How to Install MP Navigator EX on Canon PIXMA MP980 (Step‑by‑Step)

How to Install MP Navigator EX on Canon PIXMA MP980 (Step‑by‑Step)The Canon PIXMA MP980 is a multifunction inkjet printer/scanner that pairs with Canon’s MP Navigator EX software to simplify scanning, saving, and managing images and PDFs. This step‑by‑step guide walks you through downloading, installing, configuring, and troubleshooting MP Navigator EX so you can scan reliably on Windows and macOS.

Canon PIXMA MP980 printer connected to your computer (USB or network).
Operating system supported by MP Navigator EX (see Canon support pages for compatibility).
Administrator access on the computer to install drivers and software.
Internet connection to download latest drivers/software (recommended).

Visit Canon’s support page for the PIXMA MP980 (search “Canon MP980 support” if you don’t have the direct link).
Confirm which OS version you’re using (Windows ⁄₁₁, Windows ⁄₈, macOS 10.x, etc.).
Locate MP Navigator EX in the software downloads. Canon sometimes bundles MP Navigator EX with the full driver package; other times it’s a separate download.
If Canon doesn’t list MP Navigator EX for newer OS versions, you may need the full “drivers & software” package that includes scanning utilities, or use alternative scanning apps (Notes on alternatives are below).

On the Canon support page, choose your operating system from the dropdown.
Download the latest “Full Driver & Software Package” for the MP980 when available. This package usually contains the MP drivers, IJ Network Tool (if networked), and MP Navigator EX.
If MP Navigator EX is offered separately, download the MP Navigator EX installer.
Save files to an easy-to-find folder (Downloads).

Turn on the PIXMA MP980.
If using USB, connect the printer to the computer now or when prompted during installation (Canon installers often request connection later). Use a good quality USB cable and an available USB 2.0/3.0 port.
If using a network connection (Wi‑Fi or wired), ensure the printer is connected to the same network as your computer. Use the printer’s control panel to confirm network settings. If the printer is not yet networked, you can temporarily connect by USB to configure network settings via Canon’s setup utility.

Close other programs and disable antivirus/firewall temporarily if you expect interference (re-enable after install).
Run the downloaded “Setup.exe” or MP Navigator EX installer as Administrator (right‑click → Run as administrator).
Accept the license agreement when prompted.
The installer will typically detect the printer or ask how you want to connect (USB or Network). Choose the correct option.
Follow on‑screen prompts to install the device driver first, then MP Navigator EX and any bundled utilities (CameraWindow, My Image Garden, etc.).
When asked, connect the USB cable or confirm network detection. Wait for Windows to finalize device installation.
Restart the computer if the installer requests it.

Open the downloaded .dmg file and double‑click the installer package.
Follow the on‑screen instructions; macOS will ask for an administrator password.
If the software includes a printer driver package, allow it to install. macOS may require you to approve a system extension in System Settings → Security & Privacy — check and allow if prompted.
After installation, add the printer in System Settings → Printers & Scanners if it isn’t auto‑detected. Choose the Canon MP980 entry and ensure the correct driver is selected, not AirPrint (use the Canon driver for full scanner features).
Launch MP Navigator EX from Applications.

Launch MP Navigator EX. On first run it may search for connected devices. Select your PIXMA MP980.
Choose a scan profile (Photo, Document, OCR, Custom). For documents, choose PDF; for image quality, choose Photo and set resolution (e.g., 300 dpi for documents, 600 dpi+ for high-quality photos).
Place a page or photo on the glass and click Scan.
After scanning, use the software’s save/export options to store scans as JPG, PDF, TIFF, or use OCR features to create searchable PDFs (if supported).
Test opening the saved file to confirm results.

MP Navigator EX doesn’t detect printer:
- Confirm printer power and connection (USB cable or network).
- Reboot printer and computer.
- On Windows, check Device Manager for driver status. On macOS, check Printers & Scanners.
- Reinstall the driver package and MP Navigator EX.
Installer won’t run or reports incompatible OS:
- Use compatibility mode on Windows (right‑click → Properties → Compatibility).
- For newer macOS versions where MP Navigator EX is unsupported, use Apple’s Image Capture, Preview app, or third‑party scanners (VueScan, ExactScan) as alternatives.
Scanned images are blank or garbled:
- Clean the scanner glass and ensure the document face is down.
- Update or reinstall drivers.
OCR not producing good text:
- Increase scan resolution to at least 300 dpi, use black & white or grayscale for text, and ensure source text is clear.

If MP Navigator EX is unavailable or incompatible with your OS:
- Windows: use Windows Fax and Scan or NAPS2 (free).
- macOS: use Image Capture or Preview for basic scanning.
- Cross‑platform third‑party apps: VueScan, ExactScan.
For batch scanning and multi‑page PDFs:
- Use MP Navigator EX’s multi‑page PDF mode, or scan pages individually then use PDF merging tools.
For OCR and searchable PDFs:
- Scan at 300–600 dpi in grayscale; use MP Navigator EX’s OCR or an external OCR app (ABBYY FineReader, Tesseract).

Windows: Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → select MP Navigator EX and Canon drivers, then uninstall.
macOS: Remove MP Navigator EX from Applications and delete related Canon drivers in /Library/Printers/ and /Library/Image Capture/Devices if you want a full cleanup (be cautious).

If you want, I can:

Provide direct download links for drivers for a specific OS version (tell me which OS), or
Give step‑by‑step screenshots tailored to Windows ⁄₁₁ or macOS Ventura.