Step-By-Step Guide to Scan Documents from a Canon Printer

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Scan a Canon printer, whether you have Windows or Mac
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Do you have a Canon All in One printer, such as a Pixma TS, TR, MX, or MG model, and need to scan a document or photo? As long as your Canon printer has a scanner, it'll be incredibly easy to scan from your printer to your computer! This wikiHow article will show you how to use Canon's IJ scanning utility, as well as the scanning features built into Windows and macOS , to quickly scan any document with your Canon All in One printer.

What to Know About Scanning on a Canon Printer

  • Before you start, connect your printer to your computer and download any necessary drivers or utilities.
  • You can scan using Canon’s IJ Scan Utility app, or use built-in software on your PC or Mac.
  • Use your scanning app to adjust things like the color, resolution, and orientation of your scanned image.
Section 1 of 4:

Preparing to Scan

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  1. If your printer is an "all-in-one" model, it can scan. Some other printer models can scan as well, though you'll need to check the printer's documentation or product page to ensure that this is the case.
  2. Most Canon printers that can scan will also be able to connect wirelessly via a touch-screen panel, but you may need to connect your printer to your computer via USB cable.

    Tip: Most printers include a USB cable that you can use in case the wireless feature doesn't work.

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  3. If your printer came with a CD or DVD, you can use that to install the drivers for your printer. The printer drivers also come with the IJ Scan Utility that you can use to scan documents . [1] If it did not come with a CD or DVD, use the following steps to download the drivers for your printer:
    • Go to www.usa.canon.com/support/software-and-drivers in your web browser.
    • Click Printers .
    • Select your model number or enter your model number in the search bar and press Enter .
    • Select your operating system using the drop-down menu next to "Operating System." (If drivers aren't available for your operating system, you may not need to install drivers).
    • Click Select next to the drivers you want to download.
    • Click Download .
    • Open the installation file and follow the instructions.
  4. Press the printer's "On" button. If the printer won't turn on, make sure that it's connected to a working power source.
  5. Lift up the scanner's lid so that you can see the glass bottom of the scanner.
  6. Look for an arrow in the back-left corner and align the document with that arrow. Your document should be aligned with the top and left side of the glass. [2]
    • If your Canon printer has an automatic document feeder, insert the document into the automatic document feeder tray face up. Align the guides on the side to the width of your document. You should hear a beep when the document is inserted properly.
    • Consult your Canon's instruction manual if you can't figure out how to use the built-in scanner.
  7. Make sure that it is firmly shut before you scan your document.
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Section 2 of 4:

Scanning with the IJ Scan Utility

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  1. Use one of the following steps to navigate to the IJ Scan Utility folder on PC and Mac: [3]
    • Windows:
      • Click the Windows Start button.
      • Open the Canon Utilities folder.
    • Mac:
      • Click Go in the menu bar at the top.
      • Click Applications .
      • Open the Canon Utilities folder.
      • Open the IJ Scan Utility folder.
  2. It has an icon that resembles a document next to a scanner. Click the icon in the IJ Scan Utility folder. [4]
  3. It's in the lower-right corner of the IJ Scan Utility app. [5]
  4. It's the second option in the menu to the left. [6]
  5. To do so, click the drop-down menu next to "Data Format" and select PDF (Multiple Pages) . This allows you to scan multiple pages into one document.
    • Some printers can be set to automatically scan both sides of a document. If this option is available on your printer, select "Document (ADF/Platen)" in the drop-down menu next to "Select source" to activate it.
  6. Use the drop-down menu next to "Save in" to select a save location for your documents. Then click Ok .
    • By default, documents will be saved to your "Documents" folder.
  7. It's the second option in the IJ Scan Utility window. It has an icon that says "PDF" next to a document. This starts scanning your page. It may take a minute to finish. [7]
  8. If you have more than one page to scan, place the next page on the glass scanner or in the automatic document feeder. Make sure the document is lined up with the arrow in the back-left corner of the glass scanner. Click Scan when you are ready to scan the next page.
  9. Once you are finished scanning every page of your document, click Exit . Your document will be saved as a PDF file inside your Documents folder, or wherever you chose to save your documents. [8]
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Section 3 of 4:

Scanning Manually on Windows

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  1. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  2. Doing so will search for the Windows Fax and Scan app.
  3. It's at the top of the Start window. The Fax and Scan app will open.
  4. This is in the upper-left side of the Fax and Scan window. Clicking it opens a new window.
  5. You should see the word "Canon" and your printer's model number. If you see something else here, click Change... and select your Canon printer.
  6. Click the "Profile" drop-down box, then select the type of document (e.g., Photo ) in the drop-down box.
  7. Click the "Color format" drop-down box, then select either Color or Black and White .
    • Your scanner may have additional (or limited) options for color formatting.
  8. Click the "File type" drop-down box, then click the file type (e.g., PDF or JPG ) that you want to use to store the scanned document on your computer. [9]

    Tip: Since you're scanning a document, you'll usually select PDF here.

  9. Depending on your scanner, you may have other options (e.g., "Resolution") that you can modify prior to scanning your document.
  10. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will bring up a preview of your document in the scanner.

    Tip: If your document appears crooked, uneven, or chopped-off, you can readjust the document in your scanner and then click Preview again to see if your adjustment fixed the problem.

  11. It's at the bottom of the window. Your document will begin scanning into your computer. [10] To find the scanned file later, do the following:
    • Open Start
    • Open File Explorer
    • Click Documents on the left side of the window.
    • Double-click the Scanned Documents folder.
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Section 4 of 4:

Scanning Manually on Mac

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  1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  2. 2
    Click System Settings… . It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
  3. 3
    Click Printers & Scanners . Scroll down in the left-hand menu pane to find this option.
  4. 4
    Select your Canon printer. Click the "Canon" option in the list of printers in the main menu pane. If you don’t see it, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax… and select it from the list of printers detected on your network, then click Add .
  5. 5
    Click Open Scanner… . This option is near the top of the printer window.
  6. 6
    Click Show Details . It's in the lower-right side of the window. This will prompt your scanner to do a quick preview scan, and will also open a window where you can adjust your scan settings.
  7. 7
    Select a file type. Click the "Format" drop-down box, then click a file type (e.g., PDF or JPEG ) that you want to use to save your file.

    Tip: When scanning anything other than a photo, it's best to select PDF .

  8. 8
    Decide on a color. Click the "Kind" drop-down box at the top of the page, then select a color option (e.g., Black & White , Color , or Text ).
    • Your scanner may have limited options here.
  9. 9
    Select a storage location. Click the "Scan To" drop-down box, then click a folder in which you want to save your scanned document (e.g., Desktop ).
  10. 10
    Change other options on the page. Depending on the type of file that you're scanning, you may want to change the "Resolution" value or the "Orientation" value here.
    • A higher resolution will result in a larger, higher-quality scan. You can also set the size of your scan in pixels.
    • The orientation determines if your image scans in portrait or landscape mode.
    • Mac’s scanner utility also has some basic image correction features built in. Experiment with using these if you don’t like how the scanned image looks.
  11. 11
    Click Scan . It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Your document will begin scanning into your computer. When it finishes, you'll be able to find it in your selected save location.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I increase the size of the document before printing it?
    Community Answer
    When you start the scanner wizard, or whatever you choose to use, you will notice the resolution set to a number (ie: 300pixel/inch). Increase that for a better resolution and size. Keep in mind that this will also increase the scanning time.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 21
  • Question
    How can I send a document via email after scanning it?
    Community Answer
    Once you have scanned the document and saved it to your computer, open up a blank email and use the attachment icon to attach the document file to the email.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 17
  • Question
    How do I get a document on my computer without a scanner?
    Community Answer
    If you have a smartphone you can download the Genius Scan app. It allows you take a picture of a piece of paper and then it converts it to a .jpg that looks like a scan. From there you can send it to your computer through email or dropbox.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART137999
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6f-dgJ9i-4&t=39s
      3. ↑ https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART137999
      4. ↑ https://ij.manual.canon/ij/webmanual/ScanUtility/M/MG3000+series/2.0/EN/SU/su-004.html
      5. ↑ https://ij.manual.canon/ij/webmanual/ScanUtility/M/MG3000+series/2.0/EN/SU/su-004.html
      6. ↑ https://ij.manual.canon/ij/webmanual/ScanUtility/M/MG3000+series/2.0/EN/SU/su-004.html
      7. ↑ https://ij.manual.canon/ij/webmanual/ScanUtility/M/MG3000+series/2.0/EN/SU/su-004.html
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6f-dgJ9i-4&t=39s
      9. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-and-use-a-scanner-in-windows-4fd9f33a-25b6-159a-3cde-3f009b02a81a
      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-and-use-a-scanner-in-windows-4fd9f33a-25b6-159a-3cde-3f009b02a81a

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To scan a document with your Canon printer, first plug the USB cable that came with the printer into the printer and a USB port on your computer. Then, turn the printer on if it has a dedicated power button on it. Next, open the scanner lid to access the glass plate where you will place your document. Set your document face down and line the edges of the paper up with the hash marks along the rim of the glass plate. Close the lid on your scanner. If your printer and computer are configured correctly, you can press the “Scan” button on your printer to automatically upload your scanned image. Otherwise, if you have Windows, type “Windows Fax and Scan” into the Start menu and click on the app. This will open the Fax and Scan tool. Click the “New Scan” button and wait for your document to appear. On an Mac, click the Apple in the top left of the screen to open the drop down menu. Select “System Preferences” and click “Printers and Scanners.” Then, click your printer’s name on the menu of active devices. Select “Open Scanner,” select your preferences in the menu, and press the “Scan” button.

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