How to Connect a Canon PIXMA MG3640 Printer to a Laptop via Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide with Troubleshooting

Wireless printer connection Canon PIXMA MG3640 Connecting your laptop via Wi-Fi saves desktop space and allows you to print from any device on the network. However, many users encounter difficulties: the printer doesn't find the network, drivers won't install, or the connection keeps dropping. In this article, we'll look at all stages of setup — from preparing equipment to solving typical errors, including the nuances of working with Windows 10/11 And macOS.

Feature of the model MG3640 in that it only supports networks 2.4 GHz, and many modern routers operate in the range by default 5 GHzThis is one of the main reasons for connection failures. We'll show you how to bypass this limitation without buying a new router. You'll also learn how to protect your printer from unauthorized access via Wi-Fi and why it's sometimes better to use WPS connection instead of manually entering a password.

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• 📄 Printer drivers (download from official Canon website for your OS).
• 🔌 Printer power supply — without it, the Wi-Fi module will not be activated.
• 📶 Accessing router settings (useful if you need to change the network range).
• 💻 Laptop with Wi-Fi (connected to the same network to which you will connect the printer).

1. Preparing the printer Canon MG3640 to a wireless connection

The first step is to physically set up the printer. Make sure the device is turned on and in standby mode (the power light is green). On the front panel MG3640 There is no touch screen, so all manipulations are performed using buttons:

1. Press and hold the button Wi-Fi (antenna icon) until the indicator starts flashing orange.
2. Release the button and the printer will enter network search mode. The indicator light will blink. green.
3. If the indicator is on orange all the time, then an error occurred. Restart the printer and try again.

At this point, the printer is ready to connect. If you've previously set up Wi-Fi on MG3640, reset network settings: hold down the button Wi-Fi for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes 2 times.

⚠️ Attention: Printer Canon PIXMA MG3640 Doesn't support networks with hidden SSIDs. If your router is configured to hide the network name, temporarily disable this feature in the router settings.

If your router operates in two bands (2.4 GHz And 5 GHz), make sure the printer connects to the network 2.4 GHzMany modern routers combine both networks under one name (SSID), but MG3640 will only see 2.4 GHzTo avoid problems:

• 🔄 Separate the networks in the router settings (give them different names, for example, MyWiFi_2G And MyWiFi_5G).
• 📡 Set for network 2.4 GHz fixed channel (eg 6 or 11) to avoid automatic switching.
• 🔒 Use encryption type WPA2-PSK (AES) - other modes may not be supported.

2. Connecting the printer to Wi-Fi: step-by-step instructions

There are two main ways to connect Canon MG3640 to Wi-Fi: via WPS (if the router supports this function) and in manual modeLet's consider both options.

Method 1: Connect via WPS (recommended)

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) allows you to connect your printer to your network without entering a password. This method is faster and more secure, but it requires your router to support WPS and have the feature enabled.

Make sure your router supports WPS|Press the WPS button on your router|Activate WPS on your printer within 2 minutes|Wait for connection confirmation (green indicator)

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1. Click the button WPS on your router (usually located on the back panel). The WPS indicator will start blinking.
2. For 2 minutes press and hold the button Wi-Fi on the printer until the indicator starts flashing quickly blue.
3. Wait 1-2 minutes. If the connection is successful, the indicator will light up. green.

If the indicator continues to flash or remains orange, repeat the process. The router may not have had time to process the request.

Method 2: Manual connection via the printer panel

If WPS isn't available, you'll have to enter your network details manually. To do this:

1. Press and hold the button Wi-Fi on the printer until the indicator starts blinking orange, then release.
2. Click the button Black and white copy (⚪), then — Color copy (🔴). The printer will print a sheet with the current network settings.
3. If the printer is not yet connected, the sheet will show Not connectedIn this case:
1. Click the button Wi-Fi once. The indicator will start flashing. green.
2. Press and hold the button Cancel/Stop (🛑) until the indicator starts flashing orange (manual input mode).
4. The printer is now ready for data entry. To do this:
1. Click the button Wi-Fi as many times as there are letters in your network name (SSID). For example, for a network MyWiFi press 6 times.
2. Use the buttons Black and white copy (⚪) and Color copy (🔴) to select characters. Confirm each character with the button Wi-Fi.
3. Enter the network password in the same way.

The manual entry process takes 5-10 minutes and requires patience. If you make a mistake, the printer won't connect—you'll have to start over.

⚠️ Attention: Printer Canon MG3640 does not support special characters in Wi-Fi password (eg. !@#$%). If your password contains such characters, temporarily change it to a simple one (for example, 12345678) during setup.

3. Installing drivers on a laptop

Even if the printer is connected to Wi-Fi, the laptop won't see it without drivers. Download the latest drivers from official Canon website, by selecting:

• 🖥️ Printer model: PIXMA MG3640.
• 💻 Operating system: Windows 10/11 or macOS (specify the version).
• 🌐 Language: Russian.

For Windows:

1. Download the file MG3600 series Full Driver & Software Package.
2. Run the installer and follow the instructions. When selecting the connection type, select Wireless connection.
3. When the program asks you to connect the printer, make sure it is turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your laptop.

For macOS:

1. Download the file MG3600 series CUPS Printer Driver.
2. Open the file .dmg and run the installer.
3. After installation, go to System Preferences → Printers & Scanners, click + and select Canon MG3640 from the list.

If your printer does not appear in the list, check:

• 🔌 Are the printer and laptop connected to one Wi-Fi network.
• 🔄 Have both devices been rebooted after installing the drivers?
• 🚫 Doesn't it block? firewall or antivirus network device discovery.

4. Setting up the printer in the operating system

After installing the drivers, the printer should automatically appear in the list of devices. If it doesn't, add it manually.

For Windows 10/11:

1. Open Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners.
2. Click Add a printer or scanner.
3. If Canon MG3640 not displayed, click The printer you need is not in the list.
4. Select Add a printer by its TCP/IP address and enter the printer's IP address (can be found in the network settings printout).

For macOS:

1. Open System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
2. Click + and select the tab IP.
3. Enter the printer's IP address and select the protocol. Line Printer Daemon - LPD and specify the driver Canon MG3640.

If the printer has been added but does not print, check the print queue status:

• 🖨️ In Windows: open Control Panel → Devices and Printers, right click on MG3640 and select View the print queue.
• 🍎 In macOS: Open the print queue from the Dock or via System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.

⚠️ Attention: If there are documents with the status Error, delete them and restart the print service:

net stop spooler
net start spooler

(for Windows, run Command Prompt as administrator).

5. Solving typical connection problems

Even with proper setup, errors can still occur. Let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If the printer connects but periodically disconnects, check your router's power saving settings. Some models turn off ports when idle—this can be fixed in the router's control panel (look for options like Wi-Fi Power Save or DTIM Interval).

How do I reset my printer to factory settings?

To reset Canon MG3640 to factory settings, turn off the printer, then press and hold the button Cancel/Stop (🛑). Without releasing it, turn on the printer. Hold the button for 10-15 seconds until the indicator light flashes 15 times. After this, all settings (including Wi-Fi) will be reset.

6. Optimize Wi-Fi for stable printer operation

To the printer Canon MG3640 worked without failures, set up a Wi-Fi network taking into account its features:

• 📶 Choose the optimal channel: in the range 2.4 GHz the least interference on channels 1, 6 And 11Use apps like Wi-Fi Analyzer (Android) or NetSpot (Windows/macOS) for workload analysis.
• 🔒 Turn off the smart switching feature 2.4 GHz And 5 GHz (if your router has one). The printer can't switch between bands.
• 🔄 Enable IP address reservation For the printer, enable DHCP reservation in the router settings. This will prevent the IP address from changing during a reboot.
• 🛡️ Update your router firmwareOlder versions may contain printer compatibility issues.

Important: The Canon MG3640 printer does not support modern Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standards and may conflict with routers that have "802.11n/ac/ax only" enabled. Please force compatibility mode in your router settings. 802.11b/g/n for the network 2.4 GHz.

If you have a large office or many rooms and the Wi-Fi signal is weak, use repeater (signal repeater) or Mesh systemThe main thing is to make sure that the network you are repeating operates within the range 2.4 GHz.

7. Alternative connection methods

If you can't set up a Wi-Fi connection, consider these alternatives:

• 🔌 USB cableA temporary solution for printing without network setup. Connect the printer to your laptop with a cable and install the drivers.
• 🌍 Cloud printing: through services Google Cloud Print (outdated, but works on older devices) or Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY (mobile application).
• 🖥️ Connecting via a second laptop: If you have a second laptop with Wi-Fi, connect the printer to it via USB and turn it on General access in the printer settings (for Windows).

For cloud printing:

1. Install the application Canon PRINT on a smartphone or tablet.
2. Connect your printer to Wi-Fi (as described above).
3. Add a printer in the app via Printer registration.
4. Now you can print from any device connected to the Internet.

⚠️ Attention: When using cloud services, document data may be transmitted through Canon servers. If you are printing confidential documents, consider using a local Wi-Fi connection.

8. Security: How to protect your printer on the network

A printer connected to Wi-Fi can become a weak point in your network. Follow these guidelines:

• 🔐 Change the default password on the router. Many hacks occur due to standard passwords like admin/admin.
• 🚪 Disable WPS, unless you use it regularly. This function is vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
• 📋 Enable MAC address filtering in the router, allowing connections only to trusted devices (including the printer).
• 🔄 Update your printer firmware regularlyCanon releases updates to patch vulnerabilities.

To check who is connected to your printer:

1. Print it out Network settings (press and hold Wi-Fi, then press Black and white copy).
2. Find the line IP-address and enter this address in the laptop browser (for example, 192.168.1.10).
3. The printer's web interface will open. Go to the section Settings → Network settings → Wireless network and check the list of connected devices.

If you notice any unfamiliar devices, immediately change your Wi-Fi password and reconnect the printer.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about connection Canon MG3640

🔹 Why doesn't my printer see my Wi-Fi network, even though other devices are connecting?

Most likely, your router operates in the range 5 GHz or uses encryption that is not supported by the printer (WPA3, TKIP). Switch the router to 2.4 GHz and set up encryption WPA2-PSK (AES).

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

Yes, but you'll have to enter the network name (SSID) and password manually through the printer control panel. It's time-consuming and inconvenient, but it works. An alternative is to temporarily enable WPS on your router.

🔹 The printer is connected, but the printout is garbled or stops. What's wrong?

This may be caused by:

• Weak Wi-Fi signal (move the printer closer to the router).
• Driver incompatibility (reinstall them from the official website).
• Network overload (turn off other devices while printing).

🔹 How to print from your phone Canon MG3640?

Install the application Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY (Android/iOS) Connect your phone and printer to the same Wi-Fi network, then add the printer in the app via Printer registration.

🔹 Is it possible to use a printer without a router (peer-to-peer)?

No, Canon MG3640 does not support the mode Wi-Fi Direct or Ad-HocA router is required for operation.