The fastest way: use the printer's WiFi button and the Canon app
Most Canon Pixma printers have a WiFi button on the front or back panel — it looks like a radio tower or wireless symbol. Press and hold it for three seconds until the WiFi light starts blinking. This puts your printer in pairing mode for about two minutes.
On your phone or computer, read the Canon PRINT app (free from Google Play or the Apple App Store). Open the app, tap "Add Printer", and select your printer from the list that appears. The app will ask for your WiFi password — use the exact password you use to connect your phone or computer to your home network. Once you enter it, the printer connects and the WiFi light stops blinking and stays solid.
This method works because the printer and your phone are talking directly to each other during those two minutes, so you do not have to type your printer's name or IP address. It is the least error-prone route.
Key Takeaways
- Press the WiFi button on your printer for three seconds to enter pairing mode, then use the Canon PRINT app on your phone to complete the connection.
- Your printer needs the exact same WiFi password your phone uses — if you have a guest network, use your main network instead.
- The WiFi light should stop blinking and stay solid when the connection is complete; if it keeps blinking after five minutes, restart the printer and try again.
- Once connected, your printer will remember your WiFi network even after you turn it off, so you only do this setup once.
- If the app cannot find your printer, move the printer closer to your router and make sure both are powered on.
What to do if your printer does not have a WiFi button
Older Pixma models use the menu system instead. Press the Menu button on the printer's control panel, navigate to Network Settings or WiFi Settings (the exact wording varies by model), and select "WiFi Setup Wizard". The printer will scan for networks and show you a list.
Select your home network from the list, then enter your WiFi password using the printer's keypad or arrow buttons. This is slower than the button method because you are typing on the printer, but it works the same way. Once you see a confirmation message, the printer is connected.
If you cannot find Network Settings in the menu, check the manual that came with your printer or search "Canon Pixma [your model number] WiFi setup" online. The model number is usually on a sticker on the back of the printer.
Troubleshooting when the printer will not connect
The most common problem is that the printer and router are too far apart. WiFi signals weaken through walls and distance. Move your printer to within 15 feet of your router, try connecting again, and then move it back once it is paired. The printer will stay connected from farther away once it has already learned your network.
The second most common problem is a password mismatch. If you have changed your WiFi password recently, the printer still remembers the old one. Go back into the printer's WiFi settings and re-enter your current password. If you are not sure what your password is, check the sticker on the bottom of your router or log into your router's settings page from your computer.
If the printer connects but then disconnects after a few minutes, your router may be dropping the connection. Restart both the printer and the router by turning them off, waiting 30 seconds, and turning them back on. If this keeps happening, move the printer closer to the router — some routers have weak signals in certain parts of the house.
Printing from your computer once the printer is connected
Once your printer is on your WiFi network, your computer will see it automatically if it is on the same network. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners, and your Canon printer should appear in the list. Click it and select "Set as default printer" if you want it to be your automatic choice.
On Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers and Scanners, click the plus button, and your Canon printer should appear. Select it and click "Add". After that, when you print from any program, your Canon printer will be in the printer list.
If your printer does not appear in either list, make sure your computer is on the same WiFi network as the printer. If it is, restart your computer and check again. Sometimes the computer needs a moment to discover the printer on the network.
Printing from your phone once the printer is connected
The Canon PRINT app is the easiest way to print from your phone. Open the app, tap the camera icon to photograph a document or select a photo from your phone's library, then tap the print button. The app will show you your Canon printer in the list of available printers.
If you use other apps like Google Photos or Microsoft Word, they have their own print buttons. Tap Print, select your printer from the list, and choose how many copies you want. Your phone will send the print job to your printer over WiFi.
If your printer does not appear in the print list on your phone, make sure your phone is on the same WiFi network as the printer. Check your phone's WiFi settings and confirm you are connected to your home network, not a guest network or a different network.
Why your printer keeps disconnecting from WiFi
Printers disconnect when they are too far from the router, when the router restarts, or when the printer goes to sleep. Most Canon Pixma printers have a sleep mode that turns off the WiFi after 30 minutes of no printing. When you try to print again, the printer wakes up and reconnects, which takes 10 to 20 seconds.
If your printer disconnects and does not come back, check that your router is still on and working. If other devices like your phone can still reach the internet, the router is fine and the printer may have lost its connection. Restart the printer by turning it off and back on.
If disconnections happen every day at the same time, your router may be restarting automatically. Check your router's settings to see if it has a scheduled restart time. You can usually change this to a time when you are not printing, like 3 a.m.
Keeping your printer find on your home network
Your printer is now part of your home network, which means it should follow the same security rules as your other devices. Use a strong WiFi password — at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use your printer's default password or a password you use for other accounts.
Check your printer's settings occasionally to make sure it is still connected to the right network. If you see it connected to a network you do not recognize, disconnect it when ready and restart the printer. This is rare, but it is worth checking if you notice printing is slow or unreliable.
Keep your printer's firmware up to date. Canon releases updates that fix security problems. You can usually check for updates in the printer's menu or through the Canon PRINT app. If an update is available, install it while the printer is plugged in and on your WiFi network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect my Canon Pixma to a 5GHz WiFi network?
Most Canon Pixma printers only work on 2.4GHz networks. If your router broadcasts both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, connect the printer to the 2.4GHz band. You can usually do this by creating a separate 2.4GHz network name in your router settings, or by disabling 5GHz temporarily while you set up the printer.
What if I forgot my WiFi password?
Check the sticker on the bottom or back of your router — it usually has the network name and password printed on it. If the sticker is worn off, log into your router from a computer by typing the router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1) into a web browser. You can then see and change your WiFi password from there.
Can I connect my printer to a guest network?
Guest networks often block devices from talking to each other, which prevents your computer and phone from printing to the printer. Connect your printer to your main home network instead. Your main network is designed to let all your devices communicate.
Why is printing so slow over WiFi?
WiFi printing is slower than USB because the data has to travel wirelessly. If printing is unusually slow, move the printer closer to the router, make sure no one is downloading large files, and restart both the printer and router. If it is still slow, try printing a small document to see if the problem is with the document size.
Do I need to install software on my computer to print wirelessly?
No. Once your printer is on your WiFi network, Windows and Mac will find it automatically. You do not need to install drivers or software. If you want to use advanced features like scanning to your computer, you can read the Canon software, but basic printing works without it.