How to Scan on a Mac with Canon TS9540, TS9550, and TS9550A: AirPrint, Image Capture, and IJ Scan Utility Lite

Last Updated on 18.07.2026 by DriverNew

Canon TS9500 Series multifunction printers allow you to scan documents and photos to a Mac in several ways. For basic scanning, you can use the built-in macOS tools. For multipage documents, text recognition, and saved profiles, Canon IJ Scan Utility Lite is more convenient.

This guide applies to the following models:

• Canon PIXMA TS9540;
• Canon PIXMA TS9540A;
• Canon PIXMA TS9541C;
• Canon PIXMA TS9541CA;
• Canon PIXMA TS9550;
• Canon PIXMA TS9550A;
• Canon PIXMA TS9551C;
• Canon PIXMA TS9551CA.

In macOS, the device may appear under the common name:

Canon TS9500 series

The main steps apply to:

• macOS Tahoe 26;
• macOS Sequoia 15;
• macOS Sonoma 14;
• macOS Ventura 13;
• Mac computers with Apple silicon;
• Mac computers with Intel processors.

Available Scanning Methods

Method	When to use it	Main features
Open Scanner	For quick scanning without installing software	Scanner glass, ADF, PDF, JPEG, resolution and destination folder selection
Image Capture	For documents, photos, and checking the system scanner	Preview, area selection, scanning several photos
Preview	When the scan must be opened and edited immediately	Import from scanner, rotate, crop, and add pages to a PDF
IJ Scan Utility Lite	For regular and advanced scanning	Auto, Document, Photo, Custom, OCR, and multipage PDF

What to Check Before Scanning

Before you begin, make sure:

• the Canon printer is turned on;
• no support code is displayed on the touchscreen;
• the scanner unit is closed;
• the Mac and Canon printer are connected to the same network;
• a working cable is being used for a USB connection;
• the Canon device is added in macOS;
• the Open Scanner button is available;
• another application is not using the scanner;
• the Mac has enough free disk space.

Check Whether the Multifunction Printer Was Added Correctly

1. Open the Apple menu.
2. Select System Settings.
3. Open Printers & Scanners.
4. Select Canon TS9500 Series.

The device window should contain the following button:

Open Scanner

If the button is missing, the current entry may have been added only as a print queue.

Add the Canon Device Correctly

1. In Printers & Scanners, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax.
2. Open the Default tab.
3. Wait for the search to finish.
4. Select the Canon device whose type is:

   Bonjour Multifunction

5. In the Use field, select:

   Secure AirPrint

6. If Secure AirPrint is unavailable, select AirPrint.
7. Click Add.

After adding the device, check the Open Scanner button again.

How to Position Originals Correctly

Document or Photo on the Scanner Glass

1. Lift the scanner cover.
2. Place the original with the side to be scanned facing down.
3. Align the corner of the original with the mark on the scanner glass frame.
4. Close the cover carefully.

Do not press down hard on the cover. Do not place items with wet ink, glue, staples, or metal clips on the scanner glass.

Documents in the ADF

The ADF is the automatic document feeder located on top of the multifunction printer.

1. Make sure no other document remains on the scanner glass.
2. Remove staples and paper clips from the sheets.
3. Align the edges of the stack.
4. Open the document feeder tray.
5. Load the originals with the side to be scanned facing up.
6. Insert the sheets until you hear a beep or a message appears.
7. Move the document guides against the edges of the stack.

Do not press the guides too tightly. The sheets must feed straight and freely.

Method 1: Scanning Through Open Scanner

This is the simplest method. Separate Canon software is not required.

Open the Scanning Window

1. Open Apple → System Settings.
2. Select Printers & Scanners.
3. Click Canon TS9500 Series.
4. Click Open Scanner.

If only a small window with a few settings is displayed, click:

Show Details

Scanning a Document from the Scanner Glass

1. Place the document face down on the scanner glass.
2. In the scanner window, turn off Use Document Feeder.
3. For the scan mode, select the flatbed scanner.
4. In the Kind field, select Text, Black & White, or Color.
5. Set the resolution.
6. Select the file format.
7. Select the destination folder.
8. Enter the file name.
9. Click Overview if a preview scan is required.
10. Check the selected area.
11. Click Scan.

Scanning Multiple Pages Through the ADF

1. Load the documents in the ADF with the side to be scanned facing up.
2. Open the system scanner window.
3. Turn on Use Document Feeder.
4. Select the original size, such as A4.
5. Select Color, Black & White, or Text mode.
6. Set the resolution.
7. Select PDF as the format.
8. Enable the option to combine pages into one document if it is displayed.
9. Specify the folder and file name.
10. Click Scan.

All pages loaded in the ADF are scanned using the same settings. If some documents are in color and others are black and white, it is better to separate them into different groups.

Main System Scanner Settings

Scan Mode

Depending on the connection and macOS version, the following options may be available:

• Flatbed — the document is on the scanner glass;
• Document Feeder — the sheets are in the ADF.

Image Type

• Text — high-contrast black-and-white documents;
• Black & White — documents and images in grayscale;
• Color — color documents and photos.

Resolution

The following values are recommended for most tasks:

Task	Recommended resolution
Standard PDF document	300 dpi
Document for viewing only	150–200 dpi
Text recognition	300 dpi
Photo for archiving	600 dpi
Sending a document by email	150–300 dpi

A very high resolution significantly increases the file size and processing time. A resolution of 1200 dpi is usually unnecessary for ordinary text.

File Format

• PDF — documents and multiple pages;
• JPEG — photos and images;
• PNG — images without quality loss;
• TIFF — archival or professional images.

Scan To

This field selects the folder or application to which the result will be sent.

For the initial test, select:

• Desktop;
• Documents;
• Pictures.

Do not select an unavailable network drive or disconnected cloud storage for the initial test.

Image Correction

When manual correction is selected, the following options may be available:

• brightness;
• contrast;
• saturation;
• color balance;
• faded color restoration.

For ordinary documents, leave the automatic settings enabled.

Saving Multiple Pages in One PDF

1. Select PDF as the format.
2. Enable the option to combine pages into one document if it is displayed.
3. Load all pages into the ADF.
4. Click Scan.

If every page is saved separately, you can combine the completed files in Preview.

Combine Files in Preview

1. Open the first PDF in Preview.
2. Select View → Thumbnails.
3. Drag the remaining PDF files or images into the sidebar.
4. Arrange the pages in the correct order.
5. Select File → Export as PDF or save the document.

Method 2: Scanning Through Image Capture

Image Capture is included with macOS. The application is useful for checking the system scanner, selecting an exact area, and scanning several small photos at the same time.

Start the Application

1. Press Command + Space.
2. Enter:

   Image Capture

3. Open the application found in the search results.
4. Select Canon TS9500 Series on the left side of the window.

With a USB connection, Canon usually appears under Devices. With a network connection, it may appear under shared devices.

Scan from the Scanner Glass

1. Place the original on the scanner glass.
2. Select Canon.
3. Turn off ADF use.
4. Click Show Details.
5. Click Overview.
6. Wait for the preview image.
7. Adjust the scanning frame.
8. Select the format, resolution, and folder.
9. Click Scan.

Scan Through the ADF

1. Load the documents in the automatic document feeder.
2. Turn on Use Document Feeder.
3. Select A4 or another size.
4. Set the resolution to 300 dpi.
5. Select PDF.
6. Enable page combining if the option is available.
7. Click Scan.

Scanning Several Photos from the Scanner Glass

The application can detect several separate photos and save each one as an individual file.

1. Place several photos on the scanner glass.
2. Leave some space between them.
3. Do not place the photos directly against one another.
4. Open Image Capture.
5. Click Show Details.
6. For the size setting, select detection of separate images.
7. Perform a preview scan.
8. Check the frames around the photos.
9. Select JPEG and 600 dpi.
10. Click Scan.

Each correctly detected photo will be saved as a separate file.

Method 3: Scanning Through Preview

This method is convenient if the result needs to be opened, rotated, cropped, or added to an existing PDF immediately.

Import a Document

1. Open the Preview application.
2. From the menu bar, select File.
3. Select Import from Scanner.
4. Select Canon TS9500 Series.
5. Wait for the preview.
6. Set the required options.
7. Click Scan.

All scanned items will open in the Preview window.

Add a Page to an Open PDF

1. Open an existing PDF.
2. Select View → Thumbnails.
3. Select the page after which the new page should be inserted.
4. Open the Edit menu.
5. Select the option to add a page from a scanner.
6. Select Canon.
7. Perform the scan.
8. Save the PDF.

The names of individual commands may vary slightly between macOS versions.

Method 4: Scanning Through Canon IJ Scan Utility Lite

IJ Scan Utility Lite is Canon’s proprietary scanning application for macOS. It allows you to start predefined scanning workflows with one click.

Start the Application

1. Open Finder.
2. From the menu bar, select Go → Applications.
3. Open the Canon Utilities folder.
4. Open the IJ Scan Utility folder.
5. Start Canon IJ Scan Utility Lite.

You can also find the application through Spotlight:

1. press Command + Space;
2. enter IJ Scan Utility Lite;
3. open the application found in the search results.

Select the Correct Scanner

At the top of the window is the following list:

Scanner

or:

Product Name

1. Open the device list.
2. Select Canon TS9500 Series.
3. For a network connection, select the current Bonjour name.
4. For a USB connection, select the entry marked as USB.

If the device is missing, click the button to refresh the list.

The Auto Button

Auto mode automatically detects the type of original and selects the main settings.

Use it for:

• simple documents;
• photos;
• business cards;
• simple originals with a standard background.

1. Place the original on the scanner glass or in the ADF.
2. Start IJ Scan Utility Lite.
3. Select the correct Canon device.
4. Click Auto.

The application will scan the original automatically and save the file in the folder specified in the settings.

Automatic detection may fail with very light documents, unusual photos, or originals containing a large amount of white background. In that case, use Document or Photo mode.

The Document Button

Document mode is intended for text documents.

1. Load the original.
2. Click Settings.
3. Open Document Scan.
4. Select the source.
5. Set the color mode.
6. Select the document size.
7. Set the resolution to 300 dpi.
8. Select PDF or PDF (Multiple Pages).
9. Specify the destination folder.
10. Click OK.
11. Click Document.

The Photo Button

Photo mode is intended for photos.

1. Place the photo on the scanner glass.
2. Click Settings.
3. Open Photo Scan.
4. Select color scanning.
5. Set the resolution to 300 or 600 dpi.
6. Select JPEG or TIFF.
7. Specify the destination folder.
8. Click OK.
9. Click Photo.

A resolution of 600 dpi is sufficient for a standard digital copy of a photo. A higher value creates a very large file and significantly increases the scanning time.

The Custom Button

Custom mode allows you to create your own profile.

For example:

• color PDF at 300 dpi;
• black-and-white document at 200 dpi;
• photo in TIFF format at 600 dpi;
• scanning to a specific work folder;
• automatically opening the file in another application.

1. Click Settings.
2. Select Custom Scan.
3. Configure the settings.
4. Save the changes.
5. In the future, click Custom.

The Stitch Button

The Stitch function allows you to scan an original larger than the scanner glass in sections and then combine the images.

It is suitable for:

• large drawings;
• open book spreads;
• posters;
• diagrams;
• documents with a non-standard size.

The original is scanned first from one side and then from the other. The user then aligns the sections in a special window.

The OCR Button

OCR is used to recognize text in a scanned image.

1. Place a text document on the scanner glass.
2. Set the resolution to 300 dpi.
3. In the general settings, select the document language.
4. Click OCR.

Recognition quality depends on:

• text sharpness;
• the correct language;
• resolution;
• the absence of skew;
• the quality of the original document;
• the OCR application being used.

Handwritten, decorative, or very small text may be recognized incorrectly.

Create a Searchable PDF

IJ Scan Utility Lite can convert recognized text into data that can be searched inside a PDF.

1. Open IJ Scan Utility Lite.
2. Click Settings.
3. Select Document Scan.
4. In the format field, select PDF or PDF (Multiple Pages).
5. Select the checkbox to create a PDF that supports keyword searching.
6. Open the general settings.
7. Select the document language.
8. Save the settings.
9. Click Document.

A resolution of 300 dpi is recommended for text recognition.

Formats in IJ Scan Utility Lite

Depending on the selected mode, the following formats are available:

• JPEG/Exif;
• TIFF;
• PNG;
• PDF;
• PDF (Multiple Pages).

PDF

Used for one document or one scanned page.

PDF (Multiple Pages)

Used to combine multiple pages into one file.

JPEG

Suitable for photos and images with a small file size.

TIFF

Suitable for images that will be edited further and stored without heavy compression.

PNG

Suitable for diagrams, screenshots, and images with sharp lines.

Configure the Destination Folder

1. Click Settings.
2. Select the required scanning type.
3. Find the Save in field.
4. Select a folder.

By default, files are usually saved in the Pictures folder.

You can enable the creation of a subfolder with the current date. The application will then automatically organize scans into separate folders.

Set the File Name

In the settings, you can specify the main part of the file name. Canon automatically adds the date and a sequential number.

For example:

Document_20260101_0001.pdf

This is convenient when scanning a large number of documents regularly.

Scanning Multiple Pages Through the ADF in IJ Scan Utility Lite

1. Load the documents in the ADF.
2. Start IJ Scan Utility Lite.
3. Click Settings.
4. Select Document Scan.
5. In the source field, select a document from the ADF or the ADF/Platen option.
6. Select A4.
7. Set the resolution to 300 dpi.
8. Select PDF (Multiple Pages).
9. Click OK.
10. Click Document.

If the application offers manual duplex scanning, follow the on-screen messages and turn the stack over as instructed. The availability of this setting depends on the application version and device configuration.

Check the Result Before Saving

IJ Scan Utility Lite may display a review window after scanning is complete.

In this window, you can:

• view the pages;
• change the order;
• rotate an image;
• delete an unnecessary page;
• specify the file name;
• select the final destination folder;
• save the document.

To enable this function, select the checkbox for checking scan results and save settings.

Send the Scan to Another Application

In the IJ Scan Utility Lite settings, you can select the action to perform after scanning:

• open the file in an application;
• send the image to an application;
• send the file to a folder;
• attach it to an email;
• start OCR;
• save the file only.

If the selected application was removed or moved, configure the action again.

Local Network Permission for IJ Scan Utility Lite

In macOS Sequoia 15, macOS Tahoe 26, and later versions, the Canon application requires permission to detect a network-connected multifunction printer.

1. Open System Settings.
2. Select Privacy & Security.
3. Open Local Network.
4. Turn on the switch next to Canon IJ Scan Utility Lite.
5. Turn on CIJSULAgent if it is displayed.
6. Quit IJ Scan Utility Lite completely by pressing Command + Q.
7. Start the application again.
8. Refresh the scanner list.

If system scanning works but IJ Scan Utility Lite cannot detect the Canon device, check this setting first.

If the Canon Application Is Not Installed

Download IJ Scan Utility Lite only from the official Canon support page.

1. Open the support page for your model.
2. Select the actual macOS version.
3. Find IJ Scan Utility Lite or the recommended scanning package.
4. Download the current version.
5. Open the downloaded file.
6. Start the installation.
7. Follow the macOS messages.
8. Restart the Mac.

Do not use:

• the old supplied disc;
• a Windows installer;
• a package for another model;
• files from third-party websites;
• an old installer saved several years ago.

If macOS Blocks the Installer

The following message may appear:

“Application” can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.

Do not disable macOS security completely.

1. Close the installer.
2. Delete the old file.
3. Check the macOS version.
4. Download the current file from the official Canon page.

If no suitable package is available, use system scanning through Open Scanner or Image Capture.

If Canon Does Not Appear in IJ Scan Utility Lite

1. Make sure the Canon printer is turned on.
2. Check the Wi-Fi or Ethernet icon.
3. Connect the Mac and multifunction printer to the same network.
4. Do not use guest Wi-Fi.
5. Disable the VPN.
6. Allow the application to access the local network.
7. Check Bonjour on the Canon printer.
8. Click the button to refresh the list.
9. Select the correct Bonjour name.

If Error 157 Appears

Error 157 means that the application cannot communicate with the scanner.

Check:

• the multifunction printer’s power;
• the network connection;
• the signal strength;
• the VPN;
• security software;
• Local Network permission;
• whether the correct scanner is selected;
• Bonjour.

After checking these items, restart the Canon printer and Mac.

If the Scanner Is Busy

Quit all applications that may be using the device:

• IJ Scan Utility Lite;
• Image Capture;
• Preview;
• Adobe Acrobat;
• OCR applications;
• another scanning application.

Then start only one application.

If Scanning Is Very Slow

Possible causes include:

• the resolution is too high;
• the Wi-Fi signal is weak;
• TIFF or PNG format is being used;
• the scanning area is large;
• text recognition is enabled;
• a searchable PDF is being created;
• the file is being saved to a slow network drive;
• a VPN is being used.

For a standard document, select:

• 300 dpi;
• PDF;
• standard compression;
• a local folder on the Mac.

If the File Is Too Large

Reduce:

• the resolution;
• the color depth;
• the JPEG quality;
• the area size;
• the number of pages in one document.

In IJ Scan Utility Lite, you can select stronger compression for PDF files. This reduces the file size but may slightly lower the image quality.

If the Image Is Cropped

Check:

• whether the original size is correct;
• the position of the document on the scanner glass;
• the selected frame after the preview scan;
• the automatic detection mode;
• the paper size in the ADF settings.

For a non-standard original, perform a preview scan and define the area manually.

If the Image Is Scanned at an Angle

1. Align the original with the mark on the scanner glass.
2. Move the ADF guides against the edges of the paper.
3. Do not load wrinkled sheets.
4. Perform a preview scan.
5. Use the rotation angle or automatic alignment setting if it is available.

If Blank Pages Are Produced

Check the side of the original:

• on the scanner glass, the image must face down;
• in the ADF, the image must face up.

Also make sure the document is not too light and that the correct scanning mode is selected.

If the Colors Differ from the Original

For the initial test:

1. select Color mode;
2. set the resolution to 300 or 600 dpi;
3. disable manual correction;
4. save the image as JPEG or TIFF;
5. view it in Preview.

Differences may also be related to the Mac display and its color profile.

Which Method Should You Choose?

For One Standard Document

Use Open Scanner.

To Check Whether macOS Detects the Scanner

Use Image Capture.

For Several Photos

Use Image Capture with separate image detection.

To Add a Page to an Existing PDF

Use Preview.

For Regular Document Scanning

Use IJ Scan Utility Lite.

For a Multipage PDF

Use Document mode and PDF (Multiple Pages) in IJ Scan Utility Lite.

For Text Recognition

Use OCR or a searchable PDF in IJ Scan Utility Lite.

When Additional Canon Software Is Not Required

You do not need to install IJ Scan Utility Lite if:

• the Open Scanner button works;
• scans are saved in the required format;
• the Image Capture features are sufficient;
• OCR is not required;
• scanning from the Canon operation panel is not required;
• saved profiles are not needed.

When IJ Scan Utility Lite Is Useful

The Canon application is useful if:

• a multipage PDF is required;
• a searchable PDF is required;
• text recognition is needed;
• persistent custom settings are used;
• the result must open automatically in an application;
• scanning from the multifunction printer’s operation panel is required;
• a large original must be combined from several scanned sections.

When the Problem Is Not Related to the Mac

Software will not help if:

• the Canon printer cannot make a standard copy;
• the scanning unit does not move;
• a hardware support code is displayed;
• the ADF jams documents;
• the multifunction printer does not turn on;
• liquid entered the device;
• USB is not detected on several computers.

When a Service Center Is Required

Contact a service center if:

• copying without a computer does not work;
• the scanner makes cracking or grinding noises;
• the scanning unit stops in the middle of the scanner glass;
• a hardware support code appears;
• USB scanning does not work on several computers;
• liquid entered the device;
• there is a smell of overheating;
• the device was damaged after being dropped.