How to print on imageCLASS MF663Cdw on different subnet/VLAN via Canon Print on W11

[baikal]

Hello. I'm trying to understand how the Canon PRINT app for Windows discovers and connects to printers.

I have an imageCLASS MF663Cdw on a different subnet/VLAN than my Windows 11 PC and Android phone. Printing from Windows apps and scanning (using the MF Scan Utility) work perfectly. On my phone the Canon PRINT app works as well.

However, the Canon PRINT app on Windows behaves differently:

• It detects the printer that is already installed in Windows and even shows the correct IP address.
• But it will not connect or show the printer as "online" unless my PC is moved to the same subnet as the printer.
• When refreshing the printer status, I see zero packets sent to the printer's IP in Wireshark.
• This makes me think the Windows app is relying on mDNS/WSD/SSDP discovery only, which doesn't cross subnets, instead of directly using the known IP address.

So my questions are:

• Does Canon PRINT for Windows support printers on a different subnet at all?
• Or does the app rely solely on multicast/WSD discovery and therefore require the printer and PC to be on the same subnet?
• If the app already knows the printer's IP (because Windows has the Canon MFNP port configured), why does it not try a direct TCP connection for status?

Any clarification on how the Windows app is designed to discover/communicate with printers would be appreciated.

[baikal]

Does the Canon Print app on Windows work with printers on a different network?

My imageCLASS printer is on a different network than my Windows 11 PC and my phone. I can print and scan (using the MF Scan Utility) from the PC, and the Canon Print app on my phone works fine.

On the PC, Canon Print sees the printer already added and even lists its IP but won't connect unless I move the PC to the same network where the printer is. I'm wondering if, unlike the Android app, the Windows app only supports connecting to printers on the same network.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

The simple answer to your question is yes.  However your network equipment must support layer 2 switching, vLANs and the ability to allow communication between different subnets.  If you're using standard consumer grade, ISP issued hardware, the probability for this is low.

[baikal]

Hello shadowports.

Yes, I have routing across VLANs with Cisco and Ubiquity hardware. It baffles me that Canon Print works fine across the same subnets from my phone but not from my PC. Even though the PC sees the printer and can use it. The app lists the printer IP but shows it as Disconnected.

However, I do not have mDNS crossing subnets. I wonder if Canon Print on Windows relies on it even when the printer is already installed and the app knows its direct IP.

[Stephen]

Hello baikal,

Thanks for reaching out! It sounds like you've done the heavy lifting already—the fact that you can print using the standard Windows 11 system and can use the MF Scan Utility is solid proof that your Cisco and Ubiquiti equipment is routing traffic perfectly across those segments. You've got the superhighway built!

The App Problem

The issue seems to be specific to how our dedicated Canon Print application on Windows behaves in complex network environments.

As I’m sure you know, the system likely defaults to using mDNS (Multicast Domain Name Service) for device status checks. It looks like this particular application is just a bit stubborn; it seems to require that local mDNS broadcast to confirm the printer's status, even though it already knows the IP address and everything else is working.

Because your advanced network intentionally keeps those separate segments (VLANs/subnets) nice and tidy, it blocks those local broadcast signals from crossing over. The app is basically saying, "I know where the printer is, but I didn't hear it shout, so I'm calling it 'Disconnected!'"

Your Best Bet for a Quick Fix

Since you've got control of the Cisco and Ubiquiti gear, your quickest path to resolution is likely adjusting the network settings to allow mDNS packets to pass across the segments where the PC and the imageCLASS reside.

If That Doesn't Cut It

If tweaking your network's mDNS settings doesn't immediately solve the connection status in the Canon Print application, don't sweat it! These are tricky, niche network issues.

Give our support team a call during the week (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays). They can dive into the specifics of application connectivity and protocols.

• Phone Support: 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666)

• Support Account: For faster service, please register your product on your My Canon Account before calling: My Canon Account

Keep us posted on what you find!