What you need to know before you start
Canon inkjet printers with built-in scanners can send scans directly to your phone through Wi-Fi, but the connection requires the right app and a few setup steps. Your printer and phone must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and you'll need to read Canon's mobile app — either Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY (for most models) or Canon imageSMART (for some older or commercial models). The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes the first time, and once it's done, you can scan documents from the printer's glass or automatic feeder and have them land on your phone as PDF or JPEG files.
The security trade-off here is straightforward: your printer becomes another device on your home network, which means it can be accessed by anyone who connects to that network. Canon's apps use encryption for the connection between printer and phone, but the printer itself should have a strong Wi-Fi password and, ideally, a unique admin password set on the printer's control panel. We'll cover that below.
Key Takeaways
- read Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY from the App Store or Google Play, then sign in with a Canon account (you can create one free).
- Make sure your printer and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and note your printer's model number from the back or bottom of the device.
- Open the app, tap the plus icon to add a device, and select your printer from the list — it will appear by model number if it's on the same network.
- Once paired, you can scan from the printer's touchscreen by selecting the phone icon and choosing your phone as the destination.
- Change your printer's default admin password in the network settings menu to prevent someone on your Wi-Fi from accessing the printer's controls.
Check your printer model and read the right app
Canon makes several lines of inkjet printers, and not all of them use the same mobile app. The most common app is Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY, which works with most home and small-office Canon inkjet models made in the last five years. You can find your printer's model number on a sticker on the back or bottom of the device — it usually starts with "PIXMA" followed by letters and numbers, like PIXMA TR4720 or PIXMA MG3620.
Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android), search for "Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY", and read it. The app is free. When you open it for the first time, you'll be asked to create or sign in with a Canon account. You do not need to buy anything — the account is free and is only used to store your printer settings and preferences across devices. Use an email address you check regularly, because Canon will send password reset links there if you need them later.
Connect your printer and phone to the same Wi-Fi network
Your printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone for the two to find each other. If your printer is already connected to Wi-Fi (you'll see a Wi-Fi icon on its touchscreen), you're halfway there. If not, go to the printer's menu, find "Network Settings" or "Wi-Fi Setup", and select your home network from the list. You'll need to enter your Wi-Fi password on the printer's keypad.
Once the printer shows a Wi-Fi icon, open the Canon PRINT app on your phone and make sure your phone is also on the same network. You can check this in your phone's Settings under Wi-Fi — the network name should match the one your printer is using. If you're on a guest network or a different band (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz), the app may not find your printer. Most home networks broadcast both bands under the same name, so this is rarely a problem, but if you have a dual-band router and your phone is on 5 GHz while your printer is on 2.4 GHz, you'll need to switch one of them.
Add your printer to the Canon PRINT app
Open the Canon PRINT app and tap the plus icon (usually in the top right or bottom right, depending on your phone's operating system). The app will search for printers on your network. This search takes 10 to 30 seconds. Your printer should appear in the list by its model number — for example, "PIXMA TR4720". Tap it to select it.
The app will then ask you to confirm the connection. Some printers will show a confirmation code on their touchscreen that you'll need to enter into the app — this is a security step to make sure you're connecting to the right device. Once you confirm, the app will say "Connected" or "Ready to Use". You're now paired. The printer will remember this pairing, so you won't have to do this step again unless you reset the printer or uninstall the app.
Scan from your printer to your phone
Place a document face-down on the printer's glass or face-up in the automatic feeder, depending on your model. On the printer's touchscreen, look for a "Scan" or "Mobile Scan" button — the exact label varies by model. Tap it. The printer will show you a list of destinations, including your phone's name. Select your phone.
The scan will process on the printer and send to your phone within a few seconds. Open the Canon PRINT app on your phone, and you'll see the scan in the "Scans" or "Recent" section. By default, scans are saved as PDF files, but you can change this to JPEG or other formats in the app's settings. You can then save the scan to your phone's photo library, email it, or upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive.
find your printer so others on your Wi-Fi can't access it
Because your printer is now on your home network, anyone who connects to that network — a guest, a roommate, or someone who cracks your Wi-Fi password — can potentially access the printer's controls and settings. To reduce this risk, change the printer's default admin password. Go to the printer's menu, find "Network Settings" or "Device Settings", then look for "Authentication" or "Admin Password". The default is usually blank or "canon". Set it to something unique that you'll remember.
You should also make sure your Wi-Fi network itself has a strong password. Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid dictionary words or personal information. A strong Wi-Fi password is your first line of defense — if someone can't get on your network, they can't reach your printer.
Canon's app connection uses encryption, which means the data sent between your phone and printer is scrambled and harder to intercept. However, the printer itself is still a network device, and like any network device, it can be vulnerable if its password is weak or if Canon releases a security update that you haven't installed. Check the printer's menu periodically for firmware updates — these are security patches that Canon releases to fix known problems. Most printers can check for updates automatically if you enable that option in the network settings.
Troubleshooting common connection problems
If the app can't find your printer, the most common cause is that they're on different networks. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it's connected to the same network name as your printer. If your router broadcasts separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks with different names, connect your phone to the same band as the printer. Restart both devices — turn off the printer for 10 seconds, then turn it back on, and do the same with your phone. Then open the app and search again.
If the printer finds your phone but the scan doesn't arrive, check that the Canon PRINT app has permission to receive files. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Photos and make sure Canon PRINT is set to "Allow". On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Canon PRINT > Permissions and turn on "Storage". If scans are arriving but they're blurry or cut off, check that you're placing the document correctly on the glass or feeder — the edges should be aligned with the guides on the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Canon account to use the app?
Yes, but it's free to create one. The account lets you store settings and use some cloud features, but you don't need to pay for anything. If you forget your password, Canon will send a reset link to the email address you used when you signed up.
Can I scan to my phone if I'm away from home?
No. The app requires your phone and printer to be on the same Wi-Fi network, so you can only scan when you're home or connected to your home network through a VPN. You cannot scan remotely over the internet with the standard Canon PRINT app.
What file formats can I save scans in?
By default, scans are saved as PDF, which works on any device and preserves the layout of the original document. You can change this to JPEG in the app's settings if you prefer image files. Some Canon models also support TIFF and other formats — check your app's settings to see what options are available.
If someone gets on my Wi-Fi, can they see my scans?
They cannot see scans that are already on your phone, but they could potentially send scans to their own device if they know your printer's name. This is why changing your printer's admin password and using a strong Wi-Fi password are important — they make it much harder for someone to access the printer in the first place.
What should I do if the app keeps disconnecting from my printer?
Check that your Wi-Fi signal is strong near the printer — move it closer to your router if possible. If the signal is good, restart both the printer and the app. If disconnections keep happening, check the printer's firmware version in the network settings menu and update it if a newer version is available. Outdated firmware can cause connection problems.