Canon TS9540, TS9550, and TS9551C: IJ Printer Assistant Tool Is Missing or Will Not Start

Last Updated on 18.07.2026 by DriverNew

Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool is used to maintain the printer from Windows. It allows you to print a nozzle check pattern, clean and align the print head, clean the rollers, and change advanced device settings.

Sometimes the application is missing from the Start menu, does not open, cannot detect the printer, or displays a message stating that communication with the device cannot be established. This often happens when Windows installs a standard Microsoft driver instead of the complete Canon driver.

This guide applies to the following models:

• Canon PIXMA TS9540;
• Canon PIXMA TS9540A;
• Canon PIXMA TS9541C;
• Canon PIXMA TS9550;
• Canon PIXMA TS9550A;
• Canon PIXMA TS9551C;
• Canon PIXMA TS9551CA.

All the models listed above belong to the Canon TS9500 series and use the same Canon TS9500 Series MP Drivers Ver. 1.06 package.

What IJ Printer Assistant Tool Is Used For

The application allows you to perform the following operations:

• print a nozzle check pattern;
• start standard print head cleaning;
• perform deep cleaning;
• align the print head;
• clean the paper feed rollers;
• perform bottom plate cleaning;
• check and change automatic power on and power off settings;
• enable or disable Quiet Mode;
• change the ink drying wait time;
• enable Prevent Paper Abrasion;
• enable manual print head alignment;
• change certain printer operation settings.

IJ Printer Assistant Tool is not used for scanning. Scanning is performed with a separate application called IJ Scan Utility.

Do Not Confuse the Canon Applications

Method 1: Find the Application in the Start Menu

Windows 11

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click All or All apps.
3. Find the Canon Utilities folder.
4. Open it.
5. Start IJ Printer Assistant Tool.

You can also use search:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Enter:

   IJ Printer Assistant Tool

3. Select the application in the search results.

Windows 10

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Scroll through the application list to the Canon Utilities folder.
3. Open the folder.
4. Click IJ Printer Assistant Tool.

If the Canon Utilities folder contains IJ Scan Utility but not IJ Printer Assistant Tool, only the scanning component or an incomplete software package may be installed.

Method 2: Open the Utility Through the Driver Settings

This is the most reliable way to check whether the Canon driver is installed.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter:

   control printers

3. Click OK.
4. Find Canon TS9500 series.
5. Right-click the printer.

In Windows 11, you may need to click Show more options.

6. Select Printing preferences.
7. Open the Maintenance tab.
8. Click Maintenance and Preferences.

Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool should then start.

Method 3: Open It Through Windows 11 Settings

1. Open Start → Settings.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
3. Select Printers & scanners.
4. Open Canon TS9500 series.
5. Select Printing preferences.
6. Open the Maintenance tab.
7. Click Maintenance and Preferences.

If Windows opens a simplified window without Canon tabs, check the installed driver.

Method 4: Open It Through Windows 10 Settings

1. Open Start → Settings.
2. Go to Devices.
3. Select Printers & scanners.
4. Click Canon TS9500 series.
5. Select Manage.
6. Click Printing preferences.
7. Open the Maintenance tab.
8. Select Maintenance and Preferences.

If the “Maintenance” Tab Is Missing

A missing Maintenance tab usually means that Windows is using a standard driver instead of the complete Canon driver.

A simplified window may display only the following tabs or settings:

• Layout;
• Paper/Quality;
• Orientation;
• Color or black-and-white printing;
• Advanced.

The following Canon-specific options will be missing:

• Quick Setup;
• Main;
• Page Setup;
• Maintenance;
• Canon IJ Status Monitor;
• advanced Canon settings.

Check the Name of the Installed Driver

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter:

   control printers

3. Click OK.
4. Right-click Canon TS9500 series.
5. Select Printer properties.
6. Open the Advanced tab.
7. Check the name in the Driver field.

The Canon driver should have a name associated with:

Canon TS9500 series

Signs that a standard Windows driver is being used include:

• Microsoft IPP Class Driver;
• Microsoft enhanced Point and Print compatibility driver;
• a WSD driver;
• a generic IPP driver;
• another name that does not contain Canon TS9500 series.

A standard driver may provide basic printing, but Canon-specific maintenance features will be unavailable.

Why Windows Installs a Standard Driver

This may happen in the following situations:

• the printer was added with Add device before MP Drivers was installed;
• Windows automatically detected the printer through IPP or WSD;
• the Canon package installation was interrupted;
• a Windows update replaced the Canon driver;
• the printer was connected via USB before the installer was started;
• only the scanner driver was installed;
• an old or damaged printer copy remains in Windows;
• antivirus software blocked some installation components.

Method 5: Check Whether MP Drivers Is Installed

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter:

   appwiz.cpl

3. Click OK.
4. Find the following entry in the list:

   Canon TS9500 series MP Drivers

If this entry is missing, the complete package is not installed.

If the entry is present but IJ Printer Assistant Tool is missing or does not start, the installation may be damaged. In this case, uninstall the package and install it again.

Method 6: Check the Printer Selected Inside the Application

IJ Printer Assistant Tool may be installed but may open without the required device.

1. Start IJ Printer Assistant Tool.
2. Click Select Printer….
3. Open the drop-down list.
4. Select Canon TS9500 series.
5. Click OK.

If several printer copies are installed on the computer, select the one that successfully prints a test page.

Old copies may have names such as:

• Canon TS9500 series Copy 1;
• Canon TS9500 series (Copy 1);
• Canon TS9500 series WS;
• Canon TS9500 series Network;
• Canon TS9500 series marked as “Offline.”

If the Printer List Is Empty

Check:

1. whether the printer is turned on;
2. whether the Home screen has appeared;
3. whether a support code is displayed;
4. whether printing from Windows works;
5. whether the Canon driver is installed;
6. whether the USB cable is connected;
7. whether the computer and printer are connected to the same network.

If the printer was added only through a standard IPP driver, IJ Printer Assistant Tool may not associate that entry with the Canon driver.

If the Application Displays a Communication Error

Possible messages include:

• Cannot communicate with printer;
• Printer is not responding;
• Failed to acquire printer information;
• A communication error has occurred;
• Printer is not connected;
• Printer is offline.

Method 7: Check the USB Connection

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Disconnect the USB cable from the computer.
3. Wait 10–15 seconds.
4. Connect the cable directly to a USB port on the computer.
5. Do not use a USB hub, docking station, or extension cable.
6. Wait for Windows to detect the device.
7. Start IJ Printer Assistant Tool again.

If the error persists:

• connect the cable to another USB port;
• try another working USB Type-B cable;
• restart the computer;
• check the printer in Device Manager.

Method 8: Enable Bidirectional Support

Bidirectional communication must be enabled in the port properties so that Windows can receive printer status information.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter:

   control printers

3. Click OK.
4. Right-click Canon TS9500 series.
5. Select Printer properties.
6. Open the Ports tab.
7. Select Enable bidirectional support.
8. Click Apply.
9. Click OK.
10. Open IJ Printer Assistant Tool again.

The checkbox name may vary slightly depending on the Windows version.

Method 9: Check the Selected Port

1. Open Printer properties.
2. Go to the Ports tab.

For a USB connection, one of the following ports is normally used:

USB001
USB002
USB003

For a network connection, one of the following may be used:

• a Canon network port;
• Standard TCP/IP Port;
• a WSD port.

Canon TS9500 series should be shown next to the selected port.

If a port for another printer or an old network entry is selected, IJ Printer Assistant Tool may be unable to communicate with the device.

Method 10: Check the Network Connection

When using Wi-Fi or Ethernet:

1. Check the network icon on the printer’s touchscreen.
2. Make sure the computer is connected to the same local network.
3. Disable the VPN.
4. Do not use the router’s guest network.
5. Restart the printer.
6. Restart the router.
7. Wait for the network connection to be restored.
8. Print a test page.
9. Open IJ Printer Assistant Tool.

If printing works but IJ Printer Assistant Tool cannot detect the device, check the Canon driver and network port.

Repair the Network Connection with Wi-Fi Connection Assistant

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Go to Canon Utilities.
3. Start Wi-Fi Connection Assistant.
4. If a User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes.
5. Select Diagnose and Repair.
6. Follow the application’s instructions.
7. Allow the application to repair the port if prompted.
8. Close the application.
9. Start IJ Printer Assistant Tool again.

If the Maintenance Buttons Are Unavailable

Some buttons may be grayed out if:

• the printer is turned off;
• the device is displaying a support code;
• the printer is printing;
• a cover is open;
• cleaning or alignment is in progress;
• there is no communication with the device;
• the wrong printer copy is selected;
• a standard Windows driver is being used;
• another computer is maintaining the network printer.

Perform the following steps:

1. Close the print queue.
2. Wait for all jobs to finish.
3. Check the touchscreen.
4. Close all printer covers.
5. Turn the device off and on again.
6. Select the correct printer in IJ Printer Assistant Tool.
7. Repeat the operation.

If IJ Printer Assistant Tool Does Not Open

The application may not respond, may close immediately, or may display a system error.

Restart the Computer

1. Close all Canon applications.
2. Save all open documents.
3. Restart Windows.
4. Turn on the printer.
5. Wait for the Home screen to appear.
6. Start IJ Printer Assistant Tool.

Run as Administrator

1. Open Start → All apps → Canon Utilities.
2. Right-click IJ Printer Assistant Tool.
3. Select More → Run as administrator.
4. When prompted, click Yes.

Check the Antivirus Software

If the problem appeared immediately after security software was installed:

1. Open the antivirus blocking history.
2. Check whether any Canon applications were blocked.
3. Restore a safe file if the antivirus mistakenly quarantined it.
4. Add official Canon applications to the allowed list.
5. Start the utility again.

Do not download a replacement for a blocked file from third-party websites.

If the Application Disappeared After a Windows Update

A Windows update may have replaced the Canon printer entry with a standard IPP driver or damaged the application registration.

1. Check the printer list.
2. Determine whether a new Canon TS9500 series copy appeared.
3. Check the driver name on the Advanced tab.
4. Check for MP Drivers in Programs and Features.
5. Restart the computer.
6. If the Canon tab does not return, reinstall MP Drivers.

Completely Reinstall MP Drivers

This is the main method for restoring a missing IJ Printer Assistant Tool.

Step 1: Download the Complete Package

Download Canon TS9500 Series MP Drivers Ver. 1.06

File name:

md__-win-ts9500-1_06-ea34_2.exe

Do not start the installation immediately. First, remove the damaged package.

Step 2: Disconnect the USB Cable

For a USB connection:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Disconnect the USB cable from the computer.
3. Do not reconnect it until the new installer displays a prompt.

For a network connection, you do not need to remove the Wi-Fi settings from the printer.

Step 3: Uninstall MP Drivers

1. Close IJ Scan Utility, IJ Printer Assistant Tool, and other Canon applications.
2. Press Windows + R.
3. Enter:

   appwiz.cpl

4. Click OK.
5. Select Canon TS9500 series MP Drivers.
6. Click Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
7. Confirm the removal.
8. Wait for the process to finish.

Step 4: Remove Old Printer Entries

Leave the printer’s own network settings unchanged, but remove damaged entries from Windows.

1. Open Settings → Printers & scanners.
2. Select Canon TS9500 series.
3. Click Remove or Remove device.
4. Remove non-working copies marked Copy, WS, or Copy 1.
5. Restart the computer.

Step 5: Start the Installer

1. Open the Downloads folder.
2. Right-click the md__-win-ts9500-1_06-ea34_2.exe file.
3. Select Run as administrator. In Windows 11, you may first need to select Show more options.
4. In the User Account Control window, click Yes.
5. Wait while the files are extracted.
6. Accept the license agreement.
7. Select the connection method you use.

Step 6: Complete the USB Installation

1. Do not connect the cable in advance.
2. Wait for the window asking you to connect the printer.
3. Connect the USB cable directly to the computer.
4. Turn on the printer.
5. Wait for the device to be detected.
6. Complete the installation.

Step 7: Complete the Network Installation

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Connect the computer to the same network.
3. Select a Wi-Fi or wired network connection.
4. Wait while the installer searches for devices.
5. Select Canon TS9500 series.
6. Allow Canon applications through the firewall.
7. Complete the installation.

Step 8: Check the Result

1. Restart the computer.
2. Turn on the printer.
3. Open Start → All apps → Canon Utilities.
4. Check whether IJ Printer Assistant Tool is present.
5. Start the application.
6. Select Canon TS9500 series.
7. Open the printing preferences and check the Maintenance tab.

If MP Drivers Cannot Be Uninstalled

1. Restart the computer.
2. Do not start any Canon applications.
3. Open Programs and Features again.
4. Start the uninstallation as an administrator.

If the entry is missing but the damaged driver remains:

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter:

   printui /s /t2

3. Click OK.
4. Open the Drivers tab.
5. Select the Canon TS9500 series driver.
6. Click Remove.
7. Select the option to remove the driver and driver package.
8. Confirm the action.
9. Restart the computer.

Maintenance Without IJ Printer Assistant Tool

Most basic maintenance procedures can be performed directly from the printer’s touchscreen.

1. Turn on the printer.
2. On the Home screen, select Setup.
3. Tap Maintenance.

The following options are available in this section:

• Print nozzle check pattern;
• Cleaning;
• Deep cleaning;
• Print head alignment;
• Roller cleaning;
• Bottom plate cleaning.

Therefore, the absence of the utility in Windows does not prevent maintenance of the printer itself.

How to Print a Nozzle Check Pattern Without a Computer

1. Load A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the cassette.
2. On the Home screen, select Setup.
3. Tap Maintenance.
4. Select Print nozzle check pattern.
5. Confirm printing.
6. Evaluate the printed pattern.

How to Perform Cleaning Without a Computer

1. On the Home screen, select Setup.
2. Open Maintenance.
3. Select Cleaning.
4. Confirm that you want to start the procedure.
5. Wait for it to finish.
6. Print a new nozzle check pattern.

If the first cleaning does not help, you can repeat it once. After two standard cleaning cycles, perform one deep cleaning cycle.

If the Application Starts but Selects an Old Printer

1. Click Select Printer….
2. Check the available entries one by one.
3. Select the entry that successfully prints a test page.
4. Close the application.
5. Remove old printer copies from Windows.
6. Set the working entry as the default printer.

If the Utility Works Only over USB

This means that the application and driver are installed, but the network port or device detection is not working correctly.

1. Check the printer’s IP address.
2. Start Wi-Fi Connection Assistant.
3. Run network diagnostics.
4. Repair the network port.
5. Check Windows Firewall.
6. Disable the VPN.
7. Select the network printer again in IJ Printer Assistant Tool.

Do not remove the printer’s Wi-Fi settings if printing from a phone and other computers works.

If the Utility Works but Does Not Display the Ink Level

Check:

• whether the printer is turned on;
• whether bidirectional support is enabled;
• whether the correct port is selected;
• whether the Canon driver is being used;
• whether Canon IJ Status Monitor is blocked;
• whether an old device copy is selected.

The ink level can also be checked on the printer’s touchscreen.

Windows 11 ARM Computers

When You Do Not Need to Reinstall the Application

Reinstallation is not required if:

• IJ Printer Assistant Tool opens through the Maintenance tab;
• the application is missing only as a separate shortcut in the Start menu;
• the main maintenance functions work;
• the problem occurs only with one network port;
• the wrong printer copy is selected.

In these cases, first check the selected device, port, and network connection.

When a Complete Reinstallation of MP Drivers Is Required

Reinstall the package if:

• IJ Printer Assistant Tool is missing from Canon Utilities;
• the Maintenance tab is missing;
• Microsoft IPP Class Driver is being used;
• the Maintenance and Preferences button is missing;
• the application closes immediately;
• the application cannot detect the printer after the connection has been checked;
• the installation was interrupted;
• the problem appeared after a major Windows update;
• several damaged copies of the device are present on the computer.

When the Problem Is Not Related to IJ Printer Assistant Tool

The utility will not resolve:

• a physical paper jam;
• damaged paper feed rollers;
• a faulty USB cable;
• a damaged USB port;
• an empty ink tank;
• mechanical damage to the print head;
• a scanning error related to IJ Scan Utility;
• the lack of ARM64 support in an old driver package.

Quick Troubleshooting Procedure

1. Find IJ Printer Assistant Tool in the Canon Utilities folder.
2. Try opening the application through the driver’s Maintenance tab.
3. Check the driver name on the Advanced tab.
4. Make sure Microsoft IPP Class Driver is not being used.
5. Check for Canon TS9500 series MP Drivers in the installed applications list.
6. Select the correct printer inside the utility.
7. Check the USB or network connection.
8. Enable bidirectional support.
9. Check the selected port.
10. Restart the printer and computer.
11. Run the application as an administrator.
12. If necessary, uninstall MP Drivers.
13. Restart Windows.
14. Install MP Drivers Ver. 1.06 again.
15. For a USB installation, connect the cable only after the installer displays a prompt.
16. Until the application is restored, perform maintenance from the printer’s screen.