Canon PIXMA MX492: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon PIXMA MX492 right for you?

The MX492 was the last of the budget MX fax all-in-ones before Canon moved the line to the TR4000 name, and it sold in enormous volumes to home offices between 2015 and 2018. It provides fax, a 20-sheet ADF and Wi-Fi but only manual duplexing and slow color output. The TR4520 that replaced it is nearly identical, so most TR4520 troubleshooting applies, and the absorber counter is the usual end-of-life trigger.

Best for: Legacy budget faxing and ADF scanning in a home office

Setting up the Canon PIXMA MX492

Hold the Wi-Fi button for the Easy wireless connect mode and finish in Canon PRINT on a 2.4 GHz network, or set it up over USB and push Wi-Fi settings from the installer. Run the fax setup from the two-line LCD to enter your name and number. Download the MX490 series driver from Canon for Windows 11 to restore ADF scanning.

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 MX492 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