Canon MP Navigator EX Download for Canon PIXMA MP170 — Easy Setup GuideIf you own a Canon PIXMA MP170 and need a reliable way to scan, organize, and manage scanned images, Canon MP Navigator EX is the official utility designed for that purpose. This guide walks you through what MP Navigator EX does, where to get it, how to install it on Windows and macOS, steps to set up scanning, troubleshooting common problems, and tips for getting the best scan quality from your PIXMA MP170.
What is Canon MP Navigator EX?
Canon MP Navigator EX is a scanning and document-management application bundled with many Canon multi-function printers (MFPs). It provides tools to:
- Scan photos and documents using your PIXMA scanner.
- Save scanned items in multiple formats (JPEG, PDF, TIFF).
- Perform basic image corrections (crop, rotate, color adjustments).
- Create searchable PDFs (when OCR components are installed).
- Easily send scans by email or upload to cloud services (when supported).
Note: Canon MP Navigator EX was commonly distributed with older PIXMA models like the MP170. For modern operating systems, compatibility varies; this guide covers approaches to obtain and run the software or alternatives.
Before you start — check compatibility
- Printer model: Canon PIXMA MP170.
- Software: Canon MP Navigator EX (originally bundled with Canon MFPs).
- Operating systems: Official MP Navigator EX releases were aimed at Windows XP/Vista/7 era and older macOS versions. For Windows ⁄11 or recent macOS versions, official drivers and utilities may not be listed for MP170 on Canon’s support site; compatibility can be limited.
- Driver requirement: MP Navigator EX requires a working scanner driver (TWAIN or WIA). Ensure you have a compatible scanner driver installed for your OS.
Where to download MP Navigator EX
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Canon support website
- The official and recommended source is Canon’s regional support site. Search for “PIXMA MP170” and look under Drivers & Downloads for MP Navigator EX or bundled software. If listed, download the version matching your OS.
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If Canon’s site does not list MP170 software for your OS:
- Look for archived driver pages on Canon’s site (some regions keep legacy downloads).
- Use Canon’s MP Navigator EX downloads for models with similar driver architecture (e.g., other PIXMA models from the same era). Be cautious — using software for other models might work but isn’t guaranteed.
- As a safer alternative, use modern scanning apps built into Windows (Windows Fax and Scan, Windows Scan) or macOS Image Capture, or third-party apps such as NAPS2 (free) that work with TWAIN/WIA.
Step-by-step installation (Windows)
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Download
- Download the MP Navigator EX installer (usually an .exe) and the scanner driver for MP170 if separate.
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Unzip/run installer
- Right-click the downloaded file and choose “Run as administrator”.
- If the installer is packaged as a zipped folder, extract first.
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Follow prompts
- Choose language and click through license agreement prompts.
- Install the scanner driver if prompted. If the driver installer offers a USB or network setup option, choose USB for direct cable connection.
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Connect the printer
- Connect the printer to the PC via USB and power it on when prompted.
- Let Windows detect the device and finish any driver installation.
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Finish and launch
- Once installation completes, launch Canon MP Navigator EX from Start Menu or desktop shortcut.
Common issues during Windows install
- Incompatibility warnings on modern Windows: try running the installer in compatibility mode (right-click → Properties → Compatibility tab → set to Windows 7 or XP and run as admin).
- Driver not installing: uninstall any previous Canon drivers, reboot, then retry. Disable antivirus temporarily if installer is blocked.
- Scanner not detected: check USB cable/port, try a different port, reboot both PC and printer.
Step-by-step installation (macOS)
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Download
- Look for MP Navigator EX for macOS on Canon’s support pages. If not available for your macOS version, try installing the latest available MP Navigator EX release for older macOS and test.
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Install drivers first
- Install the IJ Scan Utility / scanner driver or any MP170-specific driver package. Mount the .dmg and run package installers.
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Install MP Navigator EX
- Mount any MP Navigator EX .dmg and drag the application to Applications, or run the included installer.
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Connect printer and test
- Connect the MP170 via USB and open MP Navigator EX or Image Capture to verify scanner presence.
Notes for macOS Catalina and later
- Catalina and newer dropped support for 32-bit apps; MP Navigator EX versions that are 32-bit will not run. Use Image Capture or third-party apps like VueScan or NAPS2 (via Wine or Windows VM) as alternatives.
Using MP Navigator EX — basic workflow
- Launch MP Navigator EX.
- Choose the scanning mode: Auto Scan, Document Scan, or Photo Scan.
- Select resolution (DPI) — 300 dpi is standard for documents; 600+ DPI for photos.
- Choose color mode (Color, Grayscale, Black & White).
- Preview scan to adjust crop, orientation, or size.
- Click Scan. After scanning, use built-in editing tools if needed.
- Save scanned file: choose format (JPEG, PDF, TIFF), filename, and destination folder.
- If creating a multi-page PDF, use the “Add page” feature between scans.
Tips for best results
- Clean the scanner glass with a lint-free cloth and glass cleaner (spray cleaner on cloth, not glass).
- Allow scanned photos to rest flat for a few minutes after printing if they’re curled.
- Use the correct DPI: 300 dpi for readable text, 600–1200 dpi for photo archiving or OCR of small fonts.
- For OCR and searchable PDFs, ensure OCR components are installed or use third-party OCR software (ABBYY FineReader, Tesseract, etc.).
Troubleshooting common problems
Scanner not detected
- Check USB cable and port.
- Reinstall drivers.
- Try a different computer to isolate hardware faults.
- In Device Manager (Windows), ensure no yellow exclamation marks for Canon devices.
MP Navigator EX won’t run or crashes
- Run the app in compatibility mode (Windows).
- For macOS, check 64-bit compatibility; if app is 32-bit, use alternative scanning apps.
- Update OS and drivers where possible.
Poor scan quality
- Clean scanner glass and check document placement.
- Increase DPI in settings.
- Disable any “auto color correction” if it changes colors undesirably.
Need OCR/searchable PDF
- Install OCR components bundled with Canon software or use a third-party OCR tool.
- Scan with sufficient resolution (300 dpi minimum; 400–600 dpi recommended for small text).
Alternatives if MP Navigator EX is unavailable or incompatible
- Windows: Windows Scan app, Windows Fax and Scan, NAPS2 (free open-source), VueScan (paid, supports old scanners).
- macOS: Image Capture, VueScan, ExactScan.
- Linux: SANE with simple-scan or XSane.
VueScan and similar utilities often include drivers that support older scanners like the MP170 when manufacturer drivers aren’t available.
Security and driver sources
- Prefer official Canon downloads to avoid bundled adware or malware.
- If using third-party utilities, download from their official sites.
- Scan downloaded installers with antivirus software before running.
Summary
- Canon MP Navigator EX is the official scanning utility for many Canon MFPs, including the PIXMA MP170 era.
- For modern OSes, MP Navigator EX may be incompatible; install compatible drivers first, try compatibility mode on Windows, or use alternatives like Windows Scan, Image Capture, NAPS2, or VueScan.
- Clean the scanner, use appropriate DPI, and install OCR tools when you need searchable PDFs.
If you want, I can:
- Find the latest available MP Navigator EX download link for your region/OS.
- Provide step-by-step screenshots for installation on Windows ⁄11 or macOS.
- Recommend the best alternative (free or paid) based on your OS.
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