You hit print, the page never lands, and your computer or the Canon PRINT app insists the PIXMA TS6420a is "offline" even though the printer is sitting right there with its light on. This is one of the most common headaches with Wi-Fi inkjets, and the good news is that an offline status almost always traces back to a dropped connection, a stuck setting, or a queue snag rather than a broken printer. The fixes below start with the quickest, safest steps and only reach a full reset at the very end, so work through them in order and stop as soon as printing comes back.
One thing to settle up front because it saves a lot of wasted effort. The TS6420a uses 802.11b/g/n on the 2.4 GHz band only. It has no 5 GHz radio and no Ethernet port, so any advice telling you to join a 5 GHz network or plug in a cable does not apply to this model. Keep that in mind as you go.
Start with a power cycle and a quick Wi-Fi check
Most "offline" surprises clear after a simple restart that forces the printer to rebuild its network connection. Make sure the printer is turned on first; if it already is, turn it off and back on again. Give it a few minutes, because Wi-Fi can take a little while to reconnect after the printer powers up.
Now confirm the printer actually has Wi-Fi enabled. On the operation panel, look for the Wi-Fi icon on the LCD. If it is not displayed, turn Wi-Fi on at Device settings > LAN settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced mode. Once the icon appears, try your print job again before moving on.
Make sure your computer is not holding the printer offline
Windows can flip a printer into an "offline" state and then keep it there even after the connection is fine. The fix is to uncheck a single setting buried in the print queue, and the path differs slightly by Windows version.
- 1.On Windows 11, open "Set Printers & scanners", select your printer, then click "Print settings" > "Maintenance sheet" > "View Printer Status".
- 2.In the Canon IJ Status Monitor, select "Display Print Queue".
- 3.Open the Printer menu and make sure "Use Printer Offline" is not selected; click it to deselect if it has a checkmark.
On Windows 10, open "Set Printers & scanners", click your printer, and select "Open queue". In the Print Queue window, open the Printer menu and make sure "Use Printer Offline" is not selected. Deselecting this often brings the printer back instantly.
Flush out a jammed print queue
A single stuck job can back up everything behind it and leave the printer looking offline or simply refusing to print. Open the print queue and delete any stalled or unnecessary jobs, then send a fresh print. Clearing the backlog gives the printer a clean slate to act on.
Confirm the right printer is selected and set as default
If you have ever installed the printer more than once or have several printers registered, your computer may be aiming jobs at the wrong device. On Windows, make sure "Canon XXX series" (your printer's name) is selected in the Print dialog, and if multiple printers are installed, set this one as the default. Also confirm the printer and driver names match.
On a Mac, confirm your printer's name is selected in the Print dialog's Printer dropdown. If multiple printers are registered, choose "Set as Default Printer" from System Preferences > Printers & Scanners so your jobs consistently route to the TS6420a.
Verify the printer and router are on the same 2.4 GHz network
An offline printer is frequently a printer that quietly fell off your network or got pointed at the wrong band. The network name (SSID) and network key (password) stored on the printer must be identical to those on your router. For this model specifically, Canon's guidance is to use the 2.4 GHz frequency band to connect to a wireless router, and to match the network name (SSID) set for the printer with that of the 2.4 GHz band of the wireless router.
Because 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz SSIDs cannot be used interchangeably, and the TS6420a has no 5 GHz radio, you must connect it to the 2.4 GHz network only. To check what the printer currently sees, go to Device settings > LAN settings, select "Print details", and confirm with Yes; the printout shows the SSID and IP address it is using. For a stronger signal, place the printer close to the router with no metal or concrete obstacles between them.
Let Canon's network utility diagnose and repair the connection
Canon offers a free tool that automates the network detective work for you. Download and run the Wi-Fi Connection Assistant (formerly the IJ Network Device Setup Utility) for Windows or macOS from the printer's page on Canon's support site. It can automatically diagnose and repair the network connection, which often resolves offline issues without any manual settings changes on your part.
Clear a firewall that is blocking communication
Security software can be overzealous and block the traffic between your computer and the printer, which shows up as an offline status. Temporarily disable the firewall function of your security software, or configure it so it permits Canon software to access the network. If the printer comes back online after you relax the firewall, add a permanent exception for the Canon software so the problem does not return.
Reinstall the driver, then fully restart the computer
If the printer still reads offline, the driver itself may be corrupted or out of date. Uninstall and reinstall the latest driver (MP Drivers) from Canon's official support page for your operating system, then perform a full restart of the computer; choose restart rather than shutdown so the system reloads cleanly. Once the computer is back up, send a fresh print to confirm the driver is talking to the printer again.
Reconnect the printer with Easy Wireless Connect
When the network connection has genuinely been lost, the most reliable move is to run Wi-Fi setup again from the printer's own operation panel. Press OK > Device settings > LAN settings > Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi setup. From there you can choose a method that suits your situation.
- "Easy wireless connect" lets you configure the printer from your smartphone or tablet without touching the router.
- "Manual connect" lets you select your network and enter the password directly on the printer.
- "WPS (Push button method)" connects automatically if your router has a WPS button.
Choosing the method that matches your home setup is usually enough to restore the link and clear the offline status.
Reset the network settings, and reset all only as a last resort
If nothing above works, a reset gives the printer a fresh configuration, but it undoes your custom settings, so save it for last. On the operation panel, press OK > Device settings > Reset setting, then make your choice carefully.
Select "LAN settings only" to clear just the network configuration, which is the better first choice because it leaves the rest of your setup intact. Select "Reset all" to restore all settings to factory defaults; note that this is destructive and the administrator password reverts to default, while the LCD language, print head position, and SSL/TLS CSR are not reset. After resetting LAN settings, redo Wi-Fi setup using one of the methods above. If the issue still persists after all of this, contact Canon support for your model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Canon PIXMA TS6420a keep showing offline even though it is turned on?
An offline status usually means the connection or a setting has stalled rather than the printer being broken. The most common causes are a dropped Wi-Fi link, the "Use Printer Offline" option being checked on Windows, a stuck print queue, or the wrong printer being selected. Power-cycle the printer, confirm the Wi-Fi icon is showing, and uncheck "Use Printer Offline" first.
Can I connect the TS6420a to my 5 GHz Wi-Fi network?
No. This model's Wi-Fi is 802.11b/g/n on the 2.4 GHz band only, and it has no 5 GHz radio. Canon's guidance is to match the printer's network name (SSID) with the 2.4 GHz SSID of your router, since 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz SSIDs cannot be used interchangeably.
Does the TS6420a have an Ethernet port I can use instead of Wi-Fi?
No, this model has no Ethernet (wired LAN) port. It connects over Wi-Fi or USB, and it is also compatible with AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, so wireless or USB are your options for getting it back online.
What is the difference between "LAN settings only" and "Reset all"?
"LAN settings only" restores just the network configuration to default, which is the safer choice when you are troubleshooting a connection. "Reset all" restores all settings to factory defaults and reverts the administrator password to default, although the LCD language, print head position, and SSL/TLS CSR are not reset.
Which app should I use to manage the printer from my phone?
Use the free Canon PRINT app, which supports PIXMA and MAXIFY inkjets and SELPHY printers. It requires iOS 16.0 or later or Android 7.0 or later. The printer also works with AirPrint and Mopria Print Service if you prefer your device's built-in printing.
