imageCLASS MF656Cdw will not scan via a wireless connection

[tommyboy39]

To save some time here and not have some of you ask me which printer, OS, etc, here they are:

• Windows 11 Pro 24H2 with all current updates
• Model of printer: Canon MF656Cdw
• Any firewall blocks have been removed, granting the printer / scanner full privileges over the network
• Printer firmware is up to date
• Have tried to uninstall an reinstall software and drivers several times

First off, I bought this printer back in January or February of 2024. I installed it along with the programs just fine on a Windows 10 Pro PC. Printer and scanner worked via a wireless connection without issue. No firewall exceptions were necessary and I did not have to troubleshoot anything.

Fast forward 8 or 9 months. I built a new PC running Windows 11 Pro. Installed printer and scanner software. Scanner cannot communicate with the pc while trying to scan. The printer portion works just fine as I was able to print a test page. When trying to scan via the Canon MF Scan Utility (or any other software for that matter), I get the following message:

• "Cannot communicate with the scanner. The cable may be disconnected, or the scanner may be turned off. Check the scanner status and try again. Scanner Driver will be terminated."

There is no cable as I use it via a wireless connection. Unless the printer came with a usb cable (I would have to check the box), I don't even have a cable to be able to print and scan via a usb cable. The printer and scanner are turned on. The scanner works as I printed a document directly from the scanner platen glass.

I'd like to know where to go from here. Why doesn't it work from my Windows 11 PC?

[Lithoman]

I see this all the time. Scan to Windows 11 has become more difficult due to Win 11 security. The scan folder can not be located on the desktop, My Documents or anything of the sort. The easy way to accomplish this is to place the scan folder on the root of the C drive then make a shortcut placed wherever you like.

Next you have to grant specific user permissions for the share. The "Everybody" access doesn't work like most people think. Don't forget to grant read/write access to the folder. For security purposes I usually create a local Windows account called "Canon" and use this with the printer only. This is more of a personal security thing but not 100% needed

You already have a static IP on the printer so that is good. It is a good idea to do the same with the computer or make a static reservation as I have seen some DNS issues with ISP modems. Again, not 100% needed but can help quite a bit.

Hopefully this helps!

[Luvbird]

Until Microsoft admits they messed up 24H2 and fixes it, the problem will persist. try typing wiaacmgr in the search box. If it comes up as "No friendly name" then it is still a Microsoft issue with the 24H2 build of Windows 11. Microsoft has ignored this issue since mid October and has yet to resolve.

[Lithoman]

Umm... Regardless of it being a Microsoft issue or not, blaming Microsoft isn't solving the issue. There is a way to fix it and it really isn't that difficult.

[tommyboy39]

Hmmm... not sure where you are going with this suggestion. The issue I mentioned had nothing to do with folder permissions and whatnot. The issue was that the Canon MF scan utility software could not communicate with the scanner itself under Win 11 24H2. I can't save something if I cannot scan something in the first place. I also mentioned in a reply that I was able to scan with the Windows scan, as basic as it is, and Adobe Acrobat (as long as I did not try to use Canon's native interface in the process). Location of the saved documents did not matter with those. I don't save anything to my main drive anyway as I have other drives for that. As a test, I was able to save to "My Documents" without issue just now using the Canon MF scan utility. No permissions needed to be altered.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

[Lithoman]

Gottcha, sorry. Was thinking scan to network, software scanning. My bad. Good luck! 

[JoeKay]

Found this thread while dealing with the same "Cannot communicate with the scanner" error message.  I recently acquired a new HP AIO desktop running Win 11 with 24H2.  I installed software for MF656 with mastersetupv110.exe, then MF650CMFDriverV720W64.exe, and then winmfscanutilityv12102.exe, and when accessing scan utility, got the error message.  I tried all the suggestions in this forum, ie uninstall and reinstall installation SW and drivers, and even tried the DR_RegistryFix.exe.  Same error.  On the latest reinstall, I only ran the master set up.  Still the error msg.  I then set the printer to USB connection from PC to printer, and the scan utility now connects.  Leaving the USB cable in place, I switched back to wifi connection on the printer.  The scan utility still connects!  Unfortunately, wiaacmgr shows No Friendly.  Not the best solution like others seen on this thread, but having tried all the suggestions on this thread, this workaround is successful for me.  I also have a 3 yr old HP AIO computer that the new one is replacing and it is running Win 11 with 24H2 and all latest updates.  It has never had nor currently has any problems calling up and running the scan utility over wifi.  Like others, I wait for the real fix from Canon or MS.

[navman28]

Been fighting this issue all day. I installed software for MF654 with mastersetupv110.exe, then MF650CMFDriverV720W64.exe, and then winmfscanutilityv12102.exe. I did the registry edit mentioned in a previous post in this thread and it allowed me to use the MF Scan Utility to send the scan command to the device.  However, I still could not scan directly from the device using the touchscreen.  On the touchscreen, I selected update firmware and let it run. Once it was finished, I could scan directly from the device.