How to Connect Your Canon Printer to Your Phone

The fastest way depends on your printer model and phone type

Most Canon printers connect to phones through Canon's PRINT app, which works on both iPhone and Android. The app finds your printer on your home network and lets you print photos, documents, and web pages directly from your phone. Some newer Canon models also support AirPrint (iPhone only) or Mopria (Android only), which bypass the need for Canon's app entirely.

The connection happens over your home Wi-Fi network, not through a cable. Your printer and phone must be on the same network. If your printer doesn't have Wi-Fi built in, you cannot connect it to a phone wirelessly — you would need a wired connection to a computer instead.

The whole setup usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. Most of the time goes to finding your printer's Wi-Fi password and entering it into the printer's menu.

Key Takeaways

Download Canon's PRINT app on your phone, then add your printer by selecting it from the app's list of available devices on your network.
Your printer must have Wi-Fi capability and be connected to the same network as your phone for any wireless method to work.
iPhone users can also use AirPrint if their Canon printer supports it, which does not require downloading an extra app.
Android users with compatible Canon printers can use Mopria instead of Canon's app, though Canon's app works on all Android models.

Using Canon's PRINT app on any phone

This is the most reliable method because it works on nearly every Canon printer with Wi-Fi. Start by downloading Canon PRINT from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). The app is free and made by Canon.

Open the app and tap the button to add a new printer. The app will search your home network for Canon printers. When it finds yours, tap it to select it. The app will then ask you to confirm the connection — this usually happens automatically if your printer is already on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone.

Once connected, you can print by opening a photo or document on your phone, tapping the share or print button, and selecting your Canon printer from the list. The app also lets you scan documents directly to your phone if your printer has a scanner.

Using AirPrint on iPhone

If you have an iPhone and your Canon printer supports AirPrint, you do not need to download Canon's app. AirPrint is built into iOS and works automatically once your printer is on the same Wi-Fi network.

To print, open the document or photo you want to print, tap the share button (the square with an arrow), scroll down and tap Print, then select your Canon printer from the list. Your printer must appear in the list for AirPrint to work — if it does not show up, your model does not support AirPrint, and you should use Canon's PRINT app instead.

You can check if your specific Canon model supports AirPrint by visiting Canon's website and searching for your printer's model number, then looking for "AirPrint" in the specifications.

Using Mopria on Android

Android phones can use Mopria, a printing standard that works with many Canon printers without needing Canon's app. Download the Mopria Print Service from Google Play — it is free and made by the Mopria Alliance, not Canon.

Once installed, Mopria works automatically in the background. When you want to print from any app on your Android phone, open the document or photo, tap the menu button (three dots) or share button, select Print, and choose your Canon printer. Your printer must support Mopria for this to work.

Not all Canon printers support Mopria, so if your printer does not appear in the print menu after you install the service, use Canon's PRINT app instead. Canon's app works on all Android phones and all Canon printers with Wi-Fi.

What to do if your printer is not showing up

The most common reason a printer does not appear is that it is not on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone. Check your printer's display panel or settings menu to see which network it is connected to. Your phone should show the same network name in its Wi-Fi settings.

If both devices are on the same network and the printer still does not appear, restart your printer by turning it off, waiting 30 seconds, and turning it back on. Then restart the app on your phone. This clears temporary connection problems.

If the printer is very old, it may not have Wi-Fi at all. Check the back or side of the printer for a Wi-Fi symbol or antenna. If you see neither, your printer connects only through USB cable to a computer, and you cannot use it with a phone wirelessly.

Printing photos and documents from your phone

Once your printer is connected, printing works the same way across all methods. Open the photo or document you want to print, tap the share button or menu, and select print. Choose your Canon printer from the list, set the number of copies, and tap print.

For photos, you can usually choose the paper size and quality before printing. For documents, you can select whether to print in color or black and white. These options appear in the print preview screen before you confirm.

Printing usually takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on the document size and your printer model. The printer will show a light or message when it is done.

Scanning documents to your phone

If your Canon printer has a scanner and you are using Canon's PRINT app, you can scan documents directly to your phone. Open the app, tap the scan button, place your document on the scanner glass, and tap scan. The app will save the scanned image to your phone's photo library.

Scanned documents appear as image files (usually JPG format) rather than editable text. If you need to edit the text or convert it to a Word document, you would need to use a separate app like Google Lens or Adobe Acrobat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print to my Canon printer over the internet when I am not home?

Canon's PRINT app can print remotely if you set up a Canon account and enable cloud printing in the app settings. This requires your printer to be turned on and connected to Wi-Fi at home. Not all Canon models support this feature — check your printer's manual or Canon's website to confirm.

Do I need a password to connect my phone to my printer?

You do not need a printer password to connect through the app. Your phone and printer just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your Wi-Fi network itself requires a password, both devices must be connected to that same network, but the app handles the connection automatically once they are.

What if my Canon printer is older and does not show up in the app?

Older Canon printers may not support Wi-Fi at all, or may use an older Wi-Fi standard that the app no longer recognizes. Check your printer's manual to see if it has Wi-Fi capability. If it does, try restarting both the printer and your phone, or contact Canon support with your printer's model number for troubleshooting steps.

Can I print from my phone to a Canon printer on a different Wi-Fi network?

No. Your phone and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network to communicate. If your printer is on your home network and you are on a mobile hotspot, they cannot see each other. You would need to connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.

Is it safe to print personal documents through my phone?

Printing over your home Wi-Fi network is as safe as printing from a computer on the same network. The data travels between your phone and printer through your home network. If you are printing over the internet from outside your home, use a secure Wi-Fi connection and make sure your Canon account password is strong.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.