If your Canon printer is connected to Wi-Fi but not printing, put the printer and computer on the same main Wi-Fi, restart both, clear the print queue, remove the old printer entry, add it again and install Canon’s official software.
Do not assume the Wi-Fi lamp means printing is ready. The printer may be connected to the router while the computer still cannot discover or reach it.
Canon Wi-Fi can be fine while printing is not
Canon printers can create the same small headache in a dozen different ways. The Wi-Fi light is solid, the printer seems connected, but the document will not print. Sometimes a phone sees the printer and a laptop does not. Sometimes the printer worked yesterday, then stopped after a new router, Windows update or internet provider change. The important thing is this: Wi-Fi connection only proves the printer joined the network. Printing also depends on discovery, driver software, queue state, network address and whether the device sending the job is allowed to see the printer.
The best fix order is simple. Confirm the printer and computer are on the same main network, remove old printer entries, then add the printer again through Canon or system settings. That path solves more problems than repeatedly pressing the wireless button.
Quick diagnosis table
Try these fixes in order
Work from visibility to software. Canon printers often need a clean rediscovery after router or computer changes.
- 01
Use the same main Wi-Fi
The printer and sending device should be on the same main network. Guest Wi-Fi can block printer discovery.
- 02
Restart printer and computer
Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on. Restart the computer or phone before sending another job.
- 03
Clear stuck print jobs
Cancel old jobs in the queue. One bad document can hold every new print job behind it.
- 04
Remove and add the printer again
Delete the old Canon printer entry, then add it again so the device finds the current network address.
- 05
Install Canon official software
Use Canon’s official setup and driver pages. Avoid support-looking download sites that are not Canon.
- 06
Check 2.4GHz support
Many Canon printers prefer 2.4GHz. That is fine as long as the computer can still reach the same local network.
- 07
Print a network status page
Use the printer menu to print network details. Confirm the Wi-Fi name and IP address match your home network.
Detailed checks
Why old printer entries break
Your computer may remember the Canon printer by an old address. After a router change, that address can become wrong even though the printer reconnects successfully.
- Removing and adding the printer again forces fresh discovery.
- This is cleaner than installing several duplicate Canon printers and guessing which one is real.
The queue should be checked early
Print queues are easy to overlook because they feel like a software detail. But one stuck job can make a connected printer look completely dead.
- Cancel every pending job, restart the printer and send one plain test page.
- If the test page prints, the original file may have been the problem.
Canon printers and 2.4GHz
Many home printers work best on 2.4GHz because it has better range and compatibility. That does not mean your computer must also be on 2.4GHz, but both devices must be on the same local network.
- If your router separates 2.4GHz and 5GHz into different names or guest networks, discovery can get messy.
- Keep the printer on the trusted main Wi-Fi, not an isolated guest network.
After changing internet providers
A new provider gateway can change the network name, security mode, IP range and device isolation rules. The Canon printer may reconnect, but computers may keep old assumptions.
- Reconnect the printer and add it again on each computer.
- If multiple devices cannot find it, check the router app for isolation or paused-device rules.
Test from more than one device
Try one phone and one computer if you can. If the phone prints but the computer does not, the printer is reachable and the computer setup is the issue.
- If no device can print, focus on the printer network connection, router visibility and network status page.
- This comparison prevents unnecessary driver work on every machine when only one device has the broken print path.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not keep duplicate Canon printer entries.
Do not print from guest Wi-Fi.
Do not skip the queue just because Wi-Fi is connected.
FAQ
Why is my Canon printer connected to Wi-Fi but not printing?
The printer may be connected to the router while the computer has a stale printer entry, stuck queue, missing driver or blocked local network path.
Start with same Wi-Fi, queue cleanup and removing the old printer entry. Those are the most common fixes.
Why did my Canon printer stop printing after a new router?
The printer or computer may still be using old network details. Even if the Wi-Fi light is solid, the computer may be sending jobs to the wrong address.
Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi, remove the old entry and add it again from the device that prints.
Should my Canon printer use 2.4GHz?
Often, yes. Many Canon printers are more reliable on 2.4GHz because it reaches farther and supports more printer models.
Just make sure the printer is on the main network, not guest Wi-Fi. Local discovery matters more than the band name alone.
Can a stuck print queue stop Canon printing?
Yes. A failed job can block later jobs and make the printer seem offline or broken. This is especially common after printing a large PDF, a web page with odd formatting or a job sent while the printer was asleep.
Cancel the queue, restart the printer and send a simple test page. That proves whether the printer path works before you reinstall software.
Should I remove and reinstall the printer?
Yes, after checking the queue and same-network status. Removing the old entry clears bad saved addresses.
Add one clean printer back. Avoid keeping several copies with similar names because that creates more confusion.
Where should I get Canon printer drivers?
Use Canon’s official support or setup site. Printer driver scams often look like helpful support pages.
If your operating system already finds the printer correctly, you may not need a full driver package. But for stubborn cases, official Canon software is safest.
Outside references
- Canon Support
Official Canon support and drivers.
- Canon Printer Setup
Official Canon setup portal.