imageCLASS MF644Cdw - Shows Offline from MAC

[kaushikn]

I have been struggling to get this printer to work consistently on my network from my MACs. Most of the times when I try to print, I get an error.

Opening the Settings --> Printers and Scanners --> Canon 644c,

The banner says that the printer is offline.

Under the print job I get the message Priner - Unable to find printer

• The printer is on
• The printer is close to the wifi router
• I am using a reserved ip address for the printer (so that I have the same ip each time)
• I can access the printer from the browser using the ip address
• I was able to print from a moblie phone
• I can scan from the Canon Print Business mobile app
• I have installed the latest drivers from the support site on the PCs 
• I have tried to use the Airprint driver as well as the Canon Support site drivers

None of the macs can consistently print using the print function. 

Anyone else face the same problem?

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

This is a 4 year old thread.  In consideration of others, please help the community and others who are trying to assist you.  

Inserting oneself into the middle of another person's topic makes it very difficult for others looking for solutions and for those who are trying to help.  Its best to start your own topic when you are seeking support or assistance.  This helps everyone, and ensures your request gets the attention it deserves.  

In light of this, a reply from the beginning of this year 2024 (by user pinthea) is a good solution:

Re: MF644cdw - Shows Offline from MAC - Page 3 - Canon Community

This is not a MAC issue, its a network issue.  Using DHCP is fine for visiting devices.  Devices which come and go from your network.  For persistent devices (like printers and network attached storage) assigning a static IP ensures the destination of the device will not change.  It is an effective and reliable way to ensure a device on your LAN is always reachable.  Its easiest to assign or reserve an IP for a device on your router.  It only needs to be done once and ensures the device can always be found at its assigned IP.

[tom-austin-bos]

This problem appears to be Mac + Canon Unique. That's why upgrading firmware in the Canon printer and updating to the latest Canon-provided drivers for your Mac appears to solve it. Why are you saying my answer is bogus? Or were you referring to a different post???

[tom-austin-bos]

Problems emerged again for me.  So I did the following:

1. Deleted the MF644 printer inside System Settings on one of our Macs.

2. I locked the MF644 to a static IP address (done in the router.) 

3. Updated the printer driver for the MF644. Then tested. Printing works fine! But I couldn't get the scanner working in this configuration. Drat.

4. I reviewed apple docs and support community and learned how to do a Printer services reset inside the Mac. Here's the instructions for that:

RESET MacOS PRINTER in Settings as follows
How do you reset a Canon printer on a Mac?

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Printers & Scanners in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Control-click the printer in the Printers list on the right, then choose Reset Printing System.

You're done. Well, I was done! 

Reinstalled, with no problems with Bonjour, with full printer and scanner functionality and I am again a happy guy!

[tom-austin-bos]

Well, I think you're quite right but this is better described as a Mac+Canon problem or a Canon+Mac problem. 

[sweetpreston]

You're welcome 😊

[bigdawg5]

Similar to VideoGuy I have had the same problem for YEARS with my Canon MF644CDW printer and Mac Mini(happened on different OSs over the years) and it's very annoying as the only solution I've found was removing and reinstalling the printer which I've done HUNDREDS of times because I don't want to buy another printer. I would often be scanning using the Canon MF Scan Utility and the software would basically say "...can't communicate with the printer..." In the past I long suspected the IP address is changing because I would look at the printer on my network router and I would see the IP address would change(dynamic IP assignment - I think this is the default behavior of the Canon printer driver on the Mac). Long ago I was able to set a dedicated IP address for the printer using the network settings on the Canon printer menu and my router shows the IP as the same value(pick a higher IP so it doesn't conflict i.e. XXX.XXX.X.99). Now that the printer IP address does not change(verified on my router over time), something else was going on. As VideoGuy suggested you can set up the printer on the Mac using a static IP Address. I found that when you create the printer under Printers & Scanners on the Mac and select "Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax you will see three icons at the top of the Add Printer dialogue box and it defaults to the first Printer looking icon. Instead of the Printer Icon, select the Globe Icon which allows you to set up the printer with the printer IP Address. Type in the dedicated IP address of your printer w/ Protocol = Internet Printing Protocol - IPP and hit Add and the rest of the process is the same. I'm hoping this will fix it once and for all - time will tell. Thanks VideoGuy.