PIXMA TS6520 - How to Install to Windows pc Via USB?

[Grant_H]

Gentlepersons, I just installed a Pixma TS6520 printer on my Windows 11 pc using the automated route which installed the printer over WiFi. I would prefer to have it installed directly to the pc over a USB cable but I saw no USB option offered during the setup procedure. 

I've looked around for how to change this but I see nothing specific to the TS6500 line that details installing over USB. All I get are vague references to following the setup procedure in the software app from Microsoft which Canon offers on its setup page -- the one that seems to make no mention of any connection other than wireless WiFi or a wired connection to WiFi router. 

This printer is advertised as being able to direct connect via USB and it certainly has a USB port in the back, so why does this type of installation seem to be such a secret?

I would appreciate guidance as to how to change this over.

Thank you for your kind attention!

Grant 

[DerrickL]

This may help, change from wifi to usb: https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART166622

[Grant_H]

Thanks for the response, DerrickL. Unfortunately the link has nothing to do with a USB connection.

I think, after following some information prompts from that link and numerous searches based on related information that I can answer my own question.

It doesn't seem that it's possible using Canon resources to set this model up with a USB connection. All the instructions I've seen for setting up a Canon inkjet printer via USB apply to other models and require you to download what they call the "Full Driver & Software Package" or the "Master Setup" file. Canon also says that these are not available for all models. Apparently this is one such model. The only software on the Support Site for this model is the "Canon PRINT" app which only works for setting up wireless connections.

If you want to set up a USB connection to your pc you have to ignore all the Canon software and rely on Windows to handle all the setup. Supposedly Windows will download all the drivers it thinks it needs to run the printer. Are they Canon drivers or Microsoft drivers? What is their level of functionality compared to Canon PRINT? Don't know. I won't go into the whole procedure as it's unnecessary for this post.

Okay, Canon really wants to steer you to wifi for the usual Big Brother reasons of information mining, to push their ink subscription services and probably to make the use of third-party ink cartridges more difficult if not impossible. But I think that it's going a bit overboard not to include a wired setup option on their own site. I mean, they included a USB port on the printer, they should make an avenue available for you to use it without jumping through hoops of fire to figure it out for yourself. Even if that avenue was just a notation on their setup page telling you to set up via Windows directly if you want to use USB.

I'm not sure what I'll do now. If I want to go the cleanest route to USB I suppose I'd have to reset the printer back to its defaults and disable the wifi. (Maybe the Windows USB process would disable it automatically?) And also uninstall the Canon app and the printer itself from my pc and start over from scratch with the Windows installation. I've already disabled everything I can see for the user to disable both in the app and the printer as far as phoning home to Canon goes, but I don't know if that's enough. I guess I'll think on it.

I'm posting this not only to complain, but to possible help out someone else facing a similar issue so that they waste less time getting an answer to this question.

Thank you for your kind attention!

Grant

[shadowsports]

Greetings ,

Upon review, I noticed that the (drivers) software  downloads for the TS6520 appear to be missing.

Canon Support for PIXMA TS6520 | Canon U.S.A., Inc. https://share.google/t1ozJk1GJDU3ACvjE

The printer was recently released.  This is probably an oversight and something that I can ask to be corrected.  

While this is happening, I'd like to mention the following.  Using a network connection for the printer is very convenient, it allows any device connecting to the same network to use the printer.  USB connections are primarily reserved for a single computer installation.  There's nothing wrong with using USB but it doesn't offer the same flexibility.  Printing from computer, mobile device, tablet, etc.  Just something to consider. 😉

There's nothing secret about the installation, and if this is your preference, I'd be happy to help you.  In any event, we need to have the drivers in order to properly install the printer using either method (wireless or USB).

Let me get the drivers issue handled and I'll circle back.  🙂

I appreciate your patience.

[DerrickL · Accepted solution]

Try this driver, it is for the TS6500 Series printers and Windows 11 You may need to scroll to the top of the page. Under applicable models the TS6520 is the only one listed. 

https://canada-canon.my.site.com/customersupport/article/0101270017

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

DerrickL was kind enough to provide an alternate download from Canon Canada.  

There are some additional steps should you want to change connection from wireless to USB.  

Additionally, I do not recommend installing over the existing device, working or not.

When you install a USB device or printer, it's important not to connect the device until prompted to do so.by the installer.  

Please decide on a connection method and we'll provide next steps.  Likely to include removing the device, uninstalling it's software and restarting.  Then running the installer, connecting the device when prompted.  

Let us know what you decide.  

[Grant_H]

Wow! DerrikL! Rick! You guys really came through! I an genuinely impressed!

I agree with Rick that a wifi connection provides advantages under certain conditions. For my situation I don't need it. Just the one pc to worry about. All things being equal I would prefer the USB connection. My trepidation about using Windows to do the set up mostly revolved around the drivers it would provide and the possible lower functionality compared to Canon drivers. If there is a setup package from Canon that allows USB, I'm guessing that you wouldn't get short-changed on the functionality/feature front.

Is there a utility for uninstalling Canon printers and all the associated drivers, or does the regular Windows uninstall do a good enough job? Rick, I'll take whatever advise you care to provide on this matter. I assume that the software listed on the Canadian site is the same as what should be available on the USA site when someone gets around to it. If so, I'll just get the download from Canada and wait for Rick's advice on procedure.

Thank you for your kind attention!

Grant

[Oremus]

I just purchased the Canon Pixma TS6520 Printer, and I'm having the same problem as Grant_H. I would like to set up the printer to print via USB and to scan. I have a Windows 11 PC. Do I need a driver, software, etc. to enable USB printing? Is there a separate driver, software for scanning capabilities? I'm a little frustrated that the setup is not more straightforward. Coming up empty on the Canon website.

[Grant_H]

Oremus, go to the link provided by DerrikL above (https://canada-canon.my.site.com/customersupport/article/0101270017) and download the driver package listed there for the TS6500 series printers. It installed on my equipment just fine and I now have the TS6520 installed on USB. The driver options are pretty good. On my set up I had to look through the Start menu to find the Canon printer apps. If you want more convenient access I believe that if you right-click one of the apps it will give you options to pin a shortcut on the taskbar and/or the start menu.

I've been waiting to mark my question as solved to see whether Canon USA gets around to including this driver package on their support page for the TS6500 series and I see that they have not as of this post.

shadowsports said earlier that he would try to see that Canon USA gets going on this and includes a full driver package on their support page. This was nearly a month ago. Unless Canon USA is developing a different (upgraded?) driver package, I can't figure what the hold up is. If the package listed on the Canadian site is going to be the definitive package then all someone has to do is copy a link! The very fact that a major company like Canon would make a product available before all the software options were on the support page is a bit of a head-scratcher to me. Cynically, one could say that Canon USA simply doesn't want people using an option that undermines their oversight of their -- oh, excuse me-- your equipment. 

Anyway, I'm going to check back on the USA support page every now and again to see if anything ever changes. But for now, I'm going to mark my issue as solved by DerrickL since he provided the link, with a shout out to shadowsports for his input.

Thank you for your kind attention!

Grant_H

[Oremus]

Grant_H - Thanks so much for your reply! And thanks for the link. I now have the Canon PRINT app on my desktop, which not only allows for printing but also scanning. I see that the TS6520 was only released on September 19, 2025, so I imagine Canon USA has not gotten around to providing full support yet. No excuse for that! Thanks for your efforts in asking Canon USA to add the driver package/link on their support page.