How to Connect a Canon PIXMA MG4240 Printer to a Computer via Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide

Wireless printer connection Canon PIXMA MG4240 Connecting to a computer via Wi-Fi saves desk space, eliminates cable clutter, and allows you to print from multiple devices simultaneously. However, many users encounter difficulties during initial setup: the printer doesn't find the network, drivers fail to install, or the connection keeps dropping. In this article, we'll cover every step of the connection process—from preparing the equipment to diagnosing common errors.

Model MG4240 supports Wi-Fi standards 802.11b/g/n and can work both in direct connection mode (Wi-Fi Direct), and via a router. The main difference from modern models is the lack of a display, so all manipulations must be performed via buttons on the case or software. Canon IJ Network ToolIf you haven't set up network printers before, we recommend following the instructions carefully to avoid common mistakes.

Preparing for connection: what you will need

Before you begin setting up, make sure you have everything you need:

  • 📄 Printer Canon PIXMA MG4240 With the power supply connected. The device must be turned on and within range of your Wi-Fi router (ideally no further than 5 meters during setup).
  • 💻 A computer with Windows 10/11 or macOS (The instructions are universal, but the screenshots are for Windows.) It must have administrator rights to install drivers.
  • 📶 Your Wi-Fi network details: Name (SSID) and password. If the network is hidden, you will need to enter SSID manually.
  • 🔌 USB cable (included with the printer). It's only needed for the initial driver installation if automatic setup via Wi-Fi doesn't work.
  • 🖨️ Disc with software (if saved) or internet access to download drivers from official Canon website.

Important: printer MG4240 does not support connection to networks with a frequency 5 GHzMake sure your router is broadcasting the network to 2.4 GHz (or enable compatibility mode b/g/n in the router settings). If your network uses WPA3, temporarily switch to WPA2-PSK - this will increase the chances of a successful connection.

⚠️ Attention: If your router has the function "Client Isolation" (or AP Isolation), disable it during setup. This option blocks communication between devices on the local network, which may prevent the printer from communicating with the computer.
📊 What type of printer connection do you use most often?
Via USB
Via Wi-Fi
Via Ethernet
Wi-Fi Direct

Connection methods Canon MG4240 to Wi-Fi

There are three main methods for wireless printer setup:

  1. Through WPS (recommended for beginners) - the fastest way if your router supports the technology Wi-Fi Protected Setup. Does not require entering a password.
  2. Through the printer control panel — Manually entering network data using the buttons on the router's housing. This is suitable if the router doesn't support WPS.
  3. Through the program Canon IJ Network Tool — an alternative method for experienced users, allowing flexible configuration of network parameters.

The method you choose depends on your router's capabilities and personal preference. Below, we'll cover each method in detail. Let's start with the simplest: connecting via WPS.

Method Complexity Setup time Is a Wi-Fi password required?
Via WPS ⭐ (simple) 1–2 minutes No
Through the printer panel ⭐⭐ (average) 3–5 minutes Yes
Through Canon IJ Network Tool ⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) 5-10 minutes Yes

Connecting via WPS (the fastest way)

Technology WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) allows you to connect devices to the network without entering a password. This method requires your router to have a physical button. WPS or virtual in the web interface.

Make sure your router supports WPS|Turn on the printer and wait until it is ready|Place the printer close to the router (within 1–2 m)|Prepare the WPS button on the router-->

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Press and hold the button Wi-Fi on the printer panel (the button with the antenna icon) for 3–5 seconds until the indicator Wi-Fi will not start blinking quickly orange color. This means that the printer has entered network search mode.
  2. For 2 minutes press the button WPS on your router. It's usually located on the back panel and has a corresponding icon. If there's no button, go to the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and activate WPS in the section Wi-Fi → WPS.
  3. Wait for the indicator Wi-Fi the printer won't light up green (or stops blinking). This indicates a successful connection.
  4. Install the printer drivers on your computer (see the next section) and check the connection.

If the indicator continues to flash for more than 2 minutes or lights up red, this means a connection error. Possible causes:

  • 🔄 The router does not support WPS or the function is disabled in the settings.
  • ⏱️ Timed out (please try again).
  • 🔒 The network uses an incompatible encryption type (e.g. WPA3).
⚠️ Note: Some ISPs disable WPS by default for security reasons. If the button on your router doesn't respond, check the settings in the web interface or contact technical support.

Manual Wi-Fi setup via the printer control panel

If your router doesn't support WPS or the connection fails, use the manual method. To do this, you'll need to enter the network name (SSID) and password using the buttons on the printer.

Algorithm of actions:

  1. Turn on the printer and wait until it enters ready mode (the power indicator is green).
  2. Press and hold the button Wi-Fi until the indicator starts flashing orange (setting mode).
  3. Press the button briefly Black and white copy (with the document icon), then the button Wi-Fi one short pressThe indicator will start flashing. green, signaling that it is searching for networks.
  4. Wait for the printer to find your network. When the indicator light starts flashing orange and green alternately, press the button Wi-Fi again to confirm your choice.
  5. Now you need to enter your password. To do this:
    • Use the buttons + And - to select characters (each press cycles through the options: letters, numbers, special characters).
    • Button Color copy confirms the character entered and moves on to the next one.
    • If you make a mistake, press and hold the button Stop/Reset (red triangle) to start typing again.
  • After entering the password, press and hold the button Wi-Fi to confirm. The indicator should light up. green (successful connection) or red (error).

    • If your printer doesn't find your network, check:

    • 📡 Network visibility: make sure that SSID not hidden in the router settings.
    • 📶 Frequency: the printer only works on 2.4 GHzIf the router broadcasts two networks (for example, MyWiFi_2G And MyWiFi_5G), select the first one.
    • 🔋 Is the printer powered by the mains? If the battery level is low (if using a UPS), the connection may be interrupted.

    Installing drivers and setting up on a computer

    Even after successfully connecting the printer to Wi-Fi, the computer will not be able to interact with it without special software. Canon MG4240 you will need:

    1. Download drivers from the official website Canon:
      • Go to the support page: Canon Support.
      • Please enter your printer model (PIXMA MG4240) in the search bar.
      • Select your operating system and download:
        • 🖨️ MP Drivers — the main driver for printing and scanning.
        • 🌐 IJ Network Tool — a utility for setting up a network connection.
    2. Install software:
      • Run the downloaded file and follow the installation wizard instructions.
      • At the connection type selection stage, select Wireless connection.
      • If the program prompts you to connect the printer via USB, temporarily connect it to the computer with a cable (only for driver installation). You can disconnect the cable after the installation is complete.
  • Add a printer to the system:
    • On Windows: Go to Start → Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners → Add a printer or scanner.
    • From the list of found devices, select Canon MG4240 (should show up as network).

    If your printer does not appear in the list of available devices:

    • 🔄 Restart your printer and computer.
    • 📡 Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
    • 🛠️ Launch IJ Network Tool, select your printer from the list and click Setting up → Setting up a wireless connection.
    ⚠️ Attention: If an error appears while installing drivers "Device not found"Try disabling your antivirus or Windows Firewall during installation. Some security programs block the installation of network device drivers.
    How to find the printer IP address for manual configuration?

    To manually add a printer by IP, follow these steps:

    1. On the printer, press and hold the button Wi-Fi until the orange indicator flashes.
    2. Click the button Color copy 2 times, then press the button Wi-Fi 5 times. The printer will print a sheet with network settings, which will indicate IP address.
    3. In Windows, when adding a printer, select Add a printer by TCP/IP address and enter the received IP.

    Checking the connection and troubleshooting

    After setting up, check the connection functionality:

    1. Test print:
      • Open any document (eg. Notebook) and press Ctrl + P.
      • Select a printer Canon MG4240 and send the document to print.
  • Checking status:
    • IN IJ Network Tool Your printer should show up with a green checkmark and the text Connected.
    • Indicator Wi-Fi the printer light should be on green without blinking.

    Common mistakes and their solutions:

    Error Cause Solution
    The printer does not find the network The network is hidden or operating on 5 GHz Make the network visible or switch the router to 2.4 GHz mode
    The connection is broken Weak signal or interference Move the printer closer to the router or change the Wi-Fi channel in the router settings.
    The driver is not installed Conflict with antivirus or old drivers Disable your antivirus and remove old drivers. Control Panel → Programs
    Printing is very slow. Slow Wi-Fi speed or network congestion Restart your router or temporarily disconnect other devices from the network.

    If the printer is connected but printing does not start:

    • 📥 Check the print queue: open Control Panel → Devices and Printers, find MG4240, right click and select View the print queue. Remove stuck tasks.
    • 🔧 Update your drivers: download the latest version from the website Canon.
    • 🔄 Restart your printer: turn it off for 30 seconds, then turn it on again.

    Additional settings and features

    After successful connection, you can expand the printer's functionality:

    • 📱 Printing from mobile devices:
      • Install the application Canon PRINT (available for Android And iOS).
      • In the app, select your printer and follow the connection instructions.
    • 🖼️ Network scanning:
      • In the program IJ Scan Utility (installed with drivers) select Network scanning.
      • Specify the folder to save scanned documents.
    • 🔒 Setting up access:
      • To restrict access to the printer, add it in the router's web interface. MAC address printer to the list of allowed devices (you can find the MAC address on the printed sheet with network settings).

    Advanced options are available for experienced users:

    • 📡 Changing the printer's IP address: V IJ Network Tool You can set a static IP to avoid network conflicts.
    • 🔄 Firmware update: Check the printer software's current status using the utility Canon IJ Network Tool (chapter Update).
    ⚠️ Note: If you change your router settings (for example, change your Wi-Fi password), the printer will lose its connection. In this case, you will need to reconfigure the wireless connection.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about connection Canon MG4240

    Is it possible to connect a printer to Wi-Fi without a computer?

    Yes, but with limitations. You can connect the printer to the network via WPS (if your router supports it) or manually through the control panel. However, for full functionality (printing, scanning), you'll still need to install drivers on your computer or mobile device.

    The printer is connected to Wi-Fi, but the computer can't see it. What should I do?

    Please check the following points:

    1. The computer and printer are connected to one network (for example, both to MyWiFi_2G, and not to the guest network).
    2. Client isolation is disabled in the router settings (AP Isolation).
    3. Printer drivers are installed and updated.
    4. There is no blocking for the program in Windows Firewall or antivirus software. Canon IJ Network Tool.

    If the problem persists, try manually adding the printer by IP address (see spoiler above).

    How do I reset my printer's network settings?

    To reset your printer to factory Wi-Fi settings:

    1. Turn on the printer.
    2. Press and hold the button Stop/Reset (red triangle) during 10 seconds, while the indicator Wi-Fi does not blink orange 15 times.
    3. After resetting, the printer will automatically create its own access point. Canon_ij_...Connect to it from your computer and set up Wi-Fi again.
    Can I connect my printer to Wi-Fi Direct?

    Yes, Canon MG4240 supports Wi-Fi Direct — a mode in which the printer creates its own network, which can be connected to directly (for example, from a laptop or smartphone). To activate:

    1. Press and hold the button Wi-Fi until the orange indicator flashes.
    2. Click the button Color copy once. The indicator will start flashing. blue - this means that the printer is ready to connect in Direct mode.
    3. On your computer, find the network with the name Canon_ij_... and connect to it (the password is usually indicated on the printer sticker or in the documentation).

    Please note: In Direct mode, the printer will not be accessible to other devices on your primary network.

    How to update printer firmware?

    To update the firmware:

    1. Download the latest version from Canon website (chapter Firmware for the model MG4240).
    2. Connect the printer to the computer via USB (even if you usually use Wi-Fi).
    3. Run the downloaded file and follow the instructions of the update wizard.
    4. Do not turn off the printer or interrupt the process! This may cause the device to malfunction.

    After the update, the printer will automatically reboot. Check the firmware version in IJ Network Tool (chapter Information).

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