Can't scan with Canon MF229 dw

I don't have the same exact printer you do, but I do have a Cannon and had a frustrating experience earlier this evening. I thought it was the new MBP I got, not the Sierra update! Everyone worked smashingly until I go the new MBP which of course has the latest Sierra update on it. I was ready to go absolutely nuts earlier when I had to scan and send some important paperwork. Even on scan to USB I could not get the scanner to work at all. I had to go to Printers and then hit "scan." Maybe that's how it is with the wifi too. I've never really bothered to hook the printer up to wifi. Yes, I was very flabbergasted when what usually is a simple, 5 minute operation took me well over a half hour to figure out, and I'm still not happy with how I had to change all of the settings on the scan page, too.

Dan, I'm in the same situation as you!

Sierra, MF227dw, printer works reliably, scanner works only after blessing it with holy water

Resetting the print queue only works for so long. I'm pulling my hair out because the current installation of El Capitan works just fine using the same drivers, yet Sierra not only refuses to connect reliably to the scanner, I have duplicate entries of "Import from Scanner" in Preview's scan section. Only one ever works, if it does. A fresh install of Sierra doesn't change anything, selecting a different driver doesn't change anything, and installing Canon's own drivers doesn't change anything.

It's currently configured as a wireless printer using secure AirPrint, router is fine, and no firewall blocking any routes to the printer. It has to be something to do with Sierra and how it is interfacing with printing / scanning devices. Changing to Secure AirPrint made it work for 2 hours last night, but as of this morning it is no longer functioning. Rebooting all three devices - printer, router, and computer yields nothing.

Is this something we can submit to Apple as a bug?

I got my scanner working again by initializing all the settings on the printer, but it probably would have worked by just initializing (resetting) the network settings and setting the printer up from scratch. However, both Preview and Image Capture still list two scanners, only one of which ever works. I'm still up in the air with this one. Also, scanning via wired ethernet also did not work under macOS. USB direct to the computer worked just fine, so this issue is not isolated to wireless networking. I am unsure if plugging in the USB into the router's port would change anything. I hope this helps!

P.S. - Windows 10 never had an issue with this. The default scanning application worked fine during this whole time under Windows, so I still think it is a macOS issue. I'll report back if/when the 'fix' stops working.

Add me to the list of people with this same problem and this same scanner. It's just flaky for whatever reason. Like another poster mentioned, resetting the printer to factory default worked for a little while...until it didn't.

It's very frustrating.

Of note, I have had better (albeit not 100%) luck when using the Canon MF Scan Utility versus Image Capture. It often sees the scanner while Preview shows 2 versions of it—both of which generate an error. I'd live with that, if it worked consistently. Alas, it doesn't either.

I just spoke with a support rep Canon. It's not ideal, but their solution seems is better than nothing.

If you forget trying to use System Preferences and instead use the application called "MF Toolbox," network based scanning does seem to work. You'll select the scanner via Bonjour, and then you have to scan from MF Toolbox. That rules out using Image Capture, which is my preferred method of scanning, but I'll take functional over nothing.

Try this and let me know if it works for you, too.

Tried this as well to no avail. Nothing I have found thus far works to fix this issue short of directly connecting via USB cable, a NON STARTER as my printer is quite far from the desk as it is shared by several other AirPrint devices which are all able to print just fine.

MACOS Sierra 10.12.4 Image Class MF217w connected via ethernet connection to Apple Airport Extreme - all functions worked flawlessly until at least the last MACOS update.

"An error occurred while communicating with the scanner. (-9923) - about as helpful as the Windows "an error has occurred 234765" messages I left behind years ago! Hello, hope someone at apple is listening as this is quite obviously something with the supplied MAC drivers. (also tried updating firmware - did not work, drivers from Canon, did not work, etc).

Worked for me, thanks! My exact steps after installing the latest printer & scanner drivers on Sierra:

1. MF Toolbox > Menu > Network Scanner Settings > + (add Canon MF 200)

2. MF Toolbox > Menu > Scanner > Canon MF200 Series > PDF

I found something that worked for me. I've got an MF229dw on AirPrint running Sierra, too. Had the same problem you had. I installed Canon's MF Utilities, then opened the MF Toolbox. I was able to install the scanner from MF Toolbox -> Network Scanner Settings. Hope this helps.

The Canon imageCLASS MF229dw is an Apple AirPrint-enabled printer. No USB connection is required and no drivers are required. Please read Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support.

Sometimes, you have to restart your wireless router or access point for an AirPrint-enabled device to be recognized on your Mac. To do that just unplug your router from its power receptacle, wait a moment or two, and then plug it back in.

If you can't get it to work, I suggest "resetting the printing system" according to macOS Sierra: Reset the printing system, followed by adding it again as an AirPrint device: macOS Sierra: Add or remove a printer.

For scanning documents, please read Mac Basics: Using a scanner - Apple Support.

If you're still having trouble, please review the suggestions in Resolve printer issues on your Mac - Apple Support.

I am differentiating between AirPrint and wifi printing, assuming that AirPrint is strictly for iOS and my iMac is printing/scanning via wifi only.

That is not a correct assumption. If a printer or multifunction device offers AirPrint compatibility, I recommend adding it to Printers & Scanners as an AirPrint device as I wrote. Delete all other print queues for that printer or MFD.

Apple is disinterested in anything other than AirPrint.

I went ahead and submitted a bug report to apple about the AirPrint issue. This has become very frustrating.