How to Setup Canon PIXMA MX490 Printer?

The Canon PIXMA MX490 is a versatile all-in-one inkjet printer that supports printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. Setting it up wirelessly lets you print from any device on your home network without running cables. Whether you just unboxed the printer or are reconnecting it after a router change, this guide covers the complete wireless setup process.

Step 1: Unbox and Power On

Take the printer out of the box and remove all packing tape and protective materials including the orange tape inside the cartridge area. Plug in the power cord and press the power button. The green LED light confirms the printer is on. If the display screen is blank, press the Copy button first to wake it up.

Step 2: Install the Ink Cartridges

Open the front cover and the cartridge holder will move to the center. Remove the new cartridges from their packaging, pull off the orange protective tape from each cartridge, and insert them into their matching slots. The black cartridge goes on the left and the color cartridge on the right. Push each cartridge in until it clicks. Close the front cover.

Step 3: Load Paper

Open the rear paper tray at the back of the printer. Pull out the paper support and slide the paper guides outward. Load a stack of plain A4 or letter-size paper and adjust the guides to fit snugly against the paper edges.

Step 4: Start Wireless Setup on the Printer

1. Press the Setup button on the printer control panel (bottom right of the four buttons)
2. The screen will display Wireless LAN setup — press OK
3. Press the Stop button until you see Standard setup or Cableless setup
4. Select Cableless setup and press OK
5. The printer is now ready to receive the WiFi configuration from your computer or phone

Step 5: Install the Driver and Connect

1. On your computer, go to the Canon support website and download the full driver package for the PIXMA MX490
2. Run the installer and select your language and region
3. Select the MX490 as your printer model
4. Choose Wireless LAN Connection as the connection method
5. Select Connect via wireless router
6. The software will search for the printer — if it is not found, check the cableless setup option
7. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect the printer to your WiFi network
8. Enter your WiFi password when prompted
9. Complete the installation and print a test page

Alternative: Setup Using WPS

If your router has a WPS button, you can connect without entering the WiFi password:

1. On the printer, press and hold the WiFi button until the lamp flashes
2. Press the WPS button on your router within 2 minutes
3. The printer and router will connect automatically
4. The WiFi light on the printer will turn solid when connected

Print from Your Phone

After the wireless setup is complete, download the Canon PRINT app on your iPhone or Android phone. Open the app, select the MX490 from the list of detected printers, and you can print photos and documents directly from your phone.