trying to connect it to wifi and it just won't find my network during setup, the wizard keeps failing.

Diagnosis

The Canon imageClass LBP236dw is designed with a wireless network card that exclusively supports the 2.4GHz frequency band. If your router is configured with "Smart Connect" (which merges 2.4GHz and 5GHz into a single SSID) or is set strictly to 5GHz, the printer's network interface will fail to "see" the broadcast, causing the setup wizard to time out or return a "Network Not Found" error. This is a hardware limitation of the LBP236dw's internal NIC.

Furthermore, the LBP236dw struggles with modern WPA3 security protocols and certain DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channels on the 2.4GHz band. If your router is using WPA3-SAE or a non-standard channel (like channel 12 or 13 in some regions), the printer will fail the handshake process even if the SSID is visible. To confirm this, check your router's admin panel to see if the printer is appearing as a "disconnected" device or if it is failing to authenticate entirely during the DHCP request phase.

How to Fix It

To bypass the unreliable onboard wizard, you must use a "Sideload" configuration method via a USB connection to push the network credentials directly into the printer's NVRAM. Follow these exact steps:

1. Power off the LBP236dw. Connect a standard USB-B to USB-A printer cable from the back of the machine to your computer.
2. On your computer, download and install the "MF Drivers" package specifically for the LBP236dw. Do not use the generic Windows Update drivers.
3. Launch the setup utility. When prompted for the connection method, select "Wireless LAN Connection" but choose the option "Connect via USB cable" to configure the network.
4. The software will scan for available networks. If your network does not appear, go to your router settings and temporarily disable "Band Steering" or "Smart Connect" to create a dedicated 2.4GHz SSID (e.g., "HomeWiFi_2.4").
5. Select the 2.4GHz SSID from the list and enter your WPA2-PSK password. Ensure the security type is set to WPA2-AES; avoid WPA3 or "Mixed Mode" if possible.
6. Once the software confirms "Connection Successful," the printer will save these settings to its internal memory. You can now unplug the USB cable.
7. Perform a "Network Configuration Page" printout from the printer's Menu > Network Settings > Print List to verify that the IP address is now assigned (e.g., 192.168.1.X).

If That Didn't Work

• Manual IP Assignment via Remote UI: If the printer connects but keeps dropping, assign a Static IP. Connect the printer via USB, open the Remote UI (web interface) by typing the printer's current IP into a browser, navigate to Settings/Registration > Network Settings > TCP/IP Settings, and change "IP Address Settings" from Auto/DHCP to Manual. Assign an address outside your router's DHCP range to prevent IP conflicts.
• Router Channel Adjustment: Log into your router and manually set the 2.4GHz channel to 1, 6, or 11. The LBP236dw often fails to connect if the router is set to "Auto" and jumps to a higher channel that the printer's firmware doesn't support.
• WPA2 Transition: Change your router's security mode from "WPA3" or "WPA2/WPA3 Mixed" to "WPA2-PSK (AES)". The LBP236dw lacks the firmware updates to handle the newer SAE handshake used in WPA3, which causes the setup wizard to fail at the final step.
• Disable Firewall/VPN: Temporarily disable any third-party firewalls (like Norton or McAfee) and disconnect any active VPNs on your computer during the USB setup process. These often block the specific ports Canon uses to push network credentials to the device.

Heads Up

• Avoid 5GHz: Never attempt to connect this model to a 5GHz-only network; it is physically impossible for this hardware to see those signals.
• Static IP is Key: Laser printers are notorious for "disappearing" from computers after a router reboot. Always assign a Static IP to ensure the print spooler can always find the device.
• Firmware Updates: Check the Canon support site for the latest firmware. Newer versions improve the stability of the wireless NIC and reduce the frequency of "Offline" errors.
• Cable Quality: When using the USB setup method, use a cable shorter than 6 feet. Long USB cables can cause data corruption during the network credential transfer.