Canon Printer Not Connecting to WiFi: Fix It
Canon Printer WiFi Guide WiFi troubleshooting resource
Wireless printing • Practical guide

Canon Printer Not Connecting to WiFi?

Start with the connection. Check the network, choose the right setup method, and confirm your printer is ready to print again.

Start troubleshooting ↓

Windows • Mac • iPhone • Android
Menu names and wireless features vary by model.

Illustration of a printer connecting through a home Wi-Fi router to a laptop
Your printer and device need a reachable connection on the same home network.

The quick answer

Turn the printer off normally, restart your router, and wait for Wi-Fi to return. Turn the printer on, confirm the correct network name and password, and reconnect using the printer panel or Canon PRINT app. If the printer is connected but still shows offline, check its queue and computer connection before resetting anything.

Identify the problem

Why won't my Canon printer connect to WiFi?

A changed router password, an unsupported wireless band, weak signal, or an isolated guest network can stop the connection. An offline message can also come from the computer even when the printer has already joined Wi-Fi.

01 / NETWORK NOT FOUND

Your Wi-Fi name is missing

Check signal strength, whether the network name is hidden, and whether your router is broadcasting a band the printer supports.

02 / CONNECTION FAILED

The password is rejected

Use your current Wi-Fi password, not the router admin password. Check case, spaces, and your printer's wireless security compatibility.

03 / CONNECTED BUT OFFLINE

The computer cannot print

Confirm both devices are on the same reachable network. Then check the selected printer, paused jobs, and the saved printer connection.

Work through these in order

How to fix a Canon printer not connecting to WiFi

1

Restart the printer and router safely

Cancel active printing and turn the printer off with its power button. Wait until shutdown finishes before disconnecting power. Restart the router using its normal restart procedure; do not press its factory-reset button. Allow the router to restore the network, then turn the printer back on and try again.

Check: Can your phone browse the internet through the same router? If not, resolve the home-network problem first.

Conceptual illustration of an inkjet printer and home router for the safe restart step
Restart only after the printer has completed its normal shutdown.
2

Check the wireless band and network isolation

Many Canon printers use 2.4 GHz, while some models also support 5 GHz. Check your model's specifications rather than assuming all printers work the same way. If your printer is 2.4 GHz only, make sure that band is enabled on the router.

Your computer can use 5 GHz while the printer uses 2.4 GHz if both bands share the same local network and devices can communicate. During a difficult setup, connecting the phone temporarily to 2.4 GHz may help. Avoid guest networks or client isolation that block device-to-device communication.

Illustration of a printer, router, and laptop with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz labels for checking model compatibility
Wireless-band support differs by printer model; check before changing router settings.
3

Confirm the network name and password

Choose your home network's exact SSID. Enter the current Wi-Fi password carefully, including capital letters and punctuation. A replacement router may have a different password even if its network name looks familiar.

If the password is correct but setup fails, check whether the router's security mode is compatible with the printer. Do not remove Wi-Fi security to make the connection work.

Illustration of a laptop showing a home Wi-Fi network and masked password beside a printer
Use your current home Wi-Fi details, not the router administrator password.
4

Move closer and retry discovery

Place the printer nearer the main router during setup, away from thick walls, large metal objects, and sources of interference. On a mesh network, try setup near the main unit. If band steering causes repeated discovery failures, use your router's available setup options to temporarily separate bands, then test again.

Illustration of a printer placed close to a home wireless router to improve signal strength
A shorter distance to the main router can make setup and discovery easier.
5

Reconnect after a router or password change

Run Wi-Fi setup again using one of the methods below. Re-entering the new credentials is usually more appropriate than a complete factory reset. When finished, check the printer's network information and send one small test print.

Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark
After reconnecting, confirm the network and print one small document.
Skip generic button combinations. Holding Wi-Fi and Stop together, or holding a button for a fixed number of seconds, is not a universal Canon procedure. Use the setup sequence for your exact model.
Choose your setup method

How to connect a Canon printer to WiFi

Method A: Printer control panel

Use this option if your printer has a screen and a manual wireless setup menu.

  1. Turn on the printer and open Setup or Settings. Conceptual illustration of an inkjet printer and home router for the safe restart step
  2. Look for LAN settings, Wi-Fi setup, or a similar network menu. Illustration of a printer, router, and laptop with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz labels for checking model compatibility
  3. Select Manual connect or the network-selection option available on your model. Illustration of a printer, router, and laptop with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz labels for checking model compatibility
  4. Select your home Wi-Fi name and enter its password. Illustration of a laptop showing a home Wi-Fi network and masked password beside a printer
  5. Confirm the connection, then print or view network information to check the SSID. Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark

These are common menu labels, not an exact path for every PIXMA or MAXIFY printer.

Method B: Canon PRINT app

Use the model-compatible Canon PRINT app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

  1. Connect your phone to the home Wi-Fi network you want the printer to use. Illustration of a printer, router, and laptop with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz labels for checking model compatibility
  2. Enable Easy Wireless Connect or Cableless Setup on the printer using its model-specific procedure. Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark
  3. Open the app and choose the option to add or register a printer. Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark
  4. Allow local-network or nearby-device permissions when prompted for setup. Illustration of a laptop showing a home Wi-Fi network and masked password beside a printer
  5. Follow the app instructions to select the network and enter the password. Illustration of a laptop showing a home Wi-Fi network and masked password beside a printer
  6. Finish registration and print a small document. Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark

If the app asks you to join a temporary printer network, do so only as instructed. A brief loss of internet access during setup can be normal.

Two original captioned videos

Watch the Wi-Fi troubleshooting and setup guides

These silent illustrated videos include readable captions. They explain the sequence, not the exact menus or buttons of a particular model. No autoplay or external video player.

Canon Wi-Fi: five connection checks

35 seconds • silent • captions included

Read video transcript
  1. Restart safely: Switch the printer off normally. Restart the router and wait for Wi-Fi to return.
  2. Check the wireless band: Use a band your printer model supports. Keep devices on the same reachable home network.
  3. Confirm name and password: Choose the exact home network name. Enter the current Wi-Fi password carefully.
  4. Improve the signal: Move the printer closer to the main router for setup. Avoid isolated guest networks.
  5. Reconnect and test: Run wireless setup again after a router change. Confirm the network and send a test print.

Canon Wi-Fi: reconnect and print

42 seconds • silent • captions included

Read video transcript
  1. Choose a setup method: Use manual network selection on a suitable printer screen, or the compatible Canon PRINT app.
  2. Use the printer panel: Open the network settings available on your model. Choose manual connection when offered.
  3. Enter home Wi-Fi details: Select your home network. Enter the current Wi-Fi password and confirm the connection.
  4. Or use the mobile app: Enable model-specific Easy Wireless Connect. Add the printer in Canon PRINT and follow prompts.
  5. Windows connection repair: On compatible models, open Wi-Fi Connection Assistant and choose Diagnose and Repair.
  6. Print one test page: If the printer is connected but offline, check the selected printer entry and the print queue.
Windows reconnection

Use Wi-Fi Connection Assistant on Windows

On compatible printers, Wi-Fi Connection Assistant can diagnose and repair the connection between a Windows computer and the printer. Available features depend on your model and installed utility version.

  1. Connect the computer to your home network and switch the printer on. Illustration of a printer, router, and laptop with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz labels for checking model compatibility
  2. Search the Windows Start menu for Wi-Fi Connection Assistant. It may appear under Canon Utilities. Conceptual illustration of an inkjet printer and home router for the safe restart step
  3. Open the utility and select Diagnose and Repair. Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark
  4. Allow it to check the computer and search for printers. Select the correct printer if a list appears. Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark
  5. If prompted, activate Easy Wireless Connect using the instructions shown for your model. Do not copy a button sequence intended for another printer. Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark
  6. Let the utility finish. A temporary network switch may happen during configuration. Illustration of a printer placed close to a home wireless router to improve signal strength
  7. Use Test Print if offered, then close the utility after the connection succeeds. Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark

If the utility is missing, you need the installer intended for your printer model and Windows version. Not every compatible printer offers every repair function. Do not assume this Windows procedure applies to macOS.

Connection versus print queue

Connected to WiFi but still offline?

On Windows

Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners on Windows 11. Select your printer and inspect the print queue. Cancel stuck jobs and resume printing if the queue is paused. If your queue interface includes Use Printer Offline, make sure it is not selected.

Check that the selected entry is your current network printer rather than an old USB installation or duplicate. If its address changed after the router was replaced, remove and add that printer entry again after confirming the network connection.

Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark
Illustration: verify the current printer entry and try a small test print after reconnecting.

On Mac

Open System Settings → Printers & Scanners, choose the printer, and check its queue. Resume paused printing and remove stalled jobs. Make sure the Mac is on the same reachable home network.

If the printer remains unavailable after reconnecting, remove the affected entry and add it again. Choose AirPrint where your model supports it or the appropriate model-compatible software. Avoid resetting the entire printing system as an initial step.

Illustration of a reconnected printer producing a test page beside a phone showing a connection checkmark
Illustration: verify the current printer entry and try a small test print after reconnecting.
Paper and ink errors are separate. A jam, open cover, or cartridge warning can stop printing, but it does not by itself explain why a printer cannot join a Wi-Fi network. Resolve any displayed error, then check the connection separately.

When should you reset the printer's network settings?

Consider a network reset if old connection details cannot be replaced or repeated setup attempts fail after the basic checks. Use Reset LAN settings or the network-only reset option available for your model. This clears saved network information, so you will need to run wireless setup again.

A full factory reset can clear unrelated preferences and is not the default fix. Printers without a screen use different button procedures; do not guess based on instructions for a different PIXMA model.

Illustration of a laptop showing a home Wi-Fi network and masked password beside a printer
A network-only reset clears saved network details; repeat setup with your current credentials.

What if the router connection still fails?

Wireless Direct, where supported, connects your device directly to the printer without a traditional router connection. It does not repair your home Wi-Fi, and internet access may be interrupted while your device is connected to the printer. Use the printer's displayed or printed Direct network details, rather than assuming a default password.

A USB cable is another option on compatible models. Ethernet is available only on printers with a wired network port; it is different from Wireless Direct.

Match the symptom to the next action

What you see What to check next
Home Wi-Fi is not listed Supported band, broadcast SSID, distance, and router availability.
Password is correct but connection fails Exact SSID, security compatibility, and whether the router settings changed.
App cannot discover the printer Wireless setup mode, app permissions, and guest/client isolation.
Printer disconnects repeatedly Signal strength, mesh placement, interference, and router stability.
Wi-Fi connected, computer says offline Reachable local network, correct printer entry, queue, and saved address.
People also ask

Canon printer WiFi questions answered

How do I reset my Canon printer to a new Wi-Fi network?

First try running Wi-Fi setup again and entering the new network name and password. If the printer cannot replace the old details, use its network-only reset option, then repeat setup through the control panel or compatible Canon PRINT app. The exact reset procedure depends on the model.

How do I reconnect my printer to Wi-Fi?

Restart the printer and router, confirm the correct Wi-Fi name and password, and run the printer's wireless setup. Use manual network selection or the compatible setup app. After the printer joins the network, check that your computer or phone can find it and send a test print.

How do I set up my Canon printer wirelessly?

On a model with a suitable screen, open Wi-Fi setup, select your home network, and enter the password. Alternatively, activate Easy Wireless Connect using the model's procedure and follow the Canon PRINT app prompts. WPS is another option only when both the printer and router support it.

Why is my Canon PIXMA printer not connecting?

Common causes include an old password, the wrong network name, an unsupported wireless band, weak signal, or router isolation. If the printer already shows a network connection, investigate discovery and print-queue issues instead of repeatedly resetting Wi-Fi.

How do I reset the Wi-Fi on a Canon printer?

Look for a network-only option such as Reset LAN settings in the printer's settings. Button-only models have their own reset sequences. Resetting clears saved connection details, so have your current Wi-Fi name and password ready before reconnecting.

Why is my printer suddenly not connecting to Wi-Fi?

A new router, changed password, power interruption, weak signal, or changed router settings may cause a sudden failure. Check whether other devices can use the router, then check the printer's network status. Reconfigure wireless setup if the network credentials changed.

How do I get my Canon wireless printer back online?

Wake the printer, resolve displayed errors, and confirm its connection to your home network. On the computer, select the correct printer, resume a paused queue, and clear stalled jobs. If an old printer entry no longer points to the reconnected device, add the printer again.

How do I connect my Canon printer to Wi-Fi?

Use Manual connect on the printer's panel when available, or use Easy Wireless Connect with the compatible Canon PRINT app. Select your home network, enter its password, and complete setup. Check the printer's network information and test printing afterward.

Do my printer and phone have to use the same Wi-Fi band?

They need to be on the same reachable local network, not necessarily the same band. A phone on 5 GHz can usually communicate with a printer on 2.4 GHz when the router bridges both bands. Some setup situations work more smoothly with the phone temporarily on 2.4 GHz.

Should I factory reset or uninstall the driver first?

No. Start with the network name, password, supported band, and connection status. A complete factory reset can erase unrelated settings, while reinstalling a driver will not fix an incorrect Wi-Fi password. Change the driver or reset network settings only when your checks point to that problem.

Confirm the fix before you finish

  • The printer shows your intended home network.
  • Your computer or phone can discover the printer.
  • A small test document prints successfully.
  • The printer remains available after it has been idle.

If setup still fails, note the exact model, displayed error, network status, and the step that failed. These details help distinguish a router compatibility issue from a printer, app, or computer problem.