How to Set Up a Canon Wireless Printer

Prepare for installation

You need to make sure the printer is connected and turned on. If the printer uses an Ethernet connection to access the Internet, you will need an Ethernet cable to plug the printer into the router.

Check the printer's installed software. If your printer comes with a CD, you'll need to put the CD into your computer and let the installation program run first to set up the printer.

Today's printers rarely install using discs, but some older printers will need an installation CD to connect.

To install using CD, simply insert the disc into your computer's CD tray, then follow the on-screen instructions. With a Mac computer, you will need an external CD reader.

Connect the printer to the network. Usually we will use the printer's LCD screen to select the Wi-Fi network and enter the password.

Check your printer's manual to see how your specific printer model connects to the Internet.

You can find your version of the manual on the Canon website by clicking SUPPORT , selecting MANUALS in the drop-down menu, clicking Printers , and finding your model number.

You need to make sure your computer is on the same network as the printer. For a wireless printer to receive commands from a computer, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

If the printer is on a Wi-Fi network different from your computer's network, change the Wi-Fi network on your computer before continuing.

Install on Windows

Open Start . Click the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen.

Open Settings . Click the Settings gear at the bottom left of the window.

Click Devices at the top of the Settings window.

Click Printers & scanners . This tab is on the left side of the window.

Click ＋ Add a printer or scanner . This option is at the top of the page. A window will pop up.

If you see the printer's name (for example, "Canon [model number]") in the "Printers & scanners" section, the printer is connected.

Click the printer's name in the pop-up window. The computer will connect to the printer. Once the connection is complete, you will be able to use the printer on your computer.

If Windows cannot find the printer, continue to the next step.

Install the printer via USB cable. If you don't see the printer in the Add window , you can install the printer by connecting it directly to your computer via a cable:

Connect the printer to the computer using a USB-to-USB cable.

Wait for the installation window to appear.

Proceed according to the instructions on the screen.

On Mac

Open Apple Menu. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

Click System Preferences… (System customization). The option is at the top of the drop-down menu.

Click Printers & Scanners . This printer icon is located in the System Preferences window.

Click the ＋ in the lower left corner of the window. A window will pop up.

If the printer is connected to the network, you'll see the device name (such as "Canon [model number]") in the left pane.

Click the printer's name in the drop-down menu. The printer will begin setup; Once completed, you will see the printer name displayed in the left pane of the window, indicating that the printer has successfully connected to your Mac computer.

If you don't see the printer's name, go to the next step.

Install the printer via USB cable. If your Mac computer can't find the printer, you can install the printer directly using a USB cable:

Update your Mac computer.

Connect the printer to the computer via the USB-to-USB-C cable.

Wait for the setup window to appear.

Proceed according to the instructions on the screen.