Canon Printer Error Code 2101 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Canon error 2101 means the printer failed to communicate over the network. This error appears when you try to print wirelessly and the printer cannot reach your computer or router. It is usually a Wi-Fi connectivity issue rather than a hardware problem.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MX series
Canon PIXMA MG series
Canon PIXMA TR series
Canon MAXIFY MB series
Canon imageRUNNER series

Common Causes

The printer's Wi-Fi connection has dropped or was never properly established
The router was restarted and the printer did not automatically reconnect
The Wi-Fi password was changed and the printer still has the old password saved
The printer and your computer are on different network segments or VLANs that cannot see each other
The printer's IP address changed after a router restart and the computer is still trying the old address

How to Fix It

Restart the printer, your router, and your computer. Turn them all off, wait 60 seconds, then restart the router first, then the printer, then the computer.

This clears network caches on all three devices and often resolves communication errors immediately.
Check that the printer is connected to your Wi-Fi. On the printer, press the Wi-Fi button or navigate to Settings > LAN Settings > Wireless LAN and check the connection status.

If the Wi-Fi indicator is off or shows a red light, the printer is not connected and needs to be set up again.
Run the wireless setup again. On the printer, go to Settings > LAN Settings > Wireless LAN Setup and follow the instructions to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.

You will need your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password.
Assign a static IP address to the printer so it always uses the same address. On the printer, go to Settings > LAN Settings > TCP/IP Settings and change from DHCP to a manual IP address.

Choosing an IP address like 192.168.1.200 (outside your router's DHCP range) prevents the IP from changing after router restarts.
Reinstall the Canon printer driver on your computer. Download the latest driver from usa.canon.com/support, uninstall the existing driver first, then run the new installer.

An outdated or corrupted driver can store wrong network settings and cause persistent 2101 errors.

When to Call a Professional

Error 2101 is a network configuration issue and does not require hardware repair. If the printer cannot connect after re-running the wireless setup, contact Canon Support at usa.canon.com/support. A Canon support agent can remotely guide you through advanced network troubleshooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Canon printer keep losing its Wi-Fi connection?

Frequent drops are usually caused by the printer being too far from the router, or by the router assigning a new IP address each time. Moving the printer closer to the router helps with signal strength. Assigning a static IP address (Step 4 above) prevents the IP-change problem.

How do I find my Canon printer's IP address?

On the printer, go to Settings > Device Settings > LAN Settings > Confirm LAN Settings. You can also print a Network Configuration Page from the printer's Settings menu. The IP address appears in the network details section.

Can I use a Canon printer with both USB and Wi-Fi?

Yes. Most Canon PIXMA printers support both connection types simultaneously. You can print via USB from one computer and wirelessly from others on the same network. The printer does not need to be set up as either/or — both connections work at the same time.