Canon imageCLASS MF232w: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon imageCLASS MF232w right for you?

The MF232w was the budget laser all-in-one of 2016, pairing a 24 ppm engine and flatbed scanner with Wi-Fi and the generous 2,400-page Cartridge 137. It sold in enormous numbers through Amazon and is still common, though it lacks Ethernet, auto duplex and an ADF. Scanner-not-found errors on Windows are the most frequent complaint and usually come down to the MF Scan Utility needing reinstalling after an OS update.

Best for: Budget mono laser printing and scanning in a small home office

Setting up the Canon imageCLASS MF232w

Use the LCD to join a 2.4 GHz network, then run the full MF230 series installer from Canon so the MF Scan Utility is installed alongside the driver. Scan from the PC via the utility or from the front panel by choosing the computer. Update firmware if iPhones cannot find it via AirPrint.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the toner cartridge and drum unit, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Canon's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Canon imageCLASS MF232w uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Cartridge 137 (Cartridge 737 in UK/EU)

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications