If you are connecting a printer to a laptop, the process can be a bit confusing at first. There is no single process that would work for every printer and laptop.
You might have the brand-new and latest model of Cannon printer or you might have an old Cannon printer on your hands. Depending on the specific model of your printer, the type of laptop you have, and your operating system, the process can differ.
In this article, we will be exploring various methods that will allow you to connect a cannon printer to a laptop. We will be discussing each aspect to ensure that you are able to connect regardless of which model you have. Let’s dive right into it.
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Connecting Your Cannon Printer To A Laptop Wirelessly
If you have one of the latest or newer models of Cannon printers that comes with wireless compatibility, then connecting it to your laptop is much easier.
You just have to follow a couple of steps and you will be able to print wirelessly from any device and not just your laptop. Here’s what you have to do:
- First of all, after turning on the printer, go to network settings using the navigation buttons on the screen.
- In Network Settings, open Wi-Fi settings and turn on Wi-Fi.
- You will see the list of available Wi-Fi networks in range. You must connect the printer to your home’s Wi-Fi just like you would connect any other device.
- You will have to enter the password using the display and once the connection is established, the printer will become available over the network.
- Now, connect your laptop to the same Wi-Fi network and you will be able to add the printer to your laptop.
- Once you have connected the laptop to your Wi-Fi, you should go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer or Scanner.
- The system will automatically search for the available printers and you will find your printer listed there if it is connected to the same network.
- Then you can add the printer to your laptop and start giving it direct commands for printing.
That’s all. In short, all you have to do is connect the printer and the laptop to the same network, and voila! Now, you can print from anywhere in your home without having to be restricted by a cable connector.
Also read, How To Connect A Printer To A Laptop?
Connecting Your Cannon Printer To A Laptop Through a USB Cable/Connector
The most common and widely used method of connecting your printer to a laptop or PC is through a USB cable. If your printer doesn’t come with wireless compatibility or even if it does, you can always connect it with your laptop through the connector cable.
The process for doing this is as simple as it gets. All you have to do is turn on your laptop and printer and connect them using the connector cable that was included with the printer.
Now, if you have lost the cable, then you have to purchase one specifically that was made for this model because while the USB end of all cables is the same, the connector end is unique for each printer model. So, you cannot use one cable for all printers.
When you connect the printer to your laptop, it should automatically install the drivers on your laptop. If you are using Windows 10 and you have one of the printers made in the last decade, then it should have plug-and-play functionality. So, the drivers will be automatically installed on the laptop.
However, if you are using Windows 7 or an older printer, you might have to install the drivers manually. A driver wizard may appear when you connect the printer, but if it doesn’t then you have to install the drivers yourself.
Your printer might come with the driver’s CD that you can use to install the drivers. The last option is to go to the Cannon support page on their website, insert the specific model number of your printer, select the Operating System version, and download the drivers specified. Once downloaded, you can install the drivers.
Once the drivers have been installed, your printer will be ready for use. You can give it print commands from your laptop and start printing instantly.
Printer Not Connecting To Laptop – Troubleshooting Tips
It is not uncommon to run into issues when connecting your Cannon printer or any other printer with your laptop. Let’s discuss each of the issues in detail along with their possible solutions.
Check for Wi-Fi Connectivity
Make sure that both your printer and your laptop are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Once you have connected them, make sure that you add the correct printer to your laptop. If you are using multiple printers at home, you must select the correct one while adding printers.
Check USB Cable
If your laptop doesn’t identify the printer when you connect it through a USB cable, then there is a possible chance that the cable is faulty. You must ensure that the printer is turned on when you are connecting it. Restart the printer just to be double sure.
If possible check to see if the cable is working when you use it with another laptop or another printer. That will allow you to specify whether you have problems with the cable or not.
Check Drivers
One possible reason for the printer not connecting or not working properly is the drivers. The drivers might not have been installed automatically or you might have installed the wrong drivers.
Go to the Cannon Support page, and ensure that you are downloading the drivers for the correct model. Also, you must download the drivers for your specific Operating System.
It is a good option to run the troubleshooter and ask it to identify the issue if your printer is not working or connecting with your laptop. Most of the times, the troubleshooter can tell you exactly where the problem lies and then you can deal with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I connect my Canon wireless printer to my laptop?
All you have to do is ensure that both the printer and your laptop are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. You can go to Network Settings on your printer and connect it to the Wi-Fi network. Then you can add the printer to your laptop.
Why does my Canon printer not connect to my laptop?
There can be several reasons. You might be facing wireless connectivity issues, issues with the USB cable if you are using that to connect the laptop, or issues with the printer drivers. Read our above guide for more details.
How to print from the Cannon printer connected to your laptop?
Open the picture you want to print or the document. Once the document is opened, you can go to print settings, select your Cannon printer in the settings option, and proceed to print. Make sure that the printer is turned on and connected to your laptop.
Wrapping Up!
Summing it all up, connecting the Cannon printer with your laptop can get a bit tricky, especially if you are doing it for the first time. The above guide explains detailed methods that will help you connect your printer to your laptop correctly.
We have also discussed the potential issues that you can run into and how you can resolve those issues. If you are still facing difficulty, then perhaps you should seek help from a tech professional. You can always get in touch with Cannon support staff on their website. They will be more than happy to help out a customer. Good Luck!