Canon PIXMA MG3020: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon PIXMA MG3020 right for you?

The MG3020, also sold as the MG3022 and as the MG3050 in the UK, is the 2016 successor to the MG2922 and added Wi-Fi Direct so phones can print without a router. It is a very basic machine with lamps instead of a screen, and its two-cartridge design means replacing the whole color cartridge when one color runs dry. Many are still in daily use, though Wi-Fi reconnection after router changes is the top support complaint.

Best for: Basic wireless printing and scanning in a student household

Setting up the Canon PIXMA MG3020

Use the Wi-Fi button hold plus Canon PRINT on a 2.4 GHz network, or enable Wi-Fi Direct by holding the Direct button and joining the printer's own SSID. Install the full MG3000 series package to get scanning; AirPrint alone will not scan. If the printer stops responding on Windows, remove the WSD copy of the printer and re-add it via the Canon IJ Network tool.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, 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 PIXMA MG3020 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• PG-245 black
• CL-246 color
• PG-245XL / CL-246XL
• UK: PG-545 / CL-546

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