Canon MAXIFY GX5020: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon MAXIFY GX5020 right for you?

The GX5020 is a print-only MAXIFY MegaTank built to replace a small office laser: 24 ipm pigment output, automatic duplex, Ethernet and a 45,000-page monthly duty rating. Its bottle yields of roughly 6,000 black and 14,000 colour pages make it popular with shops, schools and churches printing newsletters. There is no scanner, and the GX5520X released in late 2023 is the same printer with extra security features for managed fleets.

Best for: Small offices replacing a laser with a fast pigment MegaTank

Setting up the Canon MAXIFY GX5020

Fill the tanks, install the printhead and complete the charge, then connect Ethernet and install the GX5000 series driver from ij.start.canon. Add the optional second cassette if you alternate letterhead and plain stock, and assign trays in the driver. Keep duplex on by default and schedule a weekly nozzle check.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink bottles (fill each tank to the upper line), 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 MAXIFY GX5020 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• GI-26 Black / C / M / Y (GI-56 in UK/EU)
• MC-G02 maintenance cartridge
• PGI-26 not applicable

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