Canon IJ Scan Utility Download and Setup Guide
The scanning front end bundled with Canon inkjet drivers
Representative photo — Dinkun Chen CC BY-SA 4.0
IJ Scan Utility is the small program that puts one-click scan buttons on your desktop for a Canon inkjet all-in-one. It offers presets such as Document, Photo, Custom and Auto, handles multi-page PDFs from the document feeder, and passes results to an editor or a folder you choose. It is not distributed on its own, which surprises people looking for a direct link: on Windows it arrives with the model's driver package from ij.start.canon, and on macOS it appears as a separate item on the printer's support page. Laser owners need MF Scan Utility rather than this one.
Version and licence: There is no standalone download page. On Windows it ships inside the model's driver package, and on macOS it is listed as a separate download on the model's own support page. Canon laser models do not use it at all and use MF Scan Utility instead.
Download Canon IJ Scan Utility
What it does
- Preset scan modes for documents, photos and custom jobs
- Auto mode that detects document type and adjusts settings
- Multi-page PDF creation from the document feeder or repeated glass scans
- Automatic crop and skew correction for photos placed on the glass
- Direct hand-off to an image editor, email or a network folder
- Configurable button behaviour so scanning can be started from the printer panel
How to install it
Step 1
Open ij.start.canon and enter your inkjet model number.
Step 2
Download the full driver and software package for your operating system rather than the basic printer driver only.
Step 3
Run the installer and choose the full or recommended installation so the scan components are included.
Step 4
On macOS check the model support page as well, because IJ Scan Utility is often listed there as its own download.
Step 5
Restart the computer if the installer asks, then open IJ Scan Utility from the Start menu or Applications folder.
Step 6
Click Settings and set the default save folder, file type and resolution.
Step 7
Place a page on the glass and run Document once to confirm the scanner responds.
Which printers it supports
Canon inkjet all-in-ones with a scanner, including PIXMA TS, TR and G MegaTank models and MAXIFY office inkjets. Canon laser MFPs use MF Scan Utility instead.
When Canon IJ Scan Utility will not work
There is no standalone page. Install the model's driver package from ij.start.canon on Windows, or check the model's support page on the regional Canon site for the macOS build, which is listed separately.
The scanner must be registered as a network device, not just the printer. On macOS run the Canon IJ Network Scanner Selector and tick your model. On Windows confirm the printer appears under Scanners in Printers and scanners.
Panel-initiated scans need the utility running or its background service enabled, and the target computer must be selected on the printer. Open IJ Scan Utility, choose Settings, Scan from the operation panel, and confirm the destination.
Auto mode guesses wrongly on coloured or glossy originals. Switch to Document or Photo mode, set the paper size explicitly rather than leaving it on Auto, and clean the glass and the white backing of the lid.
Canon publishes updated builds per macOS release. Download the current version from the model's support page, and grant the app Files and Folders permission in System Settings, Privacy and Security so it can write to your chosen save folder.
Printers that use Canon IJ Scan Utility
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no separate download?
Canon bundles it with the inkjet driver package on Windows. Only the macOS build is offered as a separate item, and only on each model's support page.
My printer is a laser, where is my version?
Laser models use MF Scan Utility, a different program supplied with the laser driver package.
Can I scan without it?
Yes. Windows Scan, macOS Preview and Image Capture, and the Canon PRINT mobile app can all drive the scanner. IJ Scan Utility mainly adds presets and panel-button support.
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