PIXMA MG6450 Another computer is using the printer

[Yatesy1990]

Up to now we've printed ok but yesterday our Windows 8 laptops report that "Another computer is using the prnter". We have a Canon MG6450 printer; ona  wireless network. We have rebooted our laptops; the router; and switched off printer but to no avail. Any other suggestions ?

Another computer is using the printer.
The following status is the usage status of that computer.
---
Creating print data

A follow up query is why is there a need to register is the need to send email docs to [Email address removed in accordance with forum guidelines] to get printed ? It is both time consuming, over elaborate and completely unnecessary to use a "Print from E-mail" service and " to complete the printer owner registration".

[wizard_chef]

This seems to be a pretty common problem that Canon does not seem interested in addressing. I use my MX472 with two laptops and a Mac desktop. After printing from one computer I have to unplug the Canon printer for several seconds and plug it back in to print from another machine. This tells me that the Canon software is not releasing the printer properly, or there is a bug in the printing software of one of the machines I am printing from.

Unplugging and re-plugging the printer is not an acceptable solution. Has anyone been able to isolate where the problem is and how to fix it? Solutions on this thread are either shotgun or I am not able to follow the instructions because apparently the operating system is different from mine.

[DaBoss · Accepted solution]

I solved my problem on the MG5520 using Windows 8.1 stuck with the "used by another computer" error!

I noticed in my settings (computer settings - devices - printers)  that there are two Canon printers listed - make sure you DO NOT select the printer that ends in "WS" when trying to print a document. EX:  "Canon MG5500 series printer" vs "Canon MG5500 series printer WS".

If you have any print jobs pending in that queue for that printer ending with "WS", then you will need to cancel all pending print jobs under the "WS" labeled printer before it will allow any other print job to be performed.

Next, when you go to print a document, make sure you select the correct printer (without "WS" at the end).

This cleared up the "being used by another computer" error, and I didn't have to uninstall or reinstall any drivers or disable any wireless settings or use a USB cable!

I was so happy that I even took the stupid half hour to register an account with Canon so I could share my solution to this annoying problem. And now I know that I should inform my wife to not print anything on the wrong printer queue anymore!

I hope this saves someone from the frustration I felt.

Here is a more discriptive walkthrough for technologically challenged individuals:

*This first part s not actually necessary - it is just to show you that there are two DIFFERENT print queues

Step 1:

Get into your PC settings menu. If you don't know how to get there, then go to your Apps screen and use the Search feature by typing in "settings". The first thing to pop up should be PC Settings (click on that).

Next, you have to select "PC and Devices" to the left of the screen

Then you want to select "Devices" to the let of the screen

There you will see a list of devices installed on your computer, and you should see two Canon printers (one ending in WS). EX:  "Canon MG5500 series printer" vs "Canon MG5500 series printer WS"

Step 2:

Log into each user profile on your computer and check the print queues to see who is trying to print on the "WS" printer queue.

You can see the print queue  by clicking on the little triangle in the bottom right of your screen, then clicking on the little printer icon.

If there are pending print jobs, cancel ALL of them for each user account on your computer.

Step 3:

Once all print queues are clear, try printing a document and be sure to select the printer WITHOUT "WS" at the end of the name and it should work!

Good luck!

[zunichi]

I've had this "another computer is using the printer" problem for like almost a year now with no solution whatsoever. But your advice actually did the trick!! Thanks!! I will refer this advice to another post I posted on.

[StormKatt]

I only have the WS printer, no other.

[sirCharles]

AWESOME! Thank you so much for this fix...

[gurglebarp]

GENIUS! Thank you!!

[RonBohlander]

Bless you.  That did the trick for me too.

[garyjjackson]

Fantastic Assistance.  thanks for taking the time to explain in simple and efficient terms how the problem can be fixed.  wish all fixes were like yours.

sensational.

gary

[Gemini]

this totally worked.  Thank you!!! I had 3 different printers set up under my Canon Pixma pro 100. Not sure why but it had to be a canon default setting,  When I changed the default printer to the canon Pixma pro (without the WDS) it worked and I was able to print without the irritating message popping up that prevented me from printing.

Does anyone know what the WDS printer is for anyway?

[chrisfane]

God bless you for this!! I eventually managed to do this, but had problems because the print command kept defaulting to the WS machine (what the hell is this anyway?). Make sure the non-WS printer is set as the default.