Unusable Canon MF743Cdw - Printer Not Recognized

[tmanz]

The printer is unusable on macOS - I am currently on macOS Big Sur V11.5.2 and:

1. macOS sees the printer as Offline, and the printer accepts no jobs.
   • Pressing the sleep/wake button on the printer does not push the job through
   • Pressing the power on/off button does force a reconnection and the small window between when just turned on and before it goes to sleep is usable - then it is recognized as Offline and unusable again.
2. Deleting and adding the printer has the following errors:
   • Only discoverable when awake, and if the printer falls asleep during the setup process the setup fails 
   • Setting up 'Canon MF7...' then 'Unable to verify the printer on your network' > 'Would you still like to create the printer?' <Cancel> <Continue>
   • Clicking <Continue> sets up the device -  gives this error 'An error occurred while trying to add the selected device: Unable to communicate with the printer at this time' - Secure Airprint or Airprint drivers
   • Using freshly downloaded Canon MF741/743C or Canon MF741/743C CARPS2 drivers from Canon gives the same error as above unless I click on <Skip> in the setting up process - this is the only way to add the printer to 'Printers & Scanners'
   • Same errors occur as in 1) and trying to open the Scanner utility gives this error 'You do not have permission to open the application "Canon MFScanner1": Contact your computer or network administrator for assistance.'

Canon please fix your drivers with each macOS release in a timely manner, my device is a home/office printer turned paperweight for several weeks now - otherwise please provide a means for customers to return faulty printers.

As of this thread, I have tried

1. Updating the printer firmware to the latest version
2. Downloading all the updated drivers from Canon's website for this printer

Nothing works - I'm extremely frustrated.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

It sounds like you are having an issue with basic connectivity.  How is the printer connected and to what?

Wired LAN - Verify the connection on your router.

or

Wireless LAN - Perform manual set up:

Setting Up Connection by Specifying Detailed Settings - Canon - imageCLASS MF746Cdw / MF745Cdw / MF7...

Verify the connection to your router.  If connected, it will be listed under attached devices and display with its assigned IP address.

Software needed for install:

Downloads for your product are here:

Support | Color Laser | Color imageCLASS MF743Cdw | Canon USA

Note, I didn't see any files called MF741/743C or Canon MF741/743C CARPS2 under the drivers or software tab for Mac OS 11.x Big Sur.  If you are not using drivers downloaded directly from Canon, unexpected results might occur.

It might be best for you to start over.  Remove the printer from Apple menu > System menu > Printers and Scanners (using the (-) minus key.  

Drag any Canon or non canon software / utilities using finder to the trash, then restart your system.  Now start over, confirming that the printer (regardless of how its connected) is on the same network as your MAC.

All Canon drivers currently list support through Mac OS 11.4, but its likely 11.5.x will also be supported.

[tmanz]

No it isn't basic connectivity, its an outdated driver issue on Cannon's side for macOS.

The drivers I mentioned are from the official packages from Cannon, you are able to select them when you have installed their packages.

[lunchboxaudio]

Dear Canon-

As a long time user of the MF series, this user's issue is 100% valid. There is something majorly wrong with your drivers.

In the past, I could use my apple airprint to select DPI on Apple Preview for scanning. For some reason, whether new Mac OS, or some other issue, it is stuck at 300 DPI with no way to change it.

I need to scan a document at 200DPI to save on file size. SO... I read I needed to install your drivers...

Queue 2 hours of frustration and headache. Not only did your drivers not work, it gave the dreaded message that I needed administrator access to use my scanner, which is complete BS from top to bottom. 

This also caused major issues with the original Apple Secure Airprint which allowed me to use both the printer and scanner. For several restarts I could not install the scanner function anymore even with Airprint. 

I had to completely remove Canon's drivers out of the library files and everything, restart machine multiple times, and finally was able to get the scan function back through Secure Airprint.

I generally think these Canon printers work great, but you definitely need to review issues with the drivers. As is, they do not work smoothly. I will be calling support tomorrow to report the issues.

Thank you.

[lunchboxaudio]

By the way, I am running OS 11.5.2 BIG SUR. 

TMANZ, I would suggest deleting all the Canon drivers and using the native Secure Airprint. It works just fine wirelessly.

[shadowsports]

One way to avoid these types of issues is to confirm drivers support BEFORE upgrading your OS to a version that might not be supported by the drivers you currently have installed.  Its a users responsibility to verify support before upgrade. 

This may be unpopular, but no one is forcing operating system upgrades.  If you uncheck the box "Keep my system up to date" you are able to control when updates occur.  Upgrades should be planned and on your terms.  Otherwise surprises and unexpected results can occur.  

No one wants to hear this, but its true none the less.

[lunchboxaudio]

@shadowsports You are making the false assumption that either of us did an OS upgrade without reviewing the drivers. The drivers in my case are supposedly updated for my current OS and THEY DO NOT WORK PROPERLY.

[shadowsports]

---

@lunchboxaudio wrote:

Dear Canon-

As a long time user of the MF series, this user's issue is 100% valid. There is something majorly wrong with your drivers.

In the past, I could use my apple airprint to select DPI on Apple Preview for scanning. For some reason, whether new Mac OS, or some other issue, it is stuck at 300 DPI with no way to change it.

I need to scan a document at 200DPI to save on file size. SO... I read I needed to install your drivers...

Queue 2 hours of frustration and headache. Not only did your drivers not work, it gave the dreaded message that I needed administrator access to use my scanner, which is complete BS from top to bottom. 

This also caused major issues with the original Apple Secure Airprint which allowed me to use both the printer and scanner. For several restarts I could not install the scanner function anymore even with Airprint. 

I had to completely remove Canon's drivers out of the library files and everything, restart machine multiple times, and finally was able to get the scan function back through Secure Airprint.

I generally think these Canon printers work great, but you definitely need to review issues with the drivers. As is, they do not work smoothly. I will be calling support tomorrow to report the issues.

Thank you.

---

Ready to pick this back up with you lunchboxaudio.

We know you are running BigSur 11.5.2

How is your printer connected USB, Wireless or Ethernet?

Permissions issues are likely related to the OS, not the driver.

If you have contacted support  and your issue is resolved, you can disregard.    

[shadowsports]

---

@tmanz wrote:

No it isn't basic connectivity, its an outdated driver issue on Cannon's side for macOS.

The drivers I mentioned are from the official packages from Cannon, you are able to select them when you have installed their packages.

---

This is what I got when I searched Google for MF741/743C or Canon MF741/743C CARPS2 drivers

Please download your drivers directly from Canon's website:

Support | Color Laser | Color imageCLASS MF741Cdw | Canon USA

As you can see, none of the drivers available for Big Sur 11.5.2 have the words CARPS2

 If there are other drivers you are aware of I'd be grateful if you could point me to them.  If not, I suggest you stick with my original suggestion and use drivers from Canon's support page.

[lunchboxaudio]

The latest driver released on 9/1/21 showing current through Big Sur 11.5.2 does not work properly as OP states. He/she was here on 8/22/21, but given it is now October and I can confirm the update does not work and deleted it completely from my machine so my printer/scanner would work properly again with Airprint, I will distegard you altogether. Hopefully Canon will take this thread seriously and fix their drivers.