Download Details

License: Free
Developer: Canon Inc.
Supported OS: Windows 11, Windows 10
Installers: 64-bit (x64), 32-bit (x86), Offline
Downloads: 32187
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 · 95 reviews

Screenshots

Canon Printer Drivers for Windows 11, 10

This page gathers Canon printer drivers for Windows 11 and 10, from current PIXMA and imageCLASS models down to old Bubble-Jet BJC units.

It is for anyone who lost the install CD or got a new PC and needs the right driver back. Download it if Windows cannot find your model, or if your printer is missing quality and paper settings.

Newer printers often print fine with the built-in Windows driver, so try that first. Drivers for very old BJC models are hit or miss on Windows 11.

What is Canon Printer Driver?

A Canon printer driver is the software that lets Windows talk to your printer. It turns the document on screen into instructions the printer understands, and it adds the settings you see in the print dialog: paper type, quality, borderless and duplex.

Without the right one, Windows either falls back to a basic generic driver or reports that no driver is available.

Matching the driver to your model

This is where most people lose time. Driver listings often show several entries for the same model: a standard printer driver, an XPS driver, and a separate Driver/Utility package.

Start with the standard printer driver for your model and your Windows version, and add the Driver/Utility package only if you need the extra tools it bundles.

Tip: write down the exact model name, including suffix letters, because a G3010 and a G3410 are different drivers.

Inkjet drivers (PIXMA and MAXIFY)

Inkjet drivers are the ones most people need. They add print quality and media settings, and on many models a status monitor for ink and errors.

The annoying part is naming: the same printer can appear as “Printer Driver”, “XPS Printer Driver” and “Printer Driver/Utility”, and picking the wrong one can leave you with a download that seems to do nothing.

Tip: if the standard driver gives you trouble, try the XPS version as a second option on models that offer it.

Laser and office drivers: UFR II, PCL and PostScript

Canon laser and imageCLASS printers usually offer more than one driver language.

UFR II is Canon’s own and splits processing between the PC and the printer, which is meant to speed up jobs.

PCL is a widely used standard in office setups, and PostScript is the usual choice for layout-heavy documents.

Tip: if a small office shares one printer, use the same driver type on every PC so everyone sees the same settings.

Generic Plus drivers

One package, many devices, which cuts down on driver clutter if you manage several Canon printers.

If you own a single printer, a model-specific driver is the simpler choice. Keep Generic Plus drivers current, since Canon has issued security fixes for them.

Old Bubble-Jet drivers on Windows 11

Our list includes a long run of legacy Bubble-Jet drivers: BJC-2000, BJC-4300, BJC-6000, BJ S500, BJ S6300 and BIJ1300 among them.

They were written for much older Windows versions, and results on Windows 11 vary by model.

If one will not install, try the Windows 10 or 8.1 version if your model has one, or run the setup in compatibility mode.

Tip: for a truly old printer, the Windows built-in driver may be the only thing that prints at all, even if it skips the extra settings.

Troubleshooting

Windows says the driver is unavailable

This usually means Windows matched the printer to the wrong driver or to none. Remove the printer in Settings, add it again, and point Windows to the downloaded driver for your exact model.

If your model lists no Windows 11 driver, the Windows 10 package often works, since Windows 11 is built on the same foundations.

Printer shows offline or jobs get stuck

Restart the Print Spooler service (press Win+R, type services.msc, find Print Spooler and choose Restart), clear the print queue, and check that the printer is on the same network or USB port.

If it stays offline, the driver may not match the model.

Prints look wrong or options are missing

You are probably on a generic or class driver instead of the model-specific one. Open the printer’s properties, check the driver name, and if it is not your Canon model, install the matching driver from this page.

How to Download & Install

Click the download button at the top of this page. It opens the full list of Canon printer drivers, so find your exact model name (it is printed on the front of the printer or on the label at the back) and pick the Windows 11 or Windows 10 entry.

Driver types you will see

IJ printer drivers: the standard driver for Canon inkjets such as PIXMA.
XPS drivers: a second driver some inkjet models offer alongside the standard one.
UFR II and UFR II LT: Canon’s own printing language for laser and imageCLASS printers, which shares the work between the PC and the printer.
PCL and PostScript: standard office printing languages offered on many Canon laser and multifunction devices.
Generic Plus: one driver package that covers many Canon office devices.
Bubble-Jet (BJ, BJC, BIJ): legacy drivers for older Canon inkjets.

Offline installer vs online

Canon driver packages are standalone files, usually 15 to 35 MB in the ones we checked. Download once and keep a copy on a USB stick, and you can set up a printer offline. No CD needed.

System requirements

Windows 11 or 10 (32-bit and 64-bit packages exist for some models), a USB or network connection to the printer, and an administrator account.

Older BJC-era drivers were written for much older Windows versions, so treat them as a last resort.

License and updates

Free. Canon drivers are proprietary software released for use with Canon hardware, and there is no activation.

To update, compare the version in your printer’s properties with the newest one listed for your model. Canon has published security advisories for its Generic Plus drivers, so office PCs should not sit on old versions.

Pros & Cons

What we liked

Free for Canon owners
Covers inkjet, laser and legacy models
Adds model-specific print settings
Standalone files, no CD needed
Works on Windows 11 and 10

What we didn't like

Best Canon Printer Driver Alternatives

Bluetooth Driver
Enables fast wireless connection for your Bluetooth devices on Windows.
Epson Printer Drivers
Software programs that let your Windows computer talk to your Epson printer.
Samsung Android USB Driver
It's the key that lets your PC connect and work with your Samsung phone or tablet.
Canon LBP2900b Driver
It enables Windows to fully control and operate the printer with all its features.

Conclusion

4.8out of 5 · 95 user ratings

Here is how the Canon route compares with the other ways to get a printer working.

App	Best For	Price	Platform	Standout Feature
Canon Printer Driver	Model-specific settings, older printers	Free	Windows	Widest Canon model coverage
Windows built-in driver	Newer printers, quick setup	Free	Windows	No download at all
Canon Generic Plus drivers	Offices with many Canon devices	Free	Windows	One driver for many devices
Canon PRINT app	Printing from a phone	Free	Android, iOS	No PC driver needed

Download the model-specific driver when Windows cannot find your printer or hides features you expect. If Windows already prints and offers every option you need, skip it.

Who should skip it

Anyone whose printer already works with every setting they use, and anyone on macOS, since these are Windows drivers.

FAQ

Where can I download a Canon printer driver for Windows 11?

Use the download button at the top of this page, find your exact model name in the list, and choose the Windows 11 or Windows 10 driver.

Do Canon printer drivers work on Windows 11?

Yes, most current Canon drivers work on Windows 11, and Windows 10 packages usually run there too. Very old Bubble-Jet drivers vary by model.

Do I need a CD to install a Canon printer driver?

No. Canon drivers are standalone downloads, so you can set up the printer without the original disc.

Is it safe to download a Canon printer driver?

Yes, if the file is genuine and unmodified. Right-click it, open Properties, and check the Digital Signatures tab: Canon should be the signer. Be wary of any download that also tries to add a driver updater or toolbar.

What is the difference between UFR II and PCL drivers for Canon printers?

UFR II is Canon’s own printing language, built to share processing between the PC and the printer. PCL is a widely used standard that works across brands, which suits mixed offices.

Why does Windows say the Canon printer driver is unavailable?

Windows could not match your printer to a driver. Remove the printer, add it again, and point Windows to the driver for your exact model.

How do I update my Canon printer driver?

Check the driver version in your printer’s properties, then download the newest one listed for your model from this page if it is higher.

Found a problem with this download? Report an outdated version, broken link, suspicious installer or incorrect information.

Canon Printer Driver