Canon Pixma iP8720 Setup

The Canon Pixma iP8720 is a six‑color, wide‑format photo printer that can deliver excellent 13×19 prints—if you set it up correctly. A clean setup has four phases: physical installation, Wi‑Fi or USB connection, driver and profile installation, and a quick calibration/maintenance run. This guide walks you through each phase and includes the most common fixes for wireless drops, driver mismatches, and color problems on photo paper.

Unboxing and Physical Setup

Remove all orange tape, foam blocks, and plastic films from inside and outside the printer. Install the power cable directly into a wall outlet and turn the printer on. Open the top cover and install all six ink tanks (PGI‑250/CLI‑251 family for this series) in their labeled slots until each clicks. Load plain paper in the rear tray for initial tests, and keep photo paper sealed until you are ready to profile prints.

Choose Wi‑Fi or USB

The iP8720 supports Wi‑Fi and USB. Wi‑Fi is ideal for printing from multiple computers or a phone; USB is simplest for a single desktop and can help when Wi‑Fi discovery fails. If you choose wireless, confirm your router broadcasts 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi; the iP8720 can use 5 GHz on some routers but is most reliable on 2.4 GHz at range.

Reset Old Network Settings (If Reconnecting)

If you previously connected the printer to another router, clear stale settings first. Hold the Stop/Reset button until the alarm flashes 15 times, then release. Power‑cycle the printer. This ensures the setup tool doesn’t fail silently due to old SSIDs.

Wireless Setup with Canon Software (Recommended)

Download the Pixma iP8700 series driver and setup package from Canon. Run the installer and pick Wireless LAN Connection, then Cableless setup. Put the printer into wireless setup mode: hold the Wi‑Fi button until the lamp flashes, press Color, then press Wi‑Fi again. The Wi‑Fi light should blink quickly. The installer will send your SSID and password to the printer. If the installer cannot find the printer, connect a USB cable when prompted so it can push credentials over USB.

WPS Push‑Button Option

If your router supports WPS, you can pair without typing a password. Start WPS on the printer (Wi‑Fi light blinking), then press your router’s WPS button within two minutes. When the Wi‑Fi lamp stays solid, pairing is complete. If WPS times out, enable it in the router settings or use cableless setup instead.

Install Drivers on Windows

During installation, choose the iP8700 series driver, not a generic Windows driver. The Canon package includes color profiles, borderless settings, and maintenance tools. After install, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and print a test page. If Windows shows the printer offline, verify the port matches the printer’s current IP or a Canon BJNP network port, and uncheck Use Printer Offline.

Install Drivers on macOS

On macOS, install Canon’s IJ driver for iP8720. Add the printer in System Settings > Printers & Scanners and set Use to the Canon driver (not just AirPrint) to keep the photo and maintenance options. If the printer doesn’t appear, add it by IP using the address from your router’s device list and protocol IPP.

Photo Printing Setup and Profiles

For best photo color, select the exact Canon media type that matches your paper (e.g., Photo Paper Pro Luster, Matte Photo Paper). Using the wrong media type changes ink load and can cause washed‑out blacks or oversaturation. If you use third‑party photo paper, download ICC profiles from the paper manufacturer and select them in your editing app. In the Canon driver, turn off double color management by letting either the app or the printer manage color—never both.

Maintenance After Installation

Run a Nozzle Check and Head Alignment from the Canon utility. If you see gaps, perform a cleaning cycle, then recheck. Print a few plain‑paper pages before switching to photo paper to ensure ink channels are primed. Keep the printer powered on (sleep is fine) so it can run automatic maintenance; long power‑offs can dry the head.

Troubleshooting Common Setup Problems

Printer not found on Wi‑Fi: Disable VPN, ensure both devices are on the same 2.4 GHz network, and avoid guest SSIDs. Add by IP if Bonjour discovery fails. Jobs stuck in queue: Clear the queue, reinstall the Canon driver, and verify the correct port/IP. Colors look wrong: Confirm media type and ICC profile selection; run alignment and nozzle checks. Wireless drops after a day: Reserve the printer IP in the router.

Keep the iP8720 Stable Long‑Term

Reserve a DHCP address for the printer, keep firmware updated through Canon’s tools, and print something every week to prevent clogs. Store ink and paper in a cool, dry place. If you move the printer, redo wireless setup before printing to avoid “offline” surprises.

Quick Checklist

• Install all six tanks and load plain paper for tests.
• Connect to Wi‑Fi via cableless setup/WPS or use USB.
• Install Canon iP8700 series drivers on Windows/macOS.
• Run nozzle check and head alignment after setup.
• Match media types/ICC profiles for accurate photo color.
• Reserve IP and print weekly to keep the head healthy.

With these steps, your Canon Pixma iP8720 will be set up for reliable wireless printing and high‑quality photos, ready for everything from everyday documents to gallery‑worthy wide prints.