Canon Pixma MX492 Wireless Setup

If your Canon Pixma MX492 refuses to print or will not join Wi-Fi, solve both at once with a clean setup: reset the network settings, enroll the printer on 2.4 GHz, reinstall the full Canon driver, and run maintenance prints to confirm ink delivery. This guide breaks down each step and highlights the small details—like guest network isolation or outdated firmware—that commonly leave the MX492 stuck with blinking lights or jobs stuck in queue.

Start with a Network Reset

Clear any old Wi-Fi data before trying again. Hold the Stop button until the alarm lamp flashes 15 times, then release. Wait for the printer to restart. This wipes previous SSIDs and keeps failed attempts from interfering with fresh credentials. Place the MX492 near the router during setup; distance and walls can make the initial handshake fail even if printing normally works later.

Connect Using the Front-Panel Wizard

Press Setup on the control panel, scroll to Wireless LAN setup, and press OK. Choose Other setup and then Standard setup. The printer will scan for networks; select your 2.4 GHz SSID, press OK, and enter the password carefully. The Wi-Fi light should blink quickly and then stay solid. If you see Connection failed, double-check the password and ensure the router is set to WPA2 or mixed WPA2/WPA3, not WPA3-only.

Use WPS as a Shortcut

If your router has WPS, you can pair without typing the password. From Wireless LAN setup, choose WPS (Push button method). When the printer prompts, press the WPS button on the router for a few seconds. The MX492 will attempt to connect for two minutes. When successful, the Wi-Fi lamp stays steady. If the attempt fails twice, disable WPS on any extender nodes and try again near the main router.

Install the Full Driver on Windows

Download the MX490 series driver package from Canon. Run the installer and choose Wireless LAN Connection. When it finds the printer, select it and finish the install. If the printer does not appear, click Search again and verify your PC is on the same 2.4 GHz band. After installation, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, choose the MX490 series, and print a test page. If the status shows Offline, right-click, clear Use Printer Offline, and restart the spooler service with net stop spooler then net start spooler (or reboot) to clear stuck jobs.

Install the Driver on macOS

Install the Canon IJ driver package and IJ Network Tool for MX492. With the printer on Wi-Fi, open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click plus, and pick the MX492 when it appears. Choose the Canon driver (not AirPrint) from the Use dropdown for best features. If macOS cannot find the printer, add it by IP using the address from your router or by printing a LAN details page from the setup menu. After adding, run a test print and a scan from Image Capture to confirm both paths work.

Fix “Printer Not Printing” After Setup

When jobs stay in queue after you connect to Wi-Fi, check these common causes: Incorrect port—in Windows, open printer properties and confirm the port is CNBJNP or the correct IP, not a stale USB port. Driver mismatch—ensure you installed the MX490 series driver, not a generic PCL driver. Security software—temporarily disable firewalls that block multicast discovery. IP changes—reserve the printer's IP in your router so the computer always looks at the right address.

Print Quality Checks to Rule Out Hardware Issues

If the MX492 receives jobs but outputs faint pages, run Nozzle Check and Cleaning from the maintenance menu. A clogged head can look like a connection issue when nothing appears on paper. Use genuine or high-quality cartridges (PG-245/CL-246 family) and print a few full-page text documents to re-prime the head after cleaning. Make sure paper is dry and not curled; jams during testing can cancel jobs and cause the spooler to mark the printer offline.

Mobile Printing Setup

On iPhone or iPad, once the MX492 is on Wi-Fi, AirPrint should detect it automatically. Open Safari, tap Share, then Print to confirm. On Android, install the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app, add the printer, and enable the Default Print Service or Mopria if available. If the app cannot find the printer, reconnect the phone to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and disable any VPN or private DNS settings temporarily.

Prevent Future Offline Errors

Assign a DHCP reservation so the MX492 keeps the same IP. Leave the printer in sleep instead of powering it off; it will wake when a job arrives. Update firmware from the setup menu if available. If you change the Wi-Fi password later, repeat the wireless LAN setup right away rather than waiting until you need to print. Keep the USB cable handy—using cableless setup through USB is the fastest way to push new credentials without retyping on the panel.

Checklist for a Successful Connection

• Reset network settings before reconnecting.
• Use the standard setup or WPS to join 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
• Install the full Canon MX490 series driver, not a basic OS driver.
• Reserve the printer IP to stop “offline” errors.
• Run nozzle checks to ensure printing issues are not from clogs.
• Test from a phone and a computer to confirm both paths work.

Follow this sequence and your Canon Pixma MX492 should connect wirelessly, accept jobs immediately, and produce clean pages without the frustration of blinking status lights or stalled print queues.