You just took a photo on your phone and want to print it directly, without turning on the computer or searching for a cable. With a recent Canon printer, it’s possible in just a few minutes. The connection between a smartphone and a Canon printer is via Wi-Fi, and sometimes even without a home network. You just need to choose the right method according to your model and operating system.
Print from a Canon phone without third-party apps
Most guides start by asking you to download an app. This is often unnecessary. Canon printers from the PIXMA and MAXIFY ranges released in recent years natively support two printing protocols: AirPrint for iPhone and Mopria for Android.
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Specifically, if your phone and printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you can print directly from your phone’s share menu. On iPhone, it’s the “Print” button in the share menu. On Android, it’s the default printing service, accessible from settings or from any app that offers printing.
The Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app is still useful for advanced settings (paper type selection, double-sided printing, scanning). Before trying to connect my phone to my Canon printer via a dedicated app, check if your model already works with AirPrint or Mopria. You’ll save time.
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Wi-Fi connection between phone and Canon printer: the method that works
The principle is simple: your printer and your phone must share the same Wi-Fi network. Not a separate guest network, not the 5 GHz band on one side and the 2.4 GHz band on the other. The same access point, the same band.
Connect the Canon printer to the home Wi-Fi
On models with a touchscreen (like the PIXMA TS or TR), the procedure goes through the “Network Settings” or “Wi-Fi Setup” menu of the printer. You select your network, type in the password, and the printer connects.
On models without a screen, the connection is often made via WPS. You hold down the Wi-Fi button on the printer until the light blinks, then press the WPS button on your internet box. The two devices will find each other automatically.
- Make sure your box is broadcasting a 2.4 GHz network, as many Canon printers do not connect on 5 GHz
- If the Wi-Fi light on the printer remains orange or blinks without stopping, move the printer closer to the router for the initial pairing
- Restart the printer after the Wi-Fi connection: some models only become visible on the network after a complete restart
Check that the phone sees the printer
Once the printer is connected to Wi-Fi, open a document or photo on your phone. Start printing. The Canon printer should appear in the list of available printers without any additional manipulation.
If it doesn’t appear, the problem almost always lies with the network. Check that your phone is not connected to a guest network or a Wi-Fi repeater that creates a different subnet.
Canon Direct Access Point Mode: print without an internet box
You are on the go, in a vacation rental, or your box is down. Do you really need a Wi-Fi network to print? No. The direct access point mode turns the printer into a mini Wi-Fi router.
Canon calls this function “Direct Connection” or “Direct Mode” depending on the models. The printer creates its own Wi-Fi network to which your phone connects like any hotspot. You will find the network name and password either on the printer’s screen or by printing a network information page.
The steps are quick:
- Activate direct mode from the printer’s control panel (menu “Network Settings” then “Direct Connection” or “Access Point Mode”)
- On your phone, go to Wi-Fi settings and connect to the network created by the printer (the name often starts with “DIRECT-” followed by the model)
- Start printing from your app or the phone’s share menu
- Remember to reconnect to your home Wi-Fi after printing, as your phone will no longer have internet access while on the printer’s network
This mode works on both Android and iPhone. On models like the PIXMA TS3350, it can be activated directly from a physical button.
Troubleshooting: when the phone can’t find the Canon printer
The connection refuses to establish. Before reinstalling everything, start with the most overlooked diagnostic: updating the printer’s firmware. Canon explicitly recommends updating the firmware before any attempt at mobile connection. An outdated firmware can prevent detection by recent AirPrint or Mopria protocols.
The update can be done from the printer’s menu if it is already connected to the internet, or via a computer connected via USB through the Canon website.
Three checks to make in order
First check: the network. The phone and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi band (2.4 GHz as a priority). Second check: the firmware. A model that is a few years old may need an update to remain compatible with the latest versions of Android or iOS.
Third check: the printing service on your Android phone. Since recent versions of Android, a default printing service (Default Print Service) can conflict with Canon Print Service or Mopria. If two services try to detect the printer at the same time, neither will succeed. Disable the services you are not using in “Settings” then “Printing”.
On iPhone, if the printer does not appear despite AirPrint, check that the “Client Isolation” feature is not enabled on your box. This option, designed for security, prevents devices on the network from seeing each other.
The connection between a phone and a Canon printer ultimately comes down to two things: a properly configured shared Wi-Fi network and up-to-date firmware. The rest, native protocols or direct mode, takes over effortlessly once these basics are in place.