Why can I print but not scan? (using Canon MG4250 and Yosemite)

There are two options for scanning.

You can use the Scan tab within Printers & Scanners or use the Image Capture application mentioned above, but to use either you will need to install the ICA scanner driver for the MG42xx series.

The other option is Canon's IJ Scan utility that is installed with the MG4250 scanner driver. After installing this scanner driver you will have a Canon Utilities folder in the Applications folder and here you will find the Canon IJ Scan Utility and the Canon IJ Scanner Selector EX. This selector utility must be used first for locating the networked MG and then adding it as a device you want to use. Once this is done you can then open the Canon IJ Scan Utility and will now be able to connect to the MG scanner component.

CLICKY CLICK---> http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18614 OS X Yosemite: Reset the printing system

downloading driver updates

From Apple & Canon Support?

Did you install the drivers as well as repaired permissions & restarting your computer after the installation?

Suzekins wrote:

None of the drivers I have tried could detect the scanner element of the MG4250, only the printer element.

If you open Printers & Scanners and click the plus button to add, with the Default view selected is the MG shown as a Bonjour Multifunction device or a Canon IJ Network device?

With reference to the image below, you can see the Canon MG6300 and MX920 are shown as Bonjour Multifunction and Canon IJ Network. If your MG4250 is only shown as Canon IJ Network, then this shows your Mac has an issue with the Bonjour service and that explains why you cannot use the scanner component of the MG, as the scanning applications rely on the Bonjour protocol to see the MG scanner.

Suzekins wrote:

yes, the Bonjour and IJ Network both show up.

Well that's good news.

So if you open the Canon IJ Network Scanner Selector utility you should see something like the following image. Does your MG display or is the window blank?

Alternatively, if you open Image Capture is the MG listed under the Shared section as shown below or is this also blank?

Good to read that its working in Image Capture. With regards to the Canon scanning utility and for the sake of anyone else reading this post, the Canon IJ Network Scanner Selector is not used for scanning. You use the tool to find the Canon device. Once you find it and select it and then press OK, you can open the Canon IJ Scan utility and select the networked Canon MG in the Product Name drop menu as shown below. Now you should be able to scan from the networked device.

Not sure what method you are using to scan... Twain or FTP.

If its an FTP app of any sorts, Yosemite by default disables this protocol.

to get it up and running, give this a go

sudo -s launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist

So in the previous window, where it shows Product Name, it should be set to Canon MG4200 series Network. If it is set to Canon MG4200 series, this is for a USB connection and will give you the communication error message for a network connected printer.

Suzekins wrote:

Mine only shows Canon MG4200 series, but no 'Network'.... This does not explain why the printer function can work, but the scanner does not.

Actually it does. It explains why you cannot scan with the Canon utility and why you are getting the error message about the device not being connected, as you are trying to use the Canon scanning utility for a USB connected device rather than a network device. And regarding the printing, the scanning app is independent of the printing, so it is not at all unusual that you can print but cannot scan.

Suzekins wrote:

And if it can print, why can't it scan?

Because you don't have the networked MG4200 showing in the Canon scanning app. To get the MG added to the Product Name drop menu in the Canon IJ Scan Utility you have to add the MG via the Canon IJ Scanner Selector. So if you have run the Scanner Selector application and selected the networked MG and OK'd the selection, then you should have the networked MG4200 in the Product Name drop menu. But if the networked MG is not appearing in the Product Name drop menu after selecting it from the IJ Scanner Selector app, then there is something wrong with one of the Canon applications.

Have you tried Applications/Image Capture or VueScan?

VueScan

VueScan FAQ