"Reset" means different things depending on what's actually wrong — a stuck error, a broken Wi-Fi connection, or a printer you're preparing to give away. Here's each method and which problem it actually solves.
Turn the printer off using its power button, unplug it from the wall, and wait a full 60 seconds before plugging it back in — this lets internal components fully discharge and clears temporary error states a quick off-and-on doesn't. This resolves the majority of stuck errors and a printer that's simply stopped responding.
If the printer keeps dropping off Wi-Fi or can't find your network, the printer needs to forget its saved network entirely. On models with a display, go to Setup → Device Settings → LAN Settings → Reset LAN Settings (menu wording varies by model). This clears only the network configuration, leaving other settings intact. Run the wireless setup wizard again afterward to reconnect.
Use this only if you're preparing to sell, donate, or recycle the printer, or the device is behaving erratically in a way neither a power cycle nor a network reset resolves. Go to Setup → Device Settings → Reset Setting → Reset All, and confirm when prompted. The printer erases all custom settings and saved networks, then restarts as if unboxed for the first time. You'll need to run through wireless setup again from scratch afterward.
On simpler Canon models without a touch display, a factory reset is often done using a specific button-hold combination on power-up — commonly holding the Stop/Reset button (or a combination with the power button) for around 5 seconds while the printer is on. The exact combination varies by model, so check your printer's manual or Canon's official support site for your specific model number before attempting this.
The Canon PRINT app offers network-related settings access for many current models — open the app, select your printer, and check its settings section for reset or reconfigure options. This can be a more guided path than navigating the printer's own menu, particularly for the network-only reset.
A reset clears software-level state — stuck queues, corrupted settings, forgotten networks — but won't fix a genuine hardware fault: a jammed roller, a failed print head, or a physically dirty cartridge sensor. If the same problem returns immediately after a reset and reconnection, the cause is almost always physical rather than a settings issue.
Once your Canon printer is back online, you may need to reinstall the driver on your computer.
Find your Canon driverThe Canon PRINT app method and control-panel fallback.
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