canon pixma mg3620 wireless setup is a pain, i never got the cloud printing email to register. what gives?

Diagnosis

The failure to receive the Canon Inkjet Cloud Printing registration email is typically caused by a handshake failure between the MG3620's internal network interface and the Canon Cloud servers. This often happens when the printer is connected via a "Weak" signal or when the router's firewall is blocking the specific outbound port used by Canon's registration service. Because the MG3620 uses a legacy wireless protocol, any momentary drop in connectivity during the "Registering" phase of the setup process causes the server to fail the request, meaning the email is never actually triggered, even if the printer screen suggests it is processing.

Furthermore, many modern email providers (specifically Gmail and Outlook) flag Canon's automated registration URLs as "Phishing" or "Promotional" because the link redirects through multiple security layers before landing on the account creation page. If you have checked your spam folder and found nothing, it is likely that the printer failed to send the request to the server entirely, or your ISP's DNS is blocking the Canon Cloud domain, preventing the registration packet from ever leaving your local network.

How to Fix It

To resolve this and successfully register your Cloud Printing account, follow these exact steps to force a fresh registration request:

1. Power off the printer and unplug the power cord from the wall for 60 seconds to clear the volatile memory cache.
2. Restart your wireless router. Ensure the printer is connected to a 2.4GHz band; the MG3620 cannot communicate with 5GHz networks and will fail registration if it attempts to bridge between the two.
3. Plug the printer back in and power it on. Press the Setup button (Wrench icon) and navigate to Wireless LAN setup. Select Standard setup to re-verify the connection.
4. Once the wireless icon is solid on the LCD, press the Setup button again and navigate to Cloud Printing Center. Select Register.
5. When prompted for the email address on your computer or mobile device, use a different email provider if possible (e.g., if Gmail failed, try a Yahoo or Outlook address) to bypass provider-specific filters.
6. Immediately after clicking "Submit," open your email client and refresh the inbox. If the email does not appear within 3 minutes, check the "Promotions" or "Junk" tab.
7. Click the registration link within the email. You will be redirected to the Canon Cloud Printing Center website. You must accept the Terms and Conditions and set a unique password to finalize the link between your MG3620 hardware ID and your cloud account.

If That Didn't Work

• Manual DNS Override: Access your router's administration panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and change your DNS settings to Google's Public DNS (Primary: 8.8.8.8, Secondary: 8.8.4.4). This often bypasses ISP-level blocks that prevent the MG3620 from reaching the Canon registration server.
• WPS Push-Button Method: Instead of the standard setup, use the WPS method. Press the WPS button on your router, then hold the Wi-Fi button on the MG3620 until the power lamp flashes. A more stable "handshake" via WPS often resolves the registration email trigger issue.
• Disable IPv6: In your router settings, temporarily disable IPv6 and force the network to use IPv4. The MG3620's older firmware can struggle with IPv6 tunneling, which can lead to the "Request Timed Out" error during cloud registration.
• Firewall Port Opening: Ensure that TCP ports 80 and 443 are open for all devices on your network. If you have a hardware firewall (like a SonicWall or Sophos), create an exception for the printer's MAC address to allow unrestricted outbound traffic to Canon's servers.

Heads Up

• Ink Levels: The MG3620 will occasionally block network-related setup prompts if one of the ink cartridges (PG-245 or CL-246) is completely empty or missing. Ensure all cartridges are seated and have ink before attempting cloud registration.
• Sleep Mode: The printer must be fully awake. If the power light is blinking or the screen is blank, the registration request will time out. Press the Power button to wake the device before starting the process.
• Firmware Updates: Since the MG3620 is an older model, ensure you have the latest driver package installed on your PC. While the printer doesn't have a traditional "firmware update" button, the driver installation often pushes critical network patches to the hardware.
• Signal Strength: Keep the printer within 10 feet of the router during the registration process. Once the account is registered, you can move it further away, but the initial "handshake" for the cloud email is highly sensitive to signal drop.