Diagnosis
The connection failure on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is typically caused by a "handshake timeout" between the printer's internal wireless card and the router. This happens most frequently because the TR8620a is primarily a 2.4GHz device, and modern "Smart" routers attempt to force the printer onto a 5GHz band or use a combined SSID (Band Steering). When the printer attempts to authenticate, the router switches bands, causing the printer to lose the signal and trigger a setup failure, forcing you to restart the process.
Additionally, this failure often stems from WPA3 security settings. Many newer routers default to WPA3 or a "WPA2/WPA3 Mixed" mode. The TR8620a hardware can struggle with the transition handshake in mixed mode, leading to an authentication error that manifests as a generic "Connection Failed" message on the printer's LCD screen. You can confirm this is the issue if your smartphone connects to the Wi-Fi instantly in the same spot where the printer is failing.
How to Fix It
To bypass the software setup loops, the most reliable method is the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) push-button connection, which bypasses the manual password entry and SSID selection screens that often crash.
- Power cycle your printer by turning it off, unplugging the power cord for 30 seconds, and plugging it back in.
- On the printer's operation panel, press the Setup button (represented by the pliers/screwdriver icon).
- Navigate to Device Settings > LAN settings > Wireless LAN setup.
- Select WPS (Push Button method) from the list of options.
- When the screen displays "Press the button on your wireless router," go to your physical router and press and hold the WPS button for approximately 3 to 5 seconds (the WPS light should begin blinking).
- Return to the printer screen immediately. The printer will now search for the WPS signal. Once the "Connected" message appears, press OK to finalize the link.
- Print a Network Configuration page to verify the IP address is assigned correctly.
If That Didn't Work
- Separate your Wi-Fi Bands: Log into your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and disable "Smart Connect" or "Band Steering." Create two distinct SSIDs: one named "Home_Wifi_2.4G" and one "Home_Wifi_5G." Connect the TR8620a specifically to the 2.4GHz band. This prevents the router from trying to "push" the printer to a frequency it cannot maintain.
- Adjust Security Protocol: If your router is set to WPA3, change the security mode to WPA2-AES (CCMP). The TR8620a is significantly more stable on WPA2. If you have a "Mixed Mode" enabled, switching to a dedicated WPA2 setting often resolves the intermittent handshake failures during setup.
- Static IP Assignment: If the printer connects but then drops off, use the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app on a mobile device to assign a static IP address to the printer. This prevents the "Printer Offline" error that occurs when the router reassigns a new DHCP address to the printer after a power flicker.
- Clear Network Defaults: Perform a hard network reset. Go to Setup > Device Settings > LAN settings > Reset LAN settings. Confirm the reset, restart the printer, and attempt the WPS method again. This clears any cached, corrupted credentials from previous failed attempts.
Heads Up
- Avoid placing the printer directly on top of your router or within 3 feet of it; this can actually cause "signal clipping" where the signal is too strong and creates interference.
- Ensure your router's firewall is not blocking Port 631 or Port 9100, which are essential for bidirectional communication between the TR8620a and your computer.
- If you use a VPN on your computer, disable it during the initial setup phase, as the VPN hides your computer from the local network, making it impossible for the driver to "find" the printer even if the printer is connected to Wi-Fi.
- Keep the printer's firmware updated via the Setup menu to ensure the latest wireless stability patches are installed.