The basic steps for most Canon printers

Most Canon printers connect to WiFi through a menu on the printer itself, not through your computer. You'll use the printer's buttons or touchscreen to find the WiFi settings, select your network, and enter your password. Once the printer shows it's connected, your computer or phone will see it on the network and you can print wirelessly.

The exact steps depend on whether your printer has a touchscreen display or just physical buttons. Printers made in the last five years almost always have a small color screen. Older models use arrow buttons and a small LCD display instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Most Canon printers connect through their own menu system, not through your computer's settings.
  • You need your WiFi network name and password before you start, and the printer must be plugged in and turned on.
  • Touchscreen printers show a WiFi icon or network menu directly; button-based printers require navigating through a settings menu.
  • After the printer connects, install the Canon printer driver on your computer so it can find and use the printer.
  • If the printer won't connect, restart both the printer and your WiFi router, then try again.

Connecting a Canon printer with a touchscreen

Look at the home screen on your printer's display. You should see a WiFi icon (usually looks like curved lines) or a menu option labeled Network or Settings. Tap the WiFi icon or Network option.

The printer will show you a list of available networks. Find your WiFi network name in that list and tap it. A keyboard will appear on the screen. Type your WiFi password exactly as it is — uppercase and lowercase letters matter. Once you've entered the password, tap OK or Connect.

The printer will attempt to connect. This usually takes 10 to 30 seconds. When it's successful, the WiFi icon on the home screen will show a solid connection (not grayed out). If the connection fails, double-check that you typed the password correctly and try again.

Connecting a Canon printer with physical buttons

Press the Menu button on your printer. Use the arrow buttons to scroll down to Settings or Network Setup. Press OK to enter that menu.

Look for an option called WiFi Setup, Wireless LAN, or Network. Press OK to select it. The printer will show you a list of available networks. Use the arrow buttons to highlight your network name and press OK.

When prompted, use the arrow buttons and number pad to enter your WiFi password. This is slower than typing on a touchscreen, but the process is the same — you're entering each character one at a time. Once the password is complete, press OK. The printer will connect within 30 seconds and return to the main menu.

Installing the printer driver on your computer

After the printer is connected to WiFi, your computer still needs the Canon printer driver — software that lets your computer communicate with the printer. Without it, your computer won't see the printer even though it's on the network.

Go to Canon's support website and search for your printer model number. You can find the model number on a sticker on the back or bottom of the printer, or in the printer's settings menu. Download the driver for your operating system (Windows or Mac).

Run the installer file you downloaded. Follow the on-screen prompts. When the installer asks how you want to connect, select Network or WiFi connection. The installer will search for your printer on the network and find it automatically. Once installation is complete, restart your computer.

What to do if the printer won't connect to WiFi

The most common reason a Canon printer won't connect is an incorrect password. Check that your WiFi password is typed correctly — spaces, numbers, and special characters all matter. If you're not sure of your password, check your WiFi router's settings or contact your internet provider.

If the password is correct, restart both the printer and your WiFi router. Turn off the printer, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Unplug your router, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Once both devices have restarted, try connecting again.

If the printer still won't connect, check that your printer is within range of your WiFi router — most printers need to be in the same room or adjacent room. If your router is far away, move the printer closer and try again. Some older Canon printers also don't support the 5GHz band on modern routers; if you have a dual-band router, try connecting to the 2.4GHz network instead.

Printing wirelessly after setup

Once the printer is connected and the driver is installed, printing wirelessly works like printing to any other printer. On Windows, open the document you want to print, go to File > Print, and select your Canon printer from the list. On Mac, open the document, go to File > Print, and find your Canon printer in the dropdown menu.

Your printer should appear in the list with its model number. If it doesn't show up, restart your computer and check that the printer is still connected to WiFi. The WiFi icon on the printer's display should show a solid connection.

Connecting through WiFi Direct if your network isn't available

Some Canon printers support WiFi Direct, which lets you print from your phone or computer without connecting to your home WiFi network. This is useful if your WiFi is down or if you're away from home.

On the printer, look for a WiFi Direct option in the Network or Settings menu. Turn it on. The printer will create its own temporary network with a name and password shown on the display. On your phone or computer, go to your WiFi settings and select the printer's network name. Enter the password shown on the printer's screen.

Once connected, you can print to the printer just as you would over regular WiFi. WiFi Direct only works when the printer is turned on and in range, and it uses more battery power on phones and tablets than regular WiFi printing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find my printer's model number?

The model number is printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the printer. It usually starts with "Canon" followed by letters and numbers, like "Canon PIXMA MG3620" or "Canon imageCLASS MF445dw". You can also find it in the printer's settings menu under Device Information or About.

Can I connect my Canon printer to WiFi if I don't have a touchscreen?

Yes. Printers with only physical buttons use the Menu and arrow buttons to navigate to Network or WiFi Setup, then follow the same process of selecting your network and entering your password. It takes longer because you enter the password character by character, but the result is the same.

Do I need to connect the printer to WiFi if I only print from my phone?

Yes, the printer must be connected to the same WiFi network as your phone. Some Canon printers also support WiFi Direct, which creates a direct connection between the printer and your phone without needing a home network, but standard WiFi connection is more reliable for regular use.

What if my Canon printer is very old and doesn't have WiFi?

Older Canon printers without built-in WiFi cannot be connected wirelessly without additional hardware. You would need to print over a USB cable connected directly to your computer, or purchase a separate WiFi-enabled printer. Check your printer's manual or Canon's website to confirm whether your model supports WiFi.

Why does my printer show as connected but my computer can't find it?

The printer driver may not be installed on your computer. Download and install the Canon driver for your printer model from Canon's support website, then restart your computer. If the driver is already installed, restart both the printer and your computer to refresh the connection.