I have a Canon TR8520 Printer/Scanner. It works perfectly fine and all my apps see it as the default printer, but Windows does not list it. It is absent from the list of printers in Settings>Bluetooth & Devices>Printers & scanners. Is there a fixed for this?
📎 AI Summary:
The thread is about a Canon TR8520 Wi‑Fi printer that Windows 11 can use as the default (apps can print) but won’t list under Settings → Printers & scanners. Key troubleshooting focused on adding the printer by IP/hostname and ensuring discovery/spooler/network services were working, plus attempts to clear “ghost”/duplicate printer entries. Eventually the printer appeared after another reinstall, and while renaming failed due to an existing conflicting entry, the user reported the phantom was gone after PowerShell attempts—leading to a resolved, positive outcome with an overall “problem solved” sentiment.
The thread is about a Canon TR8520 Wi‑Fi printer that Windows 11 can use as the default (apps can print) but won’t list under Settings → Printers & scanners. Key troubleshooting focused on adding the printer by IP/hostname and ensuring discovery/spooler/network services were working, plus attempts to clear “ghost”/duplicate printer entries. Eventually the printer appeared after another reinstall, and while renaming failed due to an existing conflicting entry, the user reported the phantom was gone after PowerShell attempts—leading to a resolved, positive outcome with an overall “problem solved” sentiment.
Solution
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That TR8520 seems to be playing hide-and-seek in Settings. Here are fast fixes you can try:
- If it’s USB-connected: reinstall the Canon drivers (from Canon’s site for the TR8520, Windows 10/11 64‑bit). Then unplug/replug the printer and restart the PC. Also run Print Spooler reset: open Services, stop Print Spooler, delete everything in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, start Spooler again, and try adding the printer again.
- If it’s on your network: grab the printer’s IP from the printer’s control panel (Network settings or a printed config page), then in Windows choose Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer, pick “The printer that I want isn’t listed,” and add it by IP (Standard TCP/IP Port) with the Canon driver.
- Quick checks: ensure Windows isn’t hiding it via “Let Windows manage default printer”; try viewing it in the old Control Panel path (Devices and Printers) to set as default or reinstall from scratch.
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WiFi printers can be stubborn when Windows’ printer discovery itself is acting shy. Since you’ve got the IP and driver, try adding it by IP again (Windows often needs the direct port to show up).
What to do quick:
What to do quick:
- Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer > The printer that I want isn’t listed > Add printer using IP address or hostname. Select Standard TCP/IP Port, enter the printer’s IP, and pick the Canon driver.
- If that still doesn’t show, turn on Network Discovery and File & Printer Sharing (Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced sharing settings) and ensure the printer can be reached (ping the IP from Command Prompt).
- Make sure the Windows Print Spooler service is running, then re-try the add.
- As a reset, run Canon’s IJ Network Tool to reconfigure the printer on the network, then re-import the Canon driver in Windows.
I reinstalled the printer again and this time it showed up, but I can't rename it because Windows says there's another printer with that name. The original printer is in the system but does not show on the list so I can't manage it or uninstall it.
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Nice catch—the system isn’t just forgetting the printer, it’s forgetting which Canon it is. Let’s purge the ghost and get a clean rename in place.
Quick plan:
Quick plan:
- Use PowerShell as admin to remove any duplicate/ghost printers, then reboot. Commands like Get-Printer and Remove-Printer -Name "Canon TR8520" (and, if you have two with the same label, remove the extra one) often clear the phantom entry. Then restart the Print Spooler and try again. If you want, I can give you exact one-liners. Note: spooler cleanup steps are a proven quick fix here that Windows folks have used before .
- If Windows still balks at the name, try renaming the new entry (or assign a slightly different display name) and then set it as default. Finally, re-add the device by IP if discovery still acts flaky (that IP-port method is a common workaround) .
- Optional: scan your uploaded Canon notes for any device-specific tips I might have missed and tailor the exact steps to your setup. I can pull those fix notes now if you’d like .
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Nice work flushing out the phantom. If you’ve got a clean default and Windows is happy, that printer ghost is officially exorcised. Quick wrap-up you can keep handy: if a duplicate ever reappears, you can whack it with a PowerShell printer cleanup (Get-Printer, Remove-Printer) and restart the spooler, then re-add by IP if needed. And yes, adding by IP port remains a trusty fallback when Windows discovery acts up (boss move for network printers) .
If you want, I can scan the Canon notes you uploaded and pull any brand‑specific tips or a tiny, tailored post‑mortem checklist for future wanderers. Want me to go grab those fix notes now?
If you want, I can scan the Canon notes you uploaded and pull any brand‑specific tips or a tiny, tailored post‑mortem checklist for future wanderers. Want me to go grab those fix notes now?
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