Having a wireless printer adds great convenience to home and office environments. If you're wondering how to connect a Canon printer to WiFi, you're not alone. Wireless connectivity allows you to print from multiple devices, including laptops, smartphones, and tablets, without the hassle of physical cables.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process to connect Canon printer to WiFi, covering both standard and WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) methods. This step-by-step approach works for most Canon models, including PIXMA, MAXIFY, and imageCLASS series. Whether you're using Windows, macOS, or mobile devices, this guide ensures seamless wireless printing setup.
Connecting your Canon printer to WiFi offers several benefits:
Print wirelessly from anywhere within the network range
Access printing from smartphones and tablets
Eliminate the need for messy USB cables
Use cloud printing features (like Google Cloud Print or AirPrint)
Share the printer among multiple devices effortlessly
Now, let’s explore the various methods to connect Canon printer to WiFi.
Most Canon printers have a built-in Wireless LAN Setup option accessible from the printer's control panel.
Power on your Canon printer.
Press the Menu, Home, or Setup button (based on your model).
Navigate to Wireless LAN Setup or Wi-Fi Setup and press OK.
The printer will start searching for available networks.
Select your WiFi network (SSID) from the list.
Enter your WiFi password using the printer’s keypad or touch screen.
Wait for the printer to connect and confirm successful setup.
Once connected, the WiFi indicator on your printer should become steady, indicating it’s ready for wireless use.
If your router supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), this method is the fastest way to connect Canon printer to WiFi.
Ensure your router has a physical WPS button.
On your printer, press and hold the WiFi button until the light starts blinking.
Within 2 minutes, press the WPS button on your router.
The printer will automatically detect and connect to the network.
This method eliminates the need to enter the SSID and password manually and is ideal for users with limited technical experience.
For smartphone or tablet users, Canon offers the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app, which allows you to set up and manage your printer wirelessly.
Download the Canon PRINT app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Turn on your Canon printer and ensure it is in WiFi setup mode.
Open the app and tap on Add Printer.
Follow the on-screen instructions to connect the printer to your WiFi.
Once connected, you can print directly from your mobile device.
This method is great for Canon PIXMA models that support mobile printing and wireless configuration.
Once your Canon printer is connected to WiFi, you’ll need to install the appropriate drivers on your computer.
Visit the official Canon Support Page
Enter your printer model and download the latest drivers
Install the software and select Wireless Connection during setup
The installer will detect the printer on the network and complete the setup
Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners
Click the + button to add a new printer
Select your Canon printer from the list
The Mac will download drivers automatically or prompt for driver installation
After installation, try printing a test page to ensure the printer is working properly on your WiFi network.
If your Canon printer won’t connect to WiFi, try the following:
Double-check your WiFi password
Make sure your printer is within range of the router
Restart your printer, router, and computer
Reset network settings on the printer and try setup again
Ensure your router is set to 2.4GHz (some Canon models don’t support 5GHz)
Still not working? Use the Canon Print Assist tool on the support website or reach out to Canon printer customer support.
If the printer is still not connecting, consider resetting its network settings:
Navigate to Setup > Device Settings > Reset Settings
Choose Reset LAN settings
Confirm the reset and restart your printer
Reattempt the Wireless LAN setup process
This step removes any incorrect or outdated WiFi configurations.
Learning how to connect your Canon printer to WiFi opens the door to a much more flexible and convenient printing experience. Whether you choose the standard setup, WPS button method, or Canon PRINT app, you can set up wireless printing within minutes. Just follow the steps carefully, ensure your drivers are installed correctly, and your printer will be ready to print wirelessly across all your devices.
Don’t forget to keep your printer's firmware updated and drivers current to avoid future connectivity issues. And if you run into trouble, Canon's support resources and customer helpline are always available.