My Macbook Air can't find my Canon MP3530 wireless printer.

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My Macbook Air can't find my Canon MP3530 wireless printer.

I don't have a disk drive, obviously, so I went to the webpage for notebooks, phones, and IPads. I started the set up process, and everything seemed to be fine. I was able to download everything perfectly, and received the manual, image gardens, etc. However, when I went to connect to printer, it couldn't find the printer. I turned off my firewall, accepted from anywhere, and even restarted the process several times. How do I get this to work?? HELP!

-Amanda1661

MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2013), iOS 7.0.2

Posted on Oct 13, 2013 5:34 PM

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Answer 1

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Oct 13, 2013 5:44 PM in response to Amanda1661

Have you connected the printer to your network, IE set it up to get an IP address from your internet router or modem/router combo box?

You can't print directly to the printer. It has to be connected to a local area network, LAN, which is your home network. Then you can set the mac up to print to it.

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Answer 2

Amanda1661 Author

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Oct 13, 2013 6:48 PM in response to Amanda1661

Lowluster, I don't know how to do that because when I go through the process of setting up, it asks me to do it wirelessly or with a WPS whatever that is. There isn't a way to connect to the IP address straight from the printer. I have to hold down the WIFI button until it blinks, which I did, then wait. Unfortunately, it still says it can't find it. Do I have to turn off something in my security settings?

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Answer 3

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Oct 13, 2013 7:05 PM in response to Amanda1661

Please refer to the printers user manual for instructions on how to connect the printer to your home LAN. I did a search for the printer model you posted and all I come up with is a MP 530 or an ImageRunner 3530 or a MG5330. So I have no idea what model you are refering to and can't look at the manual.

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Answer 4

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Oct 13, 2013 8:14 PM in response to Amanda1661

The manufacturer's setup instructions for some wireless printers specify that you should press a "WPS button" on your Wi-Fi router. There is no such button on AirPort devices, but you can still use WPS (W-Fi Protected Setup) to connect a printer, provided you're running AirPort Utility 6.2 or later.

If AirPort Utility is outdated, run Software Update or download the latest updater from the Apple Support website. Then follow the instructions in this support article under the heading "Method 3: Associate the printer to your Wi-Fi network via WPS." To see that part of the page, you must first click the disclosure triangle next to the heading "Adding a Wi-Fi printer that does not let you select a Wi-Fi network via the printer's built-in controls or screen."

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Answer 5

Amanda1661 Author

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Oct 13, 2013 9:23 PM in response to LowLuster

Lowluster, I ran into the same problem. I think my problem is that I only have a modem, not a router; therefore, I need to connect using a USB cord? I'm still looking. 🙂

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Answer 6

Amanda1661 Author

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Oct 13, 2013 9:26 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc, thank you so much! I'll check that out first thing tomorrow. 🙂 I don't have a router, though. (As I just said to Lowluster) I may try to use a USB cord. Not sure if that will work. I'm sure I sound really stupid, but I'm new to the Mac world and cannot seem to get it all together.

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Answer 7

Amanda1661 Author

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Oct 13, 2013 9:31 PM in response to Linc Davis

Okay, so I do have a WPS button on the back of my modem. Are modems and routers the same? (Google says no, but we all know that google can be wrong) I'm gonna try the WPS way really quickly and see if it will work that way. 🙂

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Answer 8

Amanda1661 Author

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Oct 13, 2013 9:47 PM in response to Linc Davis

I FIXED IT!! YAY! Link, your advice is extrodinary! Thanks so much; my printer is now working from my Mac. The WPS button was on the back, bottom, left hand corner of my modem and was tiny. I would have never even known to look if not for your comment. After finding that, it was just a matter of following Canon's set up directions.

Thanks again,

Amanda1661

P.S. There isn't a button on your comment that says "This solved my problem" or I would have pressed it. It may be because I had already pressed, "This was helpful." Sorry about that.

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Answer 9

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Oct 13, 2013 10:07 PM in response to Amanda1661

I didn't solve your problem; you did.

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