the wireless setup on my pixma mg3620 keeps failing. it won't connect to my wifi no matter what i try.

Diagnosis

The Canon PIXMA MG3620 often suffers from "handshake" failures during wireless setup, where the printer and router fail to exchange security credentials within the allotted timeout window. This is frequently caused by the printer's inability to communicate with 5GHz bands; the MG3620 is a legacy 2.4GHz-only device. If your router uses a "Smart Connect" feature that merges 2.4GHz and 5GHz into one SSID, the printer will often fail to authenticate because it cannot process the dual-band signal. Furthermore, this model is prone to "stale" network profiles. If the printer was previously connected to a different router or if the network password was changed, the internal wireless chip may hold onto the old configuration, preventing a new connection from establishing. You can confirm a failure if the Wi-Fi lamp flashes rapidly and then turns off, or if the printer prints a Network Configuration page showing "Disconnected" or "Invalid IP Address" under the IPv4 section.

How to Fix It

To resolve this, you must perform a hard reset of the network settings and use the manual WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) method to force a clean handshake.

1. Clear the printer's network memory. Press and hold the Stop/Reset button until the Alarm lamp flashes 15 times, then release it immediately. This clears any old SSID profiles.
2. Ensure your router's WPS feature is enabled in the admin panel. If your router is a combined gateway (modem/router), locate the physical WPS button (sometimes labeled as "Connect" or "Wi-Fi").
3. On the MG3620, press and hold the Wi-Fi button for approximately 5 seconds until the Wi-Fi lamp begins to flash quickly.
4. Within 120 seconds, press and hold the WPS button on your router for 3 to 5 seconds.
5. Wait for the Wi-Fi lamp on the printer to stop flashing. Once it remains solid blue/green, the connection is established.
6. On your computer, go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers. If the printer is listed as "Offline," right-click it, select Remove Device, and then click Add a Printer to refresh the IP address assignment.

If That Didn't Work

• Split your Router Bands: Log into your router settings (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and disable "Smart Connect." Create two separate SSIDs: one for 2.4GHz (e.g., "HomeNet_2.4") and one for 5GHz. Connect the MG3620 specifically to the 2.4GHz band.
• USB-to-Wireless Bridge: Connect the printer to your PC via a standard USB-A to USB-B printer cable. Run the Canon setup utility and select "Wireless LAN Connection." The software will push the Wi-Fi password directly from the PC to the printer's hardware, bypassing the WPS handshake entirely. Once the Wi-Fi light stays solid, unplug the USB cable.
• Assign a Static IP: If the printer connects but drops frequently, access the printer's web interface by typing its IP address into a browser. Navigate to Network Settings > TCP/IP and change "DHCP" to "Manual." Assign an IP address outside your router's common DHCP range (e.g., 192.168.1.200) to prevent IP conflicts.
• Check Security Protocols: Ensure your router is using WPA2-PSK (AES) security. The MG3620 may struggle with the newer WPA3 standard. If your router is set to "WPA3 Only," change it to "WPA2/WPA3 Mixed Mode."

Heads Up

• Avoid placing the printer more than 10 feet away from the router during the initial setup process to prevent signal interference.
• Disable any active VPNs on your computer during the setup phase, as VPNs mask the local network and prevent the PC from "seeing" the printer on the subnet.
• If you change your router or ISP, you must repeat the "Stop/Reset" 15-flash sequence to wipe the old credentials before attempting a new connection.
• Keep the printer firmware updated via the Canon utility to ensure compatibility with newer router security patches.