How to Reconnect Canon Printer to Laptop? (Easy Steps)

The Canon printer may disconnect from the laptop for various reasons, including connectivity issues, outdated printer drivers, or other factors. As a result, when you send something to your printer to print, it will not respond and show error messages, such as “printer is offline.” Moreover, the printer may produce some sound like it’s printing, but nothing comes out. If it’s a wireless connection, the WiFi light on the printer may also stop flashing.

I am here to help you reconnect your Canon printer to your laptop using the best methods. With years of experience dealing with printers, I have categorized these methods as the most effective for instantly resolving any printer-related issues. So, let’s check how to reconnect your Canon printer to your laptop.

Method 1: Check Your Printer’s Connection

Connection is important in the overall performance of the printer. If it’s not well-connected to USB or WiFi, it won’t print. And it will not connect to your device either. In this case, your first priority should be to verify the printer’s connection, whether it is via USB or WiFi.

1. Ensure that the USB cable is securely connected to the USB ports on both the printer and the computer.

2. Try using a different USB port on the printer or laptop if the connection is not working.

3. If you’re using a WiFi connection, ensure that the wireless connection is within the required range.

4. Ensure that the printer and laptop are on the same network.

Once you verify your Canon printer’s connection, it will reconnect to the laptop. However, if the problem doesn’t resolve, you can move on to the next method.

Method 2: Reconnect the Canon printer to WiFi

The connection between the Canon printer and WiFi might be lost due to a technical glitch. As a result, the printer goes offline. You can resolve this issue by reconnecting the printer to the WiFi using the following steps.

Option 1: Via the WPS Push Button

You can reconnect your printer to a wireless network using the WPS push button. You can use this method only if your wireless router has a WPS button. Here are the steps to connect the printer to a wireless network.

1. Confirm that your Canon printer is ON and the wireless network is within range.

2. Then press and hold the WiFi button on the Canon printer until the wireless light starts flashing.

3. Press the WPS push button on the WiFi router within 2 minutes.

Finally, your Canon printer will connect to your network automatically without entering any passwords.

Option 2: Via Canon PRINT App

If you’re using a mobile device with your Canon printer, use the Canon PRINT app to reconnect it to a wireless network. Here are the steps to use it:

• Confirm that your printer is ON by checking the main power switch. Then, download and install the Canon PRINT/SELPHY app on your smartphone using the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

• Go to the Settings on the Canon printer’s display and locate Device Settings.

• Select LAN Settings or WiFi Setup from the on-screen options.

• Select Easy Wireless Connect and follow the instructions.

• Launch the Canon PRINT app on your mobile, click on the printer icon, and select the Register Printer option.

• If your printer isn’t in the list, choose the “printer cannot be found” option.

• Then, select Auto Connection.

Enter the WiFi password when the printer asks.

Method 3: Set the Canon Printer as the Default Printer

If your Canon printer is not set as the default, it may go offline and not respond to the print commands from the laptop. In this situation, you need to set the printer as the default printer using these steps.

1. Type Settings in the search field at the bottom of the computer’s screen.

2. Select Bluetooth & Devices from the Settings menu, and select Printers & Scanners.

3. Select your Canon printer from the list of devices, and select the Set as Default option.

You should also disable the “Let Windows manage my default printer” option if it’s turned on. Once the printer is set as the default, it will reconnect to the laptop and regain online access.

Method 4: Reinstall the Canon Printer Drivers

Printer drivers are software that are important for the functioning of a Canon printer. These drivers enable the printer to recognize commands from the laptop. When they are not up to date, the printer won’t understand anything and will show an offline error message. However, you can fix this issue by updating the printer drivers using the following steps.

1. Visit support.usa.canon.com on a browser and select the Support section at the top.

2. Search for your Canon printer model in the search field.

3. Select Software & Drivers on the screen, and then select your operating system.

4. Then, select a suitable printer driver package from the list displayed on the screen.

5. Let it download to your computer, and then locate the driver’s file in the Downloads folder.

6. Double-click the file to install it on your computer.

That’s it for reconnecting the Canon printer to your laptop. By following all these methods, your printer will get back online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

How Do I Reconnect My Canon Printer to My Laptop?

Learn "How to Reconnect your Canon Printer to a Laptop", such as:

• Check the printer’s connections.

• Set your printer as the default printer.

• Reinstall the Canon printer drivers.

• Reconnect the printer to WiFi 

Question

Why Does My Canon Printer Lose Connection with My Laptop?

Your Canon printer may lose connection with your laptop when its connection is weak. Additionally, the printer drivers may also be out of date, which prevents the printer from connecting to a network or device. In many cases, the printer loses connection when it’s not set as the default printer on the system. 

Question

Why Set the Canon Printer as the Default?

Setting the Canon printer as the default is essential to ensure all print jobs are automatically processed. A default printer is one that is recognized by the computer as the primary choice for printing. If it’s not set as one, it won’t respond to the print commands. 

Source: How to Reconnect Canon Printer to Laptop