You've just unboxed your Canon PIXMA TR8620a, followed the quick start guide, and now you're staring at a glowing screen that says "Cannot connect to wireless network." Maybe the Canon PRINT app on your phone spins endlessly, or the pairing process completes only for the printer to vanish from your network within minutes. The TR8620a only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and its radio is sensitive to security setting mismatches, especially on newer mesh routers.
The fastest thing to try is a full power cycle. Unplug both the printer and your router. Wait 30 seconds, plug the router back in first, and let it fully boot (about 2 minutes). Then plug in the printer. Once it's up, try pairing again from the Canon PRINT app. This clears any temporary network or printer cache that might be blocking the connection.
If that didn't do it, work through the rest in order.
Why Your Canon PIXMA TR8620a Won't Connect to Wi-Fi
The TR8620a is a 2022 all-in-one with a 2.4 GHz‑only Wi-Fi radio. It supports WPA2 and WPA3 in transitional mode, but it will not connect to a pure WPA3 network where Protected Management Frames (PMF) are required. Mesh systems like Eero, Orbi, and TP‑Link Deco default to WPA3‑only, which is the number one pairing blocker for this printer. Other common causes include a hidden SSID, the printer being out of setup mode, or the Canon PRINT app holding onto stale printer data.
- WPA3‑only networks: the TR8620a cannot join a network that enforces pure WPA3 with PMF. It needs WPA2 or mixed WPA2/WPA3.
- 2.4 GHz band disabled: the printer only sees the 2.4 GHz band during setup. If your router splits bands into separate SSIDs, you must connect your phone to the 2.4 GHz one first.
- Hidden SSID: the printer's setup wizard won't detect a broadcast‑disabled network automatically.
- Setup mode timed out: the printer stays in wireless pairing mode for about 2 hours after first power‑on. After that, you must manually re‑enable it.
- Stale Canon PRINT app cache: the app sometimes remembers a previous failed pairing and won't retry fresh steps.
- MAC address filtering: if your router's allowlist doesn't include the printer's MAC, it can't join.
Switch Your Mesh Network to WPA2 (Temporarily)
If you're on Eero, Orbi, Google Nest Wi‑Fi, or any mesh system, this fix solves the majority of TR8620a connection failures. Open your router's app and find the security or Wi‑Fi settings. Change the security mode from WPA3 to WPA2 or WPA2/WPA3 transitional (sometimes called "compatibility mode"). Save and wait 60 seconds for the mesh to apply the change.
Now try pairing the printer again via the Canon PRINT app. Once it's connected and you've printed a test page, you can switch the router back to WPA3. The printer usually keeps its connection after setup, even if the network reverts.
Re‑enter Setup Mode on the Printer
If your TR8620a has been unplugged for a while or you skipped the initial Wi‑Fi setup, the printer may no longer be broadcasting as a discoverable device. On the printer's touchscreen, press Menu (gear icon), then go to Device settings > LAN settings > Wireless LAN setup. Select Standard setup or WPS depending on your preference. The printer will start scanning for networks.
Make sure the Wi‑Fi icon on the printer's screen shows active searching (you'll see the icon blinking). Then open the Canon PRINT app and tap Register Printer. The app should find the printer within 30 seconds.
Use the Canon PRINT App for Initial Pairing
AirPrint works great once the printer is on your network, but it's not the best tool for initial setup. The Canon PRINT app (formerly called Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY) handles the full pairing flow and is more reliable on the TR8620a. Download it from the App Store or Google Play if you haven't already.
Open the app and tap Register Printer. If it asks for permission to access local network, allow it. The app walks you through connecting the printer to your Wi‑Fi step by step. If you have multiple networks, be sure your phone is on the 2.4 GHz SSID before starting.
Make Sure Your Phone Is on the 2.4 GHz Band
The TR8620a only sees 2.4 GHz networks during pairing. If your router uses separate SSIDs for 2.4 and 5 GHz (common on TP‑Link, Asus, and older Netgear routers), the printer and your phone must be on the same 2.4 GHz network. Temporarily switch your phone to the 2.4 GHz SSID and try again.
If your router combines both bands under one SSID (band steering), the printer may still struggle. In that case, temporarily disable band steering in the router settings or move your phone close to the printer so it prefers 2.4 GHz.
Try WPS Push‑Button Pairing
If the Canon PRINT app keeps failing, use WPS. On the printer's touchscreen, go to Menu > Device settings > LAN settings > Wireless LAN setup > WPS (Push button). The printer will indicate it's ready (the Wi‑Fi icon will flash). Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router. The printer joins the network automatically without needing a password.
This method bypasses the Canon PRINT app entirely and often works when other methods fail. After WPS succeeds, you can open the app and it will detect the printer on the network instantly.
Check for MAC Address Filtering
If your router has a MAC filtering allowlist, the printer won't be able to connect until its MAC address is added. Print a network configuration page on the TR8620a: from the home screen, press Menu > Device settings > LAN settings > Print LAN details. The MAC address is listed near the top.
Log into your router's admin panel, locate the MAC filter or allowlist section, and add the printer's MAC. Save and try pairing again.
Reset the Printer to Factory Defaults
If nothing else works, a full reset often clears deep Wi‑Fi configuration corruption. On the printer's touchscreen, go to Menu > Setup > Device settings > Reset settings > Reset all. Confirm the reset. The printer will erase all settings, including Wi‑Fi credentials and any saved app pairings.
After the reset, the printer reboots into the initial setup wizard. Run through setup again, starting with the Canon PRINT app fresh. This is the nuclear option, but it resolves the persistent connection failures that other fixes miss.
