It’s frustrating. You’ve got a perfectly good Canon PIXMA MG2500 sitting on your desk, but your Mac treats it like a total stranger. Maybe you just upgraded to a new MacBook with macOS Sequoia or you’re still rocking a reliable older iMac. Either way, getting the canon mg2500 driver mac to actually work shouldn't feel like a part-time job.
Most people think these older printers are "bricked" the moment Apple releases a new OS update. They aren't. But Canon's website is a maze, and if you download the wrong file, you'll just end up with a "Filter Failed" error and a wasted afternoon. Honestly, the trick is knowing exactly which CUPS driver corresponds to your specific version of macOS, because the "all-in-one" installers usually break first.
Why Your Mac Isn't Seeing the Canon MG2500
Let's be real for a second: the MG2500 series (including the MG2520, MG2522, and MG2570) is a budget workhorse. It doesn't have Wi-Fi. It doesn't support AirPrint. That's the big kicker. Since it lacks AirPrint—the technology Apple uses to make printers "just work" without drivers—you are 100% dependent on a physical USB cable and a specific software driver.
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If you're using a modern Mac with only USB-C ports, you need a high-quality adapter. Cheap ones often drop the data connection halfway through a print job. I’ve seen countless people blame the driver when the culprit was actually a $5 dongle that couldn't handle the bidirectional communication required by Canon’s IJ Status Monitor.
The Driver Situation in 2026
As of early 2026, Canon has surprisingly kept the lights on for this series. While the hardware is old, the canon mg2500 driver mac ecosystem has been updated to support macOS 15 (Sequoia) and even the early builds of macOS 16 (Tahoe).
Specifically, you're looking for the CUPS Printer Driver Ver. 16.90.0.0 or newer. This version is the sweet spot for anything from Monterey up to the current releases. If you are on an older system like Catalina or Mojave, you’ll actually want a different version—usually Ver. 16.40.1.0. Mixing these up is the fastest way to get a "Software is not compatible" pop-up.
How to Install the Driver Without the Headache
Don't just plug it in and hope for the best. macOS might try to install a generic driver that only prints in grayscale or, worse, does nothing at all.
- Clean the slate. If you’ve tried and failed before, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Right-click the MG2500 and "Remove Printer."
- Download the CUPS driver. Head to the Canon support portal. Make sure it detects your OS correctly. If you're on a newer Mac, look for the "mcpd" file prefix in the download name—that’s the one you want.
- The Gatekeeper bypass. Sometimes Apple blocks the installer because it’s "from an unidentified developer." Don't panic. Just right-click the .pkg file and select "Open" instead of double-clicking. It’s a silly extra step, but it works.
- The "Plus" Button Trick. Once installed, go back to Printers & Scanners. Click the "+" button. When the MG2500 shows up, look at the "Use" dropdown at the bottom. Do not leave it on "Auto Select." Manually click it and choose the "Canon MG2500 series" driver from the list.
What About Scanning?
Scanning is a different beast entirely. The printer driver won't help you scan. You need the ICA Driver (usually version 4.1.3a or 5.0.1 for newer Macs).
Once that's installed, you don't even technically need Canon's clunky "IJ Scan Utility." You can just use the built-in "Image Capture" app that comes with your Mac. It’s cleaner, faster, and won't crash every time you try to save a PDF.
Troubleshooting the "Filter Failed" Nightmare
We've all seen it. You hit print, the progress bar moves an inch, and then: Filter Failed.
This is almost always a permissions issue in the macOS print system. Basically, the driver is trying to talk to the printer, but the Mac's security layer is blocking the conversation. To fix this, you can "Reset the Printing System."
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Warning: Resetting the printing system will delete all printers you have saved. You'll have to re-add your office printer or that one at your parents' house later.
To do it, right-click (or Control-click) in the white space of the Printers list in System Settings and select "Reset printing system." Restart your Mac, then add the MG2500 back using the manual selection method I mentioned earlier. It solves 90% of the weird "ghost" errors.
Actionable Steps for a Perfect Setup
If you want your Canon MG2500 to behave itself on a Mac, follow this exact sequence:
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- Check your cable: Use a direct USB connection if possible. If using a hub, make sure it’s powered.
- Verify your macOS version: Click the Apple icon > About This Mac. You need this info to pick the right driver on Canon’s site.
- Install in order: Printer driver first, restart, then scanner driver (ICA) second.
- Manual Selection: Always manually choose the Canon driver in the "Add Printer" dialog instead of letting macOS "Auto Select."
- Maintenance: Use the "Canon IJ Printer Utility" (found in the print print queue options) to run a nozzle check once a month. These printers hate sitting idle; the ink dries up in the head, and no driver in the world can fix a physical clog.
By sticking to the CUPS drivers and avoiding the generic "AirPrint" wrappers that macOS tries to force on you, you'll get the full resolution and color depth your MG2500 is actually capable of delivering.