How to connect a Canon printer to a laptop via Wi-Fi without a disc: full instructions (2026)

Connecting a printer Canon Connecting to a laptop wirelessly seems like a simple task—until you discover you don't have the installation disc and only a USB cable, which doesn't help with Wi-Fi setup. The situation becomes more complicated if the printer doesn't appear in the list of available devices or the laptop stubbornly refuses to detect it on the local network. In practice, the problem can be solved without a disc, but it requires precise following of the procedure and consideration of nuances—from selecting the correct connection mode to manually installing the drivers.

In this article we will look at all wireless connection methods printers Canon (including popular models MG3640, MG2540, PIXMA TS3440, G3260 and others) to laptops on Windows 10/11, macOS and even AndroidWe'll pay special attention to cases where the printer doesn't connect to Wi-Fi, loses connection, or requires reinstalling drivers. All instructions apply to printers that support Wi-Fi Direct, WPS and classic connection via a router.

1. Preparation: What to check before connecting

Before you try to connect your printer to your laptop, make sure the basic requirements are met. 90% of problems Connection problems occur due to missed prepared steps or incorrect router settings.

• 🔌 Printer power: Plug it into a power outlet and turn it on using the power button. Wait until it boots up completely (the indicators will stop flashing).
• 📶 Wi-Fi on the printer: press and hold the button Wi-Fi (or Wireless) on the control panel until the indicator starts flashing. On some models (PIXMA G-series) you need to go to Settings → Wireless.
• 🖥️ Laptop: Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on and your laptop is connected to the same network you will be connecting the printer to.
• 🔄 Router: check what's on it DHCP is enabled (automatic IP assignment) and MAC address filter disabled (if enabled, add the printer's MAC to the whitelist).

If the printer was previously connected to a different network, reset its network settings. To do this:

1. Press and hold the button Wi-Fi for 5-10 seconds until the indicator flashes orange.
2. On models with a screen, go to Settings → Device → Reset settings → Network.

⚠️ Attention: Printers Canon with support Wi-Fi Direct (For example, MG3640) can connect directly to a laptop, without a router. However, in this mode, the printer will be inaccessible to other devices on the network.

2. Methods for connecting a Canon printer to Wi-Fi

Exists three main methods Wireless connection options vary, and the choice depends on the printer model and router capabilities. Let's look at each option.

2.1. Connecting via WPS (the fastest way)

If your router supports WPS (button on the back panel), and your printer is equipped with this function (check in the manual), use this method:

1. On the printer, press and hold the button Wi-Fi until the indicator blinks.
2. For 2 minutes press the button WPS on the router.
3. Wait until the Wi-Fi light on the printer turns on blue (or green - depending on the model).

If the indicator continues to blink or remains orange, repeat the procedure. On some routers (TP-Link, Keenetic) you may need to enter the PIN code from the printer in the router's web interface.

2.2. Connecting via the printer menu (without WPS)

For printers with display (Canon PIXMA TS3440, G3260 and others):

1. On the printer, go to Settings → Wireless → Wi-Fi Setup.
2. Select your network from the list and enter the password using the printer keyboard (or through the app) Canon PRINT).
3. Confirm the connection. The Wi-Fi indicator should light up. constant light.

For models without screen (MG2540, MG3040):

• Press and hold the button Wi-Fi until the indicator blinks.
• Click the button Black (or Color) to select the setup mode.
• The indicator will start blinking faster - at this point, send the Wi-Fi settings to the printer via Canon PRINT or manually enter the SSID/password on your laptop.

2.3. Wi-Fi Direct (direct connection without a router)

This method allows you to connect your laptop directly to the printer, creating an access point. It's suitable for temporary printing without access to the router:

1. Activate on the printer Wi-Fi Direct (in the menu or by holding the button Wi-Fi + Cancel).
2. On your laptop, find a network with a name like this CANON-XX-MG3600 or DIRECT-NN-PIXMA_TS3440.
3. Connect to it using the password from the sticker on the printer (or generated by the printer).

⚠️ Attention: In mode Wi-Fi Direct The laptop will lose internet access. To restore the connection to the router, disconnect from the printer's network and reconnect to your Wi-Fi.

The Wi-Fi indicator is constantly on (not flashing)

The printer is displayed in the router's device list (check in the web interface)

On a laptop, the printer is visible in the "Devices and Printers" (Windows) or "Printers and Scanners" (macOS) section.

3. Installing drivers on a laptop without a disk

Even after successfully connecting the printer to Wi-Fi, the laptop will not be able to print without correct driversThey can be installed in three ways.

3.1. Automatic installation via Windows

Windows 10 and 11 often recognize printers Canon automatically:

1. Open Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners.
2. Click Add a printer or scanner.
3. Select your printer from the list and follow the instructions.

If the printer is not found, click The printer you need is not in the list and select Add a printer by TCP/IP address. Specify the printer IP (you can find it in the router settings or print it out Network report from the printer).

3.2. Manual installation from the official Canon website

To ensure proper operation, download the driver from the website. Canon:

1. Go to Canon support page (or use ij.start.canon).
2. Please enter your printer model (e.g. PIXMA MG3640) and select your OS.
3. Download Full Driver & Software Package (not "Basic"!).
4. Run the installer and follow the instructions, selecting Wireless connection.

Important: When installing the driver, disable your antivirus (for example, Avast or Kaspersky), as it may block the installation of network components.

3.3 Installation via the Canon PRINT app

Application Canon PRINT (available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS) automatically finds the printer on the network and installs drivers:

• 📱 Download the app from Google Play or App Store.
• 🔍 Run a printer search – the app will show all devices Canon on your network.
• 🖨️ Select your printer and follow the prompts to install the drivers.

⚠️ Attention: On macOS, additional permission may be required. System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General to install drivers.

4. Setting up a printer on a laptop (Windows, macOS, Android)

After connecting to Wi-Fi and installing the drivers, all that remains is to set the printer as the default device and test printing.

4.1. Setting up in Windows 10/11

To make the printer appear in the system:

1. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
2. Find your printer in the list, right click and select Use as default.
3. Run a test print: right-click → Printer Properties → Print a Test Page.

If the printer does not print:

• Check it out Print queue (may be blocked by old tasks).
• Update driver via device Manager (chapter Print queues).

4.2. Setup on macOS

On a Mac, a printer is added like this:

1. Open System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
2. Click +, select your printer and add it.
3. If the printer is not displayed, click Add a printer or scanner via IP and enter its address.

To print from iPhone/iPad use AirPrint (most modern printers Canon support this function).

4.3. Printing from an Android smartphone

To print from your phone:

• 📱 Install Canon PRINT from Google Play.
• 🔍 Connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.
• 🖼️ Select a file (photo, document) and click Seal → select your printer.

If the printer is not visible, check that it is turned on. AirPrint or Mopria (in network settings).

How to print printer network settings?

On most printers Canon hold the button Cancel (or Stop) 5 seconds until the report starts printing. It will contain the IP address, MAC address, and current Wi-Fi settings.

5. Troubleshooting connection issues

If your printer doesn't connect to Wi-Fi or your laptop doesn't see it, check the following:

If the printer connects to Wi-Fi, but printing is very slow, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the printer to the network at the same frequency 2.4 GHz (5GHz may be unstable).
• 📡 Change the encryption mode on the router with WPA3 on WPA2-PSK (some older models Canon do not support WPA3).
• 🖨️ Reduce the print quality in the driver settings (for example, with High on Standard).

⚠️ Attention: On some routers (ASUS, MikroTik) function enabled AP Isolation, which blocks data exchange between devices on the network. Disable it in your router settings.

6. Alternative connection methods (if Wi-Fi doesn't work)

If a wireless connection is not possible, use one of the backup methods:

6.1. Connecting via USB and then switching to Wi-Fi

Some models (PIXMA MG3640) allow you to first connect via USB, install the drivers, and then switch the printer to wireless mode:

1. Connect the printer to your laptop via USB.
2. Install the driver from the website Canon, by selecting the option USB connection.
3. After installation in the program Canon IJ Network Tool select Setting up a wireless connection and switch the printer to Wi-Fi.

6.2. Using Ethernet (for MFPs with a LAN port)

MFP series Canon MAXIFY or imageCLASS often equipped with a port EthernetConnect the printer to the router with a cable, and then add it to your laptop as a network printer via IP.

6.3. Cloud Printing (Google Cloud Print, Canon PRINT)

If the printer supports cloud services:

• 🌐 Register your printer in Canon PRINT or Google Cloud Print.
• 📤 Upload the document to the cloud and select printing on your printer.

This method works even if the printer and laptop are on different networks.

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

User experience shows that 80% of problems with printer connection Canon arise from three errors:

1. Wi-Fi Standards Incompatibility: Printers Canon older than 2018 may not be supported WPA3 or networks 5 GHzSolution: Put your router into standby mode. 802.11n (and not 802.11ac/ax) and use WPA2-PSK.
2. Blocked by antivirus: Programs like Avast or ESET Block network ports required for printing. Solution: Add an exception for printer drivers in your antivirus settings.
3. Invalid IP address: If the printer is connected via TCP/IP but doesn't print, check that its IP hasn't changed (for example, after rebooting the router). Solution: assign the printer static IP in the router's DHCP settings.

Another common problem is - error 5011 on printers PIXMAIt means the print head is blocked or needs cleaning. Run the utility. Canon My Printer and do it Deep cleaning (it will take about 10 minutes).

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

My Canon printer won't connect to Wi-Fi, even though the password is correct. What should I do?

Try the following steps:

1. Restart the printer and router.
2. Change the security mode on your router WPA3 on WPA2-PSK.
3. If used 5 GHz, switch the printer to 2.4 GHz.
4. Reset the network settings on the printer (hold Wi-Fi 10 seconds).

If this does not help, update the printer firmware via USB.

How to find the IP address of a Canon printer for manual connection?

There are three ways:

1. Print it out Network report (hold Cancel 5 seconds).
2. Check the list of devices in the router's web interface (section DHCP Clients or Connected devices).
3. Use the utility Canon IJ Network Tool (download from Canon website).

Is it possible to connect a Canon printer to a laptop via Wi-Fi without a router?

Yes, if the printer supports it Wi-Fi DirectActivate this mode on the printer, then connect to its network from your laptop (the password is on the sticker or generated by the printer). However, in this mode, the laptop will not have internet access.

The printer is connected, but it won't print from my laptop. What's wrong?

Check:

• Is the printer installed as default device.
• Are there any blocked tasks in Print queues (open through Control Panel → Devices and Printers).
• Are the drivers updated (download the latest version from the Canon website).
• Is the mode not enabled? Offline (right click on the printer → Work autonomously should be disabled).

How do I connect an older Canon printer (like the MP250) to Wi-Fi?

Old models (MP250, MP280, iP4850) do not support Wi-Fi. Options:

• Use USB connection.
• Buy Wi-Fi adapter for printer (For example, TP-Link TL-WPS510U).
• Connect the printer to another device (eg. Raspberry Pi) and set up sharing.