HT201900: OS X: Connecting a Wi-Fi printer to your Wi-Fi network

Learn about OS X: Connecting a Wi-Fi printer to your Wi-Fi network
staceyjmarine
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Q: i have a new iMac and connected my Canon MX printer. All of a sudden it is not finding it. how do i reconnect it

I have a new Mac computer and installed my Canon wireless printer to it.  It was working fine.  All of a sudden it showed in use but printer not connected and could not find it.  I removed the printer and now it can't find it to reinstall.  I don't know what to do.  I am new to an iMac.

iMac, iOS 9.2

Posted on Jan 17, 2016 6:57 AM

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staceyjmarine

Q: i have a new iMac and connected my Canon MX printer. All of a sudden it is not finding it. how do i reconnect it

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  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane Jan 17, 2016 7:18 AM in response to staceyjmarine
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    Jan 17, 2016 7:18 AM in response to staceyjmarine

    Which version of Mac OS X is running on your iMac?  iOS 9.2 is not a version of Mac OS and a new iMac will not be running Mac OS 9.2.

  • by staceyjmarine ,

    staceyjmarine staceyjmarine Jan 17, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Duane
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    Jan 17, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Duane

    Honestly I am not sure. I received this as a gift this Christmas. So its brand new.  Where would I find out?

  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane Jan 17, 2016 7:37 AM in response to staceyjmarine
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    Jan 17, 2016 7:37 AM in response to staceyjmarine

    Click on the Apple in the upper left of your screen. Select "About this Mac".

  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane Jan 17, 2016 7:38 AM in response to staceyjmarine
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    Jan 17, 2016 7:38 AM in response to staceyjmarine

    Reset the printing system on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by staceyjmarine ,

    staceyjmarine staceyjmarine Jan 17, 2016 7:39 AM in response to Duane
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    Jan 17, 2016 7:39 AM in response to Duane

    OS X EI CAPITAN VERSION 10.11.2 is what it states

  • by staceyjmarine ,

    staceyjmarine staceyjmarine Jan 17, 2016 7:44 AM in response to Duane
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    Jan 17, 2016 7:44 AM in response to Duane

    I did the reset and now it could not find printer. I tried earlier to put in the ip address and it still could not find the printer

  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane Jan 17, 2016 8:02 AM in response to staceyjmarine
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    Jan 17, 2016 8:02 AM in response to staceyjmarine

    I would temporarily connect the printer to your iMac via USB. This will ensure that the proper drivers are loaded.

     

    I would also work through the Canon instructions for connecting the printer to your iMac.

  • by staceyjmarine ,

    staceyjmarine staceyjmarine Jan 17, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Duane
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    Jan 17, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Duane

    Ok I will try the usb.  I did go through Canon and it shows connected.  when i try and print its not finding the printer.  So weird and I can't figure out why all of  a sudden it changed .  I haven't done anything to it.  Thank you so much for try to help me.  I sincerely appreciate it.  I am so frustrated with this.

  • by menriv,

    menriv menriv Jan 18, 2016 4:49 PM in response to staceyjmarine
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    Jan 18, 2016 4:49 PM in response to staceyjmarine

    I have a similar problem - which only began after I changed internet providers. It happens when the printer goes idle. When it 'awakens' the IP address apparently changes and the imac can't find it. But my Dell has no problem with the printer!! So, it's obviously a Mac thing. It also happens with another iMac I have...

     

    The only solution is to restart the PRINTER. Whenever I do, it works fine. Till it goes idle again....

  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane Jan 19, 2016 6:36 AM in response to menriv
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    Jan 19, 2016 6:36 AM in response to menriv

    menriv wrote:

     

    I have a similar problem - which only began after I changed internet providers. It happens when the printer goes idle. When it 'awakens' the IP address apparently changes and the imac can't find it. But my Dell has no problem with the printer!! So, it's obviously a Mac thing. It also happens with another iMac I have...

     

    The only solution is to restart the PRINTER. Whenever I do, it works fine. Till it goes idle again....

    Without having more details, I would guess that your printer is using DHCP to get an IP address and the router you used with your previous internet provider always provided the same address to the printer. The router with your new internet provider is providing different IP addresses to the printer when it wakes from idle. If this is the cause, you can fix this by configuring the router to always provide the same IP address to the printer and configuring the printer to always use the same IP address.