how do i get my canon pixma tr8620a to work with alexa for ink alerts? i can't figure it out.

Diagnosis

The inability to receive ink alerts via Alexa on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a usually stems from a "handshake" failure between the Canon PRINT cloud service and the Amazon Alexa skill. For Alexa to announce ink levels, the printer cannot simply be connected to your local Wi-Fi; it must be registered to a Canon account and opted-in to "Cloud Printing" and "Remote UI" services. If the printer is only connected via a local IP address without a linked Canon ID, the Alexa skill has no cloud-based endpoint to query for ink levels. Furthermore, many users encounter this issue because the printer is in a "Deep Sleep" mode or the "Auto Power" setting is disabling the wireless radio. If the printer's network interface is dormant, the Canon cloud server cannot poll the ink levels, and Alexa will respond with "I couldn't find a device" or simply remain silent. You can confirm the root cause by checking the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app on your mobile device; if you cannot see the ink levels while your phone is on a different network (LTE/5G), the cloud link is broken, which is why Alexa cannot see the printer.

How to Fix It

Follow these exact steps to establish the cloud link and activate the ink alerts:

1. On the printer's touch screen, navigate to Settings > Device Settings > LAN Settings > Wi-Fi and confirm the connection is "Connected."
2. Open the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app on your smartphone. Ensure you are logged into your Canon account. If you haven't created one, register an account using a valid email address.
3. In the app, select your TR8620a from the device list. Go to the Cloud settings and ensure that "Cloud Printing" and "Remote UI" are toggled to ON. This allows the printer to push ink data to Canon's servers.
4. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device. Tap the More icon in the bottom right and select Skills & Games.
5. Search for the "Canon Ink Alert" skill. Tap Enable to Use.
6. When the login screen appears, enter the exact same credentials (email and password) used for the Canon PRINT app. This links the two ecosystems.
7. Once linked, tell Alexa, "Alexa, discover my devices." Wait for the confirmation that the printer has been found.
8. To test the setup, ask, "Alexa, what is the ink level of my Canon printer?"

If That Didn't Work

• Disable Power Saving: Go to the printer's Settings > Device Settings > Eco Settings > Auto Power Off and set it to Off. If the printer shuts down completely, it disconnects from the cloud, and Alexa cannot trigger an alert.
• Check Network Frequency: The TR8620a supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, but Alexa devices often struggle if the printer is on 5GHz while the Echo is on 2.4GHz. Try assigning the printer to the 2.4GHz band for better stability with smart home integrations.
• Reset the Skill Cache: In the Alexa app, disable the Canon Ink Alert skill entirely, then go to Devices and delete the printer. Restart your router, then re-enable the skill and re-link the account from scratch.
• Update Firmware: On the printer screen, go to Settings > Device Settings > Firmware Update. An outdated firmware version can cause the API communication between Canon and Amazon to fail.

Heads Up

• Ink Thresholds: Alexa typically only triggers an "alert" when ink levels drop below 20%. It will not notify you for minor drops in ink.
• Account Matching: The most common failure point is using a different email for the Canon account and the Alexa skill; they must be identical.
• Privacy Settings: Ensure that "Allow Amazon to access Canon account data" is checked during the skill authorization process, or the ink levels will remain hidden.
• Network Stability: If you use a VPN on your router, the Canon Cloud service may block the connection, preventing ink alerts from reaching Alexa.