Canon Printer Wi-Fi Not Connecting — How to Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

A Canon printer that won't connect to Wi-Fi has usually lost its saved network settings — after a router change, password update, or firmware reset. The quickest fix is to reset the printer's network settings and run the wireless setup again using the WPS button or the Canon printer software. Most connection issues resolve in under five minutes.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MG2522
Canon PIXMA MG3620
Canon PIXMA TR4520
Canon PIXMA TS8020
Canon PIXMA TR8520
Canon PIXMA TS9120

Common Causes

The Wi-Fi password was changed on the router and the printer still has the old password saved
The router was replaced and the new network has a different name (SSID)
The printer's network settings were wiped after a factory reset or firmware update
The printer is connecting to a 5 GHz band but only supports 2.4 GHz (common on Canon PIXMA)
The router's MAC address filtering is blocking the printer's network card
The printer is too far from the router or has thick walls between them reducing signal strength

How to Fix It

Reset the printer's network settings: on most Canon PIXMA models, hold the Wi-Fi button for 3 seconds until the lamp flashes, then press the colour start button twice.

This clears all saved Wi-Fi credentials. Check your printer's manual for the exact reset procedure for your model.
Make sure your router is broadcasting on 2.4 GHz. Most Canon PIXMA printers do not support 5 GHz Wi-Fi.

If your router uses a combined 2.4/5 GHz band, try temporarily separating them in router settings and connecting the printer to 2.4 GHz.
On your router, press the WPS button. Then within 2 minutes, press the Wi-Fi button on the printer.

WPS is the easiest way to reconnect — it pairs the devices without entering a password.
If WPS is not available, run the wireless setup wizard using the Canon IJ Network Tool on your computer.

Download Canon IJ Network Tool for your model from Canon's support website. It guides you through entering the network name and password.
After connecting, print a network configuration page to confirm the IP address has been assigned.

On most models: hold the Stop/Reset button for 5 seconds to print a network status sheet. Confirm a valid IP address is shown.

When to Call a Professional

Wi-Fi connection issues are almost always software or configuration related. Hardware failure of the wireless card is rare. If the printer connects to one router but not another, the issue is in the router's settings, not the printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Canon printer was connected yesterday — why did it disconnect?

Router firmware updates, IP address lease expiry, or a brief power cut can break the printer's Wi-Fi association. A quick network settings reset and reconnect using WPS usually restores the connection in 2 minutes.

The printer connects to Wi-Fi but still shows as offline on my computer — why?

The printer has a network address but your computer still has the old IP cached. Delete the printer from your computer's printer list and add it again. The new IP address will be picked up automatically.

Can I give my Canon printer a fixed IP address to avoid disconnections?

Yes — setting a static IP (either on the printer or as a DHCP reservation on the router) prevents disconnection from IP address changes. Check your printer's network settings menu or your router's DHCP reservation feature.