

A. Get the Correct Drivers:

First off, where did you get these drivers? You should get the drivers from the Manufacturer, and none other, as a way to avoid scams and the like.

B. Remove, then Reinstall:

Remove the printer, restart your Mac, and then and then reinstall it with the correct drivers.

• Go Here: Remove a Printer from your Printer List when you don’t Use it on Mac - Apple Support
• Go here: MegaTank PIXMA G2260 - Drivers - Canon

C. Restart After an Install:

After making any major change to your Mac, be certain you perform a restart. That way, things are syncing and caches are how they should be.

Given you’ve gone a lap or two with both Canon and Apple Support, I’d return the printer.

The available specs for that printer indicate Canon tested macOS 10.12.6 to macOS 10.15, which is a while ago.

Printer selection info: Which Printer Should I Buy? - Apple Community

I’d likely buy a Brother LED/Laser or multi-function generally, but here with AirPrint, and with wired Ethernet capabilities given your reported Wi-Fi sensitivities, maybe (also) USB-C connectivity (additionally), and would establish a wired network locally, and would connect the Mac to the wired network and then to the printer using an Ethernet dongle.

Canon Support – MegaTank PIXMA G2260

About AirPrint - Apple Support

Canon's specifications say the printer supports "AirPrint (PC only)". Apple's AirPrint database has an entry for a Canon G2260, which is listed as a USB-only printer that works with AirPrint. So presumably this printer can work using AirPrint protocol over USB – much as my Canon printer (a different model) now does.

In fact, I see no indication on the Canon site that this printer has Wi-Fi capabilities at all.

You may want to review

Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac - Apple Support

Also, I would suggest having the Canon printer turned on, and connected by a cable to your Mac, when you try to add it.

JCanan wrote:

it's still forcing me to choose a driver, but there are none available for Canon. I can't find any online to download either.

From this page:

https://www.usa.canon.com/support/p/megatank-pixma-g2260#idReference%3Dmanuals

Inkjets tend to be more expensive than the LED/Laser printing costs, but do check the page printing costs for the various printers of interest. Inkjet can be better for photos given the right ink and the right paper, but I prefer LED/Laser for the rest.

The oldest Brother (MFC-class color multifunction) printer around here is most of twenty years old, and is old enough to lack AirPrint support. The LCD display is slowly washing out. But it just works from macOS, and from other gear, with IPP and other common printing protocols, as well as with the Brother apps. The others of my acquaintance are the same way.

Brother cartridge prices are neither inexpensive nor extortionate.

And you’re probably best headed for a wired network installation here given no Wi-Fi, rather than trying to string together other options. Brother has models with Ethernet connectivity. Yeah, USB is around, too.

MrHoffman wrote:

Inkjets tend to be more expensive than the LED/Laser printing costs, but do check the page printing costs for the various printers of interest. Inkjet can be better for photos given the right ink and the right paper, but I prefer LED/Laser for the rest.

I believe that the OP's printer uses ink tanks, instead of much smaller ink cartridges.

That seems to be a trend with ink jet printers these days – when I go into office stores, I see a number of ink tank models that have [Page] Black, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow – but not so much photo printers which have separate gray ink or 'light' inks (something that was common a few years ago).