First decide which connection you mean: printer to phone hotspot means the printer joins the Wi-Fi network broadcast by your phone; phone to printer Wi-Fi means your phone joins the printer’s Wireless Direct or access point network. The setup is different. Canon’s direct-connection instructions apply only to supported models, and the steps and credentials vary by model. Find your exact printer model on its front label or network settings before following button instructions.
Which hotspot connection do you need?
| What you want to do | Which device joins which network | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Print while the printer and phone use your phone’s hotspot | The printer joins the phone’s hotspot, like it would join a wireless router. | Check the exact printer’s manual for support for connecting to a phone hotspot. Canon’s general router setup describes selecting a network name (SSID) and entering its password, but the reviewed Canon guidance does not establish phone-hotspot compatibility for every model. |
| Print directly from a phone without a router | The phone joins the printer’s Wireless Direct or access point network. | Confirm that the model supports this mode, then use its instructions for enabling the mode and finding the network name and password. |
Canon distinguishes infrastructure Wi-Fi, where a printer connects through a wireless router, from direct mode, where a phone or computer connects to the printer without a router. Easy wireless connect and manual router network setup are other ways to configure a supported printer. See Canon’s network connection guidance for the distinction, and consult your model’s manual for its actual steps.
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Connect a phone to the printer with Wireless Direct
- Identify your printer model. Check the front label or the printer’s network settings, then open the manual for that exact model.
- Enable Wireless Direct or access point mode. Follow the printer’s model-specific menu or button instructions. Look for the SSID and password on the printer screen, in its network information, or in the manual.
- Join the printer’s Wi-Fi from your phone. Open the phone’s Wi-Fi settings, select the printer’s SSID, and enter the documented password.
- Choose the printer to print. In the relevant printing app or the phone’s print menu, select the Canon printer and send the job.
Canon’s manuals use labels such as “Wireless Direct” and “Access point mode.” Menu paths differ: the MG5500 uses WLAN on the HOME screen, the MX470 uses the Setup button and an Access point mode menu, and the MG7100 uses the HOME screen’s WLAN control and touchscreen prompts. These are examples, not interchangeable instructions. Some models also require configuring the printer’s access point name and security settings, and their manuals explain how to exit direct mode after printing.
PIXMA iP110 example only
For the PIXMA iP110 series, Canon instructs users to turn on the printer, press and hold the Wi-Fi button, and release it when the POWER lamp flashes three times. Check that the POWER lamp becomes steady; if it does not, repeat the procedure. On an Android or iOS phone, select the printer’s SSID, formatted as “XXXXXX-iP110series,” where the Xs are the last six digits of the printer’s MAC address. The default password is the printer’s serial number, found on the rear sticker or by printing the network settings. Canon also says to complete wireless-router setup for this model before following these direct-connect steps. See Canon’s PIXMA iP110 access point mode instructions. Do not use this button sequence or password for another model.
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Connect the printer to your phone’s hotspot
For this arrangement, the printer joins the Wi-Fi network broadcast by the phone. Use the printer’s infrastructure or wireless-router setup—not its Wireless Direct mode—and select the phone hotspot’s SSID when the printer asks for a network. Enter the hotspot password as prompted.
Before trying this, check the exact model’s manual for support for joining a phone hotspot. Canon’s setup guidance for wireless routers describes choosing an available SSID and entering its network password, but that does not confirm that every Canon printer can join every phone hotspot. See Canon’s Canon PRINT setup guidance and the manual for your printer. If the manual does not establish compatibility, do not assume that router setup will work with your phone’s hotspot.
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- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
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What changes when the phone joins the printer’s network?
Canon warns that a device using router Wi-Fi can be disconnected from that router when it joins a printer through Wireless Direct. Depending on the phone, it may switch to mobile data. Check the Wi-Fi and mobile-data indicators before browsing or downloading while connected directly to the printer; mobile-data use may count against your plan.
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- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
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If the printer does not appear or the connection fails
- Recheck the connection goal. Confirm whether the printer should join the phone hotspot or the phone should join the printer’s direct network. The two use different setup modes.
- Confirm the model and mode. Check the exact model manual and verify that the printer is in the intended connection mode.
- Check the network details. Make sure the phone selected the printer SSID for a direct connection, or the hotspot SSID for a hotspot-client connection, and that the corresponding password is correct.
- Try the appropriate print workflow. After the phone has joined the intended network, select the printer in the relevant Canon printing app or device print menu.
- Use Canon’s model-specific setup guidance. Canon’s Wi-Fi Connection Assistant documentation describes managing Wi-Fi settings on supported models; available options depend on the printer. See Wi-Fi Connection Assistant or the manual for your model.
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