Why is my Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup?

Common causes include driver issues, connectivity problems, outdated firmware, and hardware malfunctions. Follow our step-by-step guide to diagnose and fix your Canon PIXMA MX490.

How do I fix Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup?

Start by checking your printer connections, updating drivers, and running the built-in troubleshooting utility. Our guide below provides detailed steps for resolving Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup.

When should I call a technician for my Canon PIXMA MX490?

If basic troubleshooting doesn't resolve the WPS setup issue, or if you hear unusual noises, smell burning, or see error codes, it's time to contact a certified Canon printer technician.

Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup

The Canon PIXMA MX490 is an affordable all-in-one inkjet printer popular for home offices and small businesses. While this model supports wireless printing, many users struggle with the Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup process. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) offers the quickest way to connect your printer to your router without manually entering network credentials. This guide provides step-by-step printer repair instructions to get your MX490 online, plus solutions for common WPS connection failures that require troubleshooting.

Preparing for WPS Setup

Before beginning the Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup, verify that your wireless router supports WPS functionality. Look for a physical WPS button on your router—typically located on the back or side panel. If your router lacks this button, you'll need to use the Standard wireless connection method instead. Ensure your printer is plugged in and powered on, then load plain letter-sized paper in the rear tray.

Step-by-Step WPS Connection

Access Wireless Setup on the Printer: Press and hold the Wi-Fi button on the MX490 control panel until the power light flashes once. Release the button, then press the Wi-Fi button again repeatedly until the network light flashes. The printer is now in WPS push button mode, ready to receive the wireless signal from your router.

Activate WPS on Your Router: Within two minutes of enabling WPS on the printer, press and hold the WPS button on your wireless router. Hold for approximately five seconds until the WPS LED begins flashing. This timing window is critical—if you wait too long, the printer will time out and you'll need to restart from Step 1.

Confirm Connection Status: Wait approximately two minutes for the printer and router to negotiate the connection. The Wi-Fi light on the MX490 will stop flashing and remain solid blue once successfully connected. Print a network configuration page by pressing and holding the Resume/Cancel button until the power light flashes 15 times—this confirms your IP address assignment.

Install Canon Printer Drivers: Download the latest IJ Printer Driver and ScanGear MP drivers from Canon's support website for your operating system. During installation, select "Connection via Network" when prompted. The installer should automatically detect your Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup on the network using the discovered IP address.

Verify Full Functionality: Print a test page from your computer, then attempt a scan using the Canon IJ Scan Utility. If scanning fails despite printing success, the firewall may be blocking ScanGear communication—add "CNMNSST.EXE" and "SCANNERG.EXE" to your antivirus exceptions list for complete printer support.

Troubleshoot Persistent Failures: If the WPS LED turns red or the connection repeatedly fails, reduce router security temporarily to WPA2-AES only (disable WPA3/TKIP mixed mode). Move the printer within 10 feet of the router during initial setup. Factory reset the MX490 by navigating to Setup > Device Settings > Reset Settings > LAN Settings Only, then retry the fix printer sequence from the beginning.

⚠️ Important: Do not press the WPS button on your router for extended periods exceeding 10 seconds, as this may trigger a factory reset on some router models (particularly TP-Link Archer and Netgear Nighthawk series). If your router's WPS LED turns solid red, wait 5 minutes before attempting another connection cycle to prevent MAC address filtering conflicts.

Alternative Setup Without WPS Button

If your router lacks a physical WPS button, use Canon's Standard wireless setup method. Press and hold the Wi-Fi button until the power light flashes twice, then connect your computer directly to the "Canon_ij_Setup" network broadcast by the printer. Run the setup utility and manually enter your network SSID and password when prompted. This method achieves identical functionality to the Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup without requiring router button access.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup keep timing out?

The most common cause is exceeding the two-minute WPS negotiation window. Ensure you press the router's WPS button immediately after the printer's Wi-Fi light begins flashing. Additionally, verify that your router hasn't disabled WPS in its admin settings—some ISPs ship routers with WPS turned off by default for security reasons. Access your router configuration at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 to confirm WPS is enabled.

Can I use WPS setup if my router is in a different room?

WPS has the same range limitations as standard Wi-Fi (approximately 30-50 feet indoors). However, for the initial Canon PIXMA MX490 WPS setup, we strongly recommend placing the printer within 10 feet of the router with minimal obstacles. Once configured, you can relocate the printer to its permanent position. The stored network credentials persist through power cycles, so the one-time proximity requirement only applies to setup.

My printer connects but shows as "offline" on my computer—how do I fix this?

This typically indicates a driver communication issue rather than a wireless problem. Open Windows Services (services.msc) and restart the "Print Spooler" service. On Mac, remove and re-add the printer in System Preferences > Printers & Scanners using the IP tab with the address from your network configuration page. Ensure SNMP status monitoring is disabled in printer properties, as this frequently causes false "offline" status with Canon PIXMA wireless models.