How to Connect a Canon Printer to iPhone

Tech & Gaming
1

Connecting a Canon printer to an iPhone works through AirPrint, Canon’s own PRINT app, or in some cases direct Wi-Fi. Here’s how each method works and which one to use.

Method 1: AirPrint (simplest, no app needed)

Most Canon printers made after 2012 support AirPrint – Apple’s built-in wireless printing protocol. If your printer supports it, you don’t need to install anything.

Requirements:

  • Your Canon printer and iPhone must be on the same Wi-Fi network
  • The printer must be AirPrint-compatible (check Canon’s site or the printer box)

How to print via AirPrint:

  1. Open whatever you want to print (a photo, document, webpage, email)
  2. Tap the Share button (the box with an arrow)
  3. Scroll down and tap “Print”
  4. Tap “Select Printer” and your Canon printer should appear
  5. Choose copies and settings, tap Print

If the printer doesn’t appear, make sure it’s powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and on the same network as your iPhone. Some printers have a Wi-Fi button or indicator light – confirm it’s connected to your router, not in Access Point mode.

Method 2: Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app

Canon’s official app gives you more control than AirPrint – print settings, ink level checking, scanning from compatible models, and cloud printing.

  1. Download “Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY” from the App Store (free)
  2. Open the app and tap the printer icon to add a printer
  3. The app scans for Canon printers on your network
  4. Select your printer and follow the setup prompt
  5. Print documents, photos, or cloud files from within the app

Method 3: Wi-Fi Direct (no router needed)

Some Canon printers support Wi-Fi Direct – a direct connection between printer and iPhone without a router involved.

On the printer: enable Wi-Fi Direct from the settings menu (varies by model – check your printer’s manual). The printer broadcasts its own network.

On iPhone: go to Settings > Wi-Fi and connect to the printer’s direct network (usually named “Canon_ij_XXXX” or similar). Once connected, use AirPrint or the Canon PRINT app to print.

Note: while connected to the printer’s direct network your iPhone won’t have internet access through that connection.

Troubleshooting

Printer not showing in AirPrint: Confirm both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network (not one on 2.4GHz and the other on 5GHz if your router separates them). Restart both the printer and iPhone. Toggle Wi-Fi off and on on the iPhone.

Canon PRINT app can’t find the printer: Check that the printer’s Wi-Fi indicator is lit. Try adding the printer manually by IP address in the app settings.

2

AirPrint just working when printer and phone are on the same network is genuinely impressive. I set up a Canon printer for a family member and they were printing from their iPhone within two minutes of unboxing – no drivers, no app, no setup beyond connecting the printer to WiFi. For most people AirPrint is all they’ll ever need.

3

the 2.4ghz vs 5ghz network separation issue is real. my phone connected to the 5ghz band and the printer only supported 2.4ghz. they were both “on the same network” technically but AirPrint couldn’t find it. connecting my phone to the 2.4ghz band fixed it immediately.

4

The Canon PRINT app is worth installing even if AirPrint works, specifically for the ink level monitoring. Knowing you’re running low before starting a print job saves the experience of printing half a document. The scan-to-phone feature on compatible models is also useful for quick document digitization.

5

Wi-Fi Direct is underused and genuinely useful for printing in environments without a router – hotel rooms, client sites, temporary setups. Most people don’t know their printer has it. Worth checking the manual once just to know whether it’s available on your model.

6

The “check the printer’s Wi-Fi indicator light” troubleshooting step is more important than it sounds. Printers sometimes drop off the WiFi network silently – the printer looks powered on and ready but has lost its connection. A quick check of the indicator, or reprinting the network configuration page, confirms the connection status before going further.