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PIXMA MG6450 Another computer is using the printer

Yatesy1990
Apprentice

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".

 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

DaBoss
Apprentice

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!

View solution in original post

83 REPLIES 83

And what do you do if no printer WITHOUT the WS is showing up in your Printers and Devices? I don't have any other option apart from the WS one....

Hi,

 

I registered just to post this solution I stumbled on after months and months of pulling my hair out, and no help from canon.

 

1. log into the printer with the ipaddress and any browser

2. click on advanced

3. click on other settings

4. increase the WSD timeout setting (im using 10min)

 

Everything is working again, the printer was timing out 

 

I hope this saves everyone alot of time and trouble.

 

Also my printer is a MX522 but I assume it would work for all pixima printers.

Thank you! This did the trick. Glad I found your solution so quickly. Back in business!

Thank you! Thank you! It was driving me crazy and such a quick fix. Thanks again.

Solved the problem! THANK YOU!!!

Perfect!  It works!

 

Thanks very much DaBoss, tried the WITHOUT "WS and now after many many months my problem is now solved. 

 
 
 
 
 

You're a diamond DaBoss! Worked and saved me from smashing my computer to smitherines. Cheers!

I've had my iP7200 series WS printer for about 6 months. It's connected to my Dell desktop running Windows XP by USB cable and is on my WiFi so I can print from my Dell laptop running Windows 7. I do most of my printing from my laptop. Recently it started doing just this. I found I could get it to print from my laptop over WiFi when this happened by powering the printer off, then on again. Once I had tried to print several times, finally powering it off and on again to get it to work and then I found it had printed a dozen copies that were in the queue the next morning. Finally today is wouldn't print from my laptop at all no matter what I tried, so I searched "Another computer is using the printer" and came across this thread, and another one linked here. I tried everything suggested and none of it worked until I came across a post suggesting to delete the printer from Control Panel. I did that and it was gone and was no longer in my choice of "printers" and it didn't automatically come back like someone said it did for them. But when I went back to Control Panel, Devices & Printers, Add a Device, it found the printer and once reinstalled, it worked right away from my laptop, SO THAT'S THE SOLUTION. This is clearly a Canon bug that the manufacturer has ignored and not informed users.

Absolutely saved me!!! couldnt figure it out, luckily stumbled on this resolution...

 

Thanks so much! 😄

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