Canon PIXMA MG3520: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon PIXMA MG3520 right for you?

The MG3520 was a 2013 budget all-in-one notable for a front paper tray and automatic duplexing at a price where most rivals had neither. It was a common bundle with Dell and HP laptops, so plenty are still around in homes and dorms. Drivers for Windows 11 still install from Canon's archive, but the absorber counter on a twelve-year-old printer is very likely near its limit.

Best for: Legacy duplex printing on a budget all-in-one

Setting up the Canon PIXMA MG3520

Press the Wi-Fi button until the lamp flashes twice and use WPS, or install over USB first and push the Wi-Fi settings from the Canon IJ Network tool. Load paper face down in the front cassette and pull the output tray out before printing, or the sheet will jam. Download the MG3500 series driver manually on Windows 11 since Windows Update only supplies a basic driver.

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 MG3520 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• PG-240 black
• CL-241 color
• PG-240XL / CL-241XL
• UK: PG-540 / CL-541

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