can i print photos directly from my phone to the canon pixma tr8620a? there's no app mentioned anywhere.

Diagnosis

The confusion regarding "no app" usually stems from a misunderstanding of how the Canon PIXMA TR8620a handles mobile connectivity. Contrary to the idea that it lacks an app, this printer is designed to work with the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY application. If you cannot find a dedicated "TR8620a App," it is because Canon uses a universal application for their entire PIXMA line rather than model-specific software. The root cause of printing failure from a phone is typically a "Network Mismatch." The TR8620a supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, but if your phone is connected to a 5GHz band and the printer is locked to 2.4GHz (or vice versa) on a dual-band router, they will not "see" each other despite being on the same Wi-Fi name. You can confirm this by checking the printer's LCD screen; if the Wi-Fi icon is flashing or shows a connection error, the handshake between the mobile device and the printer's network interface card (NIC) has failed.

How to Fix It

To print photos directly from your phone, follow these precise steps to establish a handshake between your device and the TR8620a:

1. Download and install the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
2. On the printer's touchscreen, tap the Wireless Setup icon (usually represented by a signal tower) and select LAN settings > Wi-Fi > Enable.
3. Run the Wireless Setup wizard on the printer to connect it to your home router. Enter your Wi-Fi password exactly; remember that it is case-sensitive.
4. Open the Canon PRINT app on your phone. Tap the "Add Printer" or "Search" icon. The app will scan your local network for the TR8620a's IP address.
5. Once the printer appears in the list, select it. The app will now sync with the printer's ink levels and status.
6. Tap Photo Printing within the app, select the image from your gallery, choose your paper size (e.g., 4x6 or Letter), and hit Print.

If That Didn't Work

• Use AirPrint (iOS) or Mopria (Android): You do not actually need the Canon app if you prefer native printing. On an iPhone, open the photo, tap the Share icon, scroll down to Print, and select the TR8620a from the printer list. For Android, ensure the Mopria Print Service plugin is installed from the Play Store to enable the "Print" option in your gallery.
• Enable Wireless Direct: If you don't have a router, use the printer as its own hotspot. Go to Network Settings > Wireless Direct on the printer screen. This will generate a unique SSID (Network Name) and Password. Connect your phone's Wi-Fi directly to the printer's signal, then use the Canon PRINT app.
• Perform a Network Reset: If the printer is "invisible" to the app, go to Settings > Device Settings > Reset settings > LAN settings. This clears old IP conflicts and allows you to start the pairing process from scratch.
• Check Frequency Banding: If you have a high-end mesh router, temporarily disable the 5GHz band in your router settings. Connect the printer to the 2.4GHz band, pair the phone, and then re-enable 5GHz. This solves the common "Discovery" failure on the TR8620a.

Heads Up

• Ink Consumption: Printing high-resolution photos from a phone often defaults to "High Quality," which drains the PGI-280 and CLI-281 cartridges rapidly. Switch to "Standard" in the app settings for non-professional prints.
• Paper Loading: Ensure you have selected the correct paper type in the app (e.g., Photo Glossy) and that the corresponding paper is loaded in the rear tray. If the app says "Paper Mismatch," the printer will pause and flash a U1251 error code.
• Firmware Updates: Periodically check for firmware updates via the printer's Maintenance menu. Outdated firmware often causes the TR8620a to drop its connection to newer Android or iOS versions.