Modern mobile photography has reached incredible heights, and there is often a desire to immediately see the result on paper. Printing photos Directly from your smartphone—this is the fastest way to get a physical photo without using a computer. Owners of this technology Canon are in an advantageous position because the manufacturer has provided a wide range of wireless communication tools.
However, the setup process sometimes raises questions among users, especially when connecting for the first time. Wi-Fi connection There are several ways to connect your phone to a printer, and the right method depends on your device model and operating system. In this article, we'll cover all the current options so you can enjoy your printed photos without any complications.
Before you begin, make sure your equipment is ready to use. This will save time and avoid common mistakes at the start. Both devices must be on the same local Wi-Fi network unless you are using ad hoc mode. Check that you have enough ink and paper, as even perfectly configured software will not print if there are no consumables.
Equipment preparation and compatibility testing
The first step is to verify the technical capabilities of your printer. CanonNot all models support wireless printing, although most modern PIXMA and SELPHY series devices are equipped with a Wi-Fi module. Check the control panel: the presence of an antenna icon or a button with a smartphone image confirms the required module is available.
It's also important to ensure your printer's firmware is up-to-date. Manufacturers regularly release firmware updates that improve connection stability and add support for new protocols. If your printer hasn't been updated in a while, it may conflict with new versions of iOS or Android.
How to check the firmware version of a Canon printer?
Click the "Settings" button (gear icon) on the printer control panel. Go to the "Device" or "Information" section. Find "Firmware Version." Compare the number with the information on the official Canon support website for your model.
Please pay attention to the type of network you are connected to. Some corporate networks or guest Wi-Fi in hotels have restrictions that block communication between devices (Client Isolation). In such cases, direct printing may not be possible, and you will need to use other methods, which are discussed below.
Setting up a Wi-Fi connection on a Canon printer
Before your phone can see the printer, the device itself must be connected to your home network. There are two main ways to do this: through the printer's control panel or using the WPS button on the router. The method you choose depends on whether your device has a display.
If on yours Canon There's a display, and the process is intuitive. You need to enter the settings menu, select the wireless section, and find your network from the list. Entering the password is done using the navigation buttons, which may take some time, but guarantees a stable connection.
For models without a display, use the WPS method. This is the fastest method, but it requires physical access to the router. Press the WPS button on the router, then the corresponding button on the printer (often marked with a phone or antenna icon). The devices will find each other automatically.
- 📱 Method with screen: Menu → Wireless LAN → Select network → Enter password.
- 🔘 WPS method: Press WPS on the router → Press the Wi-Fi button on the printer → Wait for the indicator to blink.
- 🔌 USB Method (Initial Setup): Connecting the cable for initial transfer of Wi-Fi parameters (available in the app).
⚠️ Important: When entering the Wi-Fi password on printers without a touchscreen, be careful with capitalization. Even a single character error will cause the wireless indicator to flash, indicating a connection error.
☑️ Checking the printer connection
Printing from iPhone and iPad via AirPrint
Ecosystem users Apple have the greatest advantage because technology AirPrint Built into iOS by default, you don't need to install any additional apps for basic printing. The main requirement is that your phone and printer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
The printing process is incredibly simple. Open the Photos app, select the photo you want, and tap the "Share" button. Scroll down to "Print" in the list of actions. The system will automatically search for compatible printers on the network.
If your printer isn't showing up, check your privacy settings. In iOS 14 and later, the "Private Wi-Fi Address" feature can sometimes conflict with local devices. Try temporarily disabling this feature for your home network in Wi-Fi settings.
In the print interface, you can select the number of copies, the page range (if printing a document), and even adjust the margins. For photos, you can select paper if your printer has multiple trays, although this is rarely necessary for home printing.
Using the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app for Android and iOS
For owners Android and those who want to access advanced features, the company Canon developed an official application Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHYThis software turns your smartphone into a powerful print control center, allowing you to not only print but also scan documents.
After installing the app and registering the printer (if required), the interface will prompt you to select an image source. You can choose a photo from your gallery, take a photo directly through the app, or even select a file from a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox.
One of the app's key features is its editing capabilities. Before printing, you can crop the image, apply filters, remove red eye, or add the shooting date. This eliminates the need for third-party photo editors.
- 🖼️ Collages: Creating layouts of several photos on one sheet.
- 📄 Documents: Print PDF, Word, and Excel files directly from your phone's storage.
- 📷 Passport photo: A special mode for printing document photos in the required sizes.
⚠️ Important: The Canon PRINT app may request permission to access your local network. Be sure to allow this access, otherwise the app will not be able to detect the printer, even if Wi-Fi is enabled.
Alternative methods: Google Cloud Print and direct connection
Although classic Google Cloud Print was officially shut down, and its functionality was integrated into the native Android and Chrome OS print services. Now, all that's required for printing is a printer that supports the Mopria standard or is compatible with Google services via the manufacturer's cloud.
If your Wi-Fi router is unavailable or unstable, you can use the Direct Connect feature. In this mode, the printer Canon creates its own wireless network to which you connect your phone like regular Wi-Fi.
To activate this mode, press the direct connection button on the printer (often you need to hold the Wi-Fi button until the indicator light comes on). Then, in your phone's Wi-Fi settings, select the network with your printer's name (usually the model number, such as Canon-PIXMA-TS5300).
| Parameter | Via Router (Infrastructure) | Direct connection |
|---|---|---|
| Internet access | Required | Not required |
| Range of action | Depends on the router (up to 30 m) | Limited (up to 10 m) |
| Transfer speed | High | Average |
| Access from other devices | Available to everyone online | For connected users only |
Using a direct connection is especially useful when printing large volumes of photos at a vacation home or in an office where the network is overloaded. In this mode, the phone may temporarily lose internet access as it switches to the printer's connection.
What should I do if my phone doesn't see the printer in Direct mode?
Make sure the printer's error light is off. Try forgetting the printer's network in your phone's Wi-Fi settings and reconnecting. Restarting the printer's Wi-Fi module often helps as well.
Solutions to common problems and errors
Even with proper setup, issues may still occur. Often, the problem lies in the phone and printer being on different subnets, which is typical with complex routers with guest zones. Make sure both devices are using the same frequency band if the router doesn't automatically combine them.
Another common cause is a full print buffer. If you've sent many large photos in a row, the printer may become stuck processing the print queue. In this case, clearing the print queue in your phone's settings or restarting both devices will help.
Print quality issues such as banding or faded colors aren't usually related to Wi-Fi, but users often search for the cause online. Check the ink levels in the app. If the ink is full and the quality is poor, run a nozzle cleaning procedure through the maintenance menu.
- 🔄 Reboot: Unplug the printer from the power outlet for 30 seconds.
- 📶 Signal: Move closer to the router if the Wi-Fi signal is weak.
- 🛡️ Antivirus: Check if the firewall on your phone is blocking local devices.
⚠️ Note: Menu interfaces and item names may vary slightly depending on your Canon printer model and smartphone operating system version. Always consult the official documentation for your specific model if the standard paths do not match.
Why doesn't my Canon printer print photos in full, cutting off the edges?
This happens because the phone's screen proportions and the paper size don't match. In the print settings, find the "Scale" or "Fit to fit" option and select "Fit to page" to avoid cropping important parts of the image.
Is it possible to print photos via Wi-Fi if the router is turned off?
Yes, this is only possible in Direct Connect mode, where the phone connects directly to the printer, bypassing the router. In regular Wi-Fi mode, a router is required.
How to increase the speed of printing large photos?
Make sure you're using a 5 GHz network if your printer supports it. Also, lowering the print resolution from "Maximum" to "High" in the driver settings can significantly speed up the printing process without noticeable loss of quality for 10x15 photos.