Canon Printer Not Connecting to WiFi — 8 Fixes That Actually Work

The Most Important Thing — The 2.4GHz Requirement

Modern routers from US providers including Comcast Xfinity, AT&T, and Verizon — and Canadian providers including Bell, Rogers, and Telus — broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals simultaneously. Many show only one network name in your WiFi list but run both bands at the same time. Your phone and laptop automatically connect to 5GHz because it is faster. When you use your phone to set up the Canon printer, it transfers 5GHz network credentials to the printer — credentials the printer physically cannot use — and setup fails without any clear error message.

How to Confirm and Fix the 2.4GHz Issue

1. Log into your router admin panel — typically at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 for most US and Canadian routers.
2. Go to WiFi or Wireless settings and confirm the 2.4GHz band is enabled and broadcasting a visible network name.
3. If your router shows only one network name for both bands, look for a Band Steering or Smart Connect setting and disable it to create separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz network names.
4. On your phone, go to WiFi settings and manually select the 2.4GHz network name specifically before running any Canon printer setup. The printer will then receive 2.4GHz credentials it can actually use.

FIX 1Restart Everything in the Correct Order

The correct restart sequence resolves temporary network conflicts and is always the first fix to try. Most people restart the printer and router simultaneously — this does not work. The order matters.

1. Turn off your Canon printer using the Power button. Do not unplug it yet — shut it down through the normal process.
2. Unplug your WiFi router from the wall outlet. Wait a full two minutes — not thirty seconds. This allows the router to completely clear its connection table and DHCP assignments.
3. Plug the router back in and wait for it to fully restart and stabilise — typically 60 to 90 seconds. Wait for all indicator lights to return to their normal steady state before proceeding.
4. Turn your Canon printer back on and wait for it to complete its full initialisation sequence.
5. Try connecting to WiFi again through Settings → LAN Settings → Wireless LAN Setup on the printer panel.

FIX 2Reconnect Canon Printer to WiFi Manually

If the printer has lost its WiFi connection or is connecting to the wrong network, reconnecting manually through the printer panel is the most reliable method.

Via Printer Panel

1. On the printer panel press the Settings button.
2. Navigate to Device Settings → LAN Settings → Wireless LAN Setup.
3. The printer scans for available networks. Confirm your 2.4GHz network name appears in the list.
4. Select your 2.4GHz network. Enter your WiFi password carefully — pay close attention to uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
5. Confirm and wait. A solid WiFi lamp indicates successful connection.

Via WPS Button — Fastest Method

If your router has a physical WPS button, this connects the printer in under two minutes without password entry.

1. Press and hold the WiFi button on the printer until the WiFi lamp starts flashing, then release.
2. Press the Color button once, then press the WiFi button again. The network lamp will also start flashing — the printer is now in WPS pairing mode.
3. Within two minutes, press and hold the WPS button on your router for 2–3 seconds.
4. When the printer WiFi lamp goes solid, the connection is complete.

FIX 3Reinstall Complete Canon Drivers

Incorrect or incomplete driver installation is the most common underlying cause of persistent Canon printer WiFi failures that resist other fixes. When Windows first detects a Canon printer it silently installs a basic generic driver that completely disables wireless printing without any notification or warning.

1. Open Control Panel → Programs and Features on Windows.
2. Remove every Canon-related entry in the list — Canon printer drivers, IJ Scan Utility, Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool, and any other Canon software shown.
3. Restart your computer completely after uninstalling all Canon entries.
4. Go to ij.start.canon, search your Canon model, and download the Full Software Package — not Drivers Only.
5. Run the installer as administrator. When asked for connection type, choose Wireless LAN Connection and allow it to find your printer automatically on the network.

FIX 4Canon Printer Not Connecting After Router Change

Changing your router or switching internet providers is one of the most common triggers for Canon printer WiFi failure. The printer stores only one set of WiFi credentials — once the router changes, those credentials are invalid and the printer cannot connect using them.

1. Clear stored network settings: On most Canon PIXMA models, press and hold the WiFi button for 5 seconds until the WiFi lamp flashes multiple times. On models with a display panel, navigate to Settings → Device Settings → Reset Settings → Reset LAN Settings and confirm.
2. Wait 30 seconds, then reconnect using Fix 2 above with your new router's 2.4GHz credentials.
3. On Windows: Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, click the Canon printer and select Remove device. Then click Add a printer or scanner and re-add it.
4. On Mac: Go to System Settings → Printers & Scanners, select the Canon printer, click the minus button to remove it, then click the plus button to re-add.

FIX 5Canon Printer Keeps Disconnecting from WiFi

If your Canon printer connects successfully but repeatedly drops its WiFi connection, the cause is almost always one of three things: the printer receiving a new IP address after each router restart, the printer entering power saving mode and dropping its network connection, or the printer being too far from the router for a stable 2.4GHz signal.

The Permanent Fix — DHCP Reservation

1. Log into your router admin panel at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
2. Navigate to DHCP Settings — sometimes called Address Reservation, LAN Settings, or Connected Devices depending on your router brand.
3. Find your Canon printer in the connected devices list. It is identified by its MAC address, which is printed on a label on the bottom of the printer or available through Settings → LAN Settings → Confirm LAN Settings.
4. Create a DHCP reservation using the printer's MAC address and assign it a permanent fixed IP address such as 192.168.1.100.
5. Save the reservation. Your printer will always receive the same IP address from now on, regardless of how many times the router restarts.

Power Saving Mode Fix

Canon printers have a configurable power saving mode that drops the WiFi connection after inactivity. Navigate to Settings → ECO Settings → Auto Power Off and either extend the timeout or disable automatic power off entirely. Keeping the printer in standby maintains a continuous WiFi connection.

Signal Strength Fix

If the printer is far from your router or separated by multiple walls, the 2.4GHz signal may not be strong enough for a stable connection. Move the printer within clear line of sight of the router if possible, or place a WiFi extender between the router and printer to boost the signal without physically relocating either device.

FIX 6Canon Printer Not Connecting to WiFi on Windows 11

Windows 11 introduced specific changes that affect Canon printer WiFi connectivity in ways Windows 10 users never experienced.

Windows Update Replacing Canon Drivers

Windows 11 silently replaces correctly installed Canon manufacturer drivers with generic Microsoft drivers during routine updates — without any notification. The generic replacement lacks the wireless printing components. After the update, the printer appears in your printer list but cannot be found on the network when you try to print.

Check whether your Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool still opens correctly after any Windows 11 update. If it does not open or scanning has stopped, a Windows 11 update has replaced your Canon drivers. The fix is the complete removal and reinstallation described in Fix 3.

Windows 11 Smart App Control

Smart App Control in Windows 11 can block Canon installer files from running entirely. If the Canon installer refuses to launch, right-click the installer file and select Properties, then look for an Unblock checkbox at the bottom and enable it. Alternatively go to Windows Security → App and Browser Control → Smart App Control and temporarily set it to Off during Canon driver installation.

Add Printer via TCP/IP Address

If your Canon printer does not appear when adding a new printer in Windows 11, go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners and click The printer I want is not listed. Select Add a printer using a TCP/IP address and enter your Canon printer's IP address manually (available through Settings → LAN Settings → Confirm LAN Settings on the printer). Adding via IP address creates a more stable connection than relying on network discovery.

FIX 7Canon Printer Not Connecting to WiFi on Mac

If your Canon printer shows as offline on Mac despite being connected, remove it from Printers & Scanners and re-add it fresh. This forces Mac to create a new connection record with the correct current IP address.

FIX 8Canon Printer Connected to WiFi But Not Printing

If your Canon printer shows as connected to WiFi on its own display but your computer cannot find it to print, the issue is a mismatch between what the printer thinks its address is and what your computer expects.

Cause 1 — IP Address Changed

The printer's IP address changed after a router restart. Your computer sends print jobs to the old address where the printer no longer lives. Create a DHCP reservation as described in Fix 5 for a permanent solution. For an immediate fix, remove and re-add the printer in your computer's printer settings.

Cause 2 — Windows Print Spooler Issue

1. Press Windows key + R and type services.msc, press Enter.
2. Find Print Spooler in the list, right-click and select Stop.
3. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete all files inside that folder without deleting the folder itself.
4. Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler and select Start.
5. Try printing again.

Cause 3 — Printer Configured for USB Instead of WiFi

Go to Control Panel → Devices and Printers, right-click your Canon printer and select Printer Properties → Ports tab. Confirm a Standard TCP/IP port is selected showing your printer's IP address rather than a USB port. If a USB port is shown, add a TCP/IP port with your printer's IP address and set it as default.

Canon Model-Specific WiFi Connection Fixes

Preventing Canon Printer WiFi Problems Going Forward

After resolving your WiFi connection issue, these four steps prevent the same problems from recurring — saving you from working through this guide again in three months.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is my Canon printer not connecting to WiFi even though the password is correct?
  The most common reason is that your Canon printer is attempting to connect to a 5GHz network but only supports 2.4GHz. Confirm your router is broadcasting a 2.4GHz network and that your phone is connected to 2.4GHz specifically before running the Canon PRINT app setup. A second common reason is incomplete driver installation — the wireless printing components are only included in the Full Software Package from ij.start.canon, not in the basic driver Windows installs automatically.
• How do I connect my Canon printer to WiFi after changing my router?
  Clear the stored network settings on your printer by holding the WiFi button for five seconds until the lamp flashes. After clearing, reconnect through Settings → LAN Settings → Wireless LAN Setup and select your new router's 2.4GHz network. After reconnecting, remove and re-add the printer in your computer's printer settings to update the stored network address.
• Why does my Canon printer keep disconnecting from WiFi?
  The most common cause is the router assigning a new IP address to the printer after each restart. The permanent fix is creating a DHCP reservation in your router admin panel using the printer's MAC address, which assigns a permanent fixed IP address. Also check the printer's power saving settings and disable automatic power off, which can drop the WiFi connection during idle periods.
• My Canon printer is connected to WiFi but not printing — what do I do?
  This is almost always an IP address mismatch — the printer's IP address changed but your computer still has the old address saved. Create a DHCP reservation in your router for a permanent fix, or remove and re-add the printer in your computer's printer settings for an immediate fix. Also check and clear the Windows print spooler if print jobs appear stuck in the queue.
• Why won't my Canon printer find my WiFi network?
  Your router may not be broadcasting a 2.4GHz signal, or the printer is too far from the router to detect the signal reliably. Log into your router admin panel and confirm 2.4GHz is enabled and visible as a separate network. Move the printer closer to the router during initial setup. Also confirm that no Band Steering or Smart Connect setting is merging your 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks under one shared name.
• How do I fix Canon printer WiFi connection on Windows 11?
  Windows 11 frequently replaces Canon drivers with generic versions during updates. Uninstall all Canon software through Control Panel → Programs and Features and reinstall the complete driver package from ij.start.canon. If the Canon installer will not run, check Windows 11 Smart App Control settings and temporarily disable it during installation. After installing, add the printer via TCP/IP address through Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners for the most stable Windows 11 wireless printing connection.
• Why won't my Canon printer connect to WiFi on my Mac?
  On Mac OS Ventura and later, check System Settings → Privacy and Security for any Canon software waiting for permission approval — missing this approval prevents printer detection entirely. For basic printing, use AirPrint through System Settings → Printers & Scanners without any driver installation needed. For scanning, download Canon IJ Scan Utility Lite from the Mac App Store as a separate free download.
• How do I stop my Canon printer from showing offline after every router restart?
  Create a DHCP reservation in your router admin panel using your Canon printer's MAC address. This permanently assigns the same IP address to your printer regardless of how many times the router restarts. After creating the reservation, remove and re-add the printer in your computer's printer settings one time to save the correct permanent address. The offline problem will not return.
• Why does my Canon TS3522 not connect to WiFi?
  The Canon TS3522 only supports 2.4GHz WiFi with no exceptions. Confirm your phone is on 2.4GHz before running setup. Use the correct WPS sequence for this model — hold WiFi until flashing, press Color once, then press WiFi again. After connecting, install the Full Software Package from ij.start.canon, not Drivers Only. Our dedicated TS3522 troubleshooting guide covers all connection methods and every error code.
• What does it mean when my Canon printer says connected but won't print?
  This means the printer is connected to WiFi but your computer cannot find it at its current network address. The printer's IP address likely changed after a router restart. Create a DHCP reservation for a permanent fix, or remove and re-add the printer in your computer's printer settings for an immediate fix. On Windows, also check that the print spooler service is running and clear any stuck jobs from the print queue.