Canon PIXMA TS3120: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon PIXMA TS3120 right for you?

The TS3120 was the entry-level wireless all-in-one that millions of students and families bought between 2017 and 2020, and it remains common in homes today. It prints, scans and copies over Wi-Fi with a tiny segment display rather than a real screen, so error reporting comes as cryptic E-codes. It uses the two-cartridge PG-245 / CL-246 FINE system, which is cheap to buy but expensive per page; owners who print a lot usually move on to a MegaTank model.

Best for: Basic home printing and scanning on a budget

Setting up the Canon PIXMA TS3120

Hold the Wi-Fi button until the lamp flashes, then use the Canon PRINT app on a phone connected to a 2.4 GHz network to push the credentials. The segment display shows only numbers, so check the Wi-Fi lamp rather than the screen for connection status. Cartridge alignment is triggered from the IJ Printer Assistant Tool or by printing the alignment sheet and scanning it.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Canon's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Canon PIXMA TS3120 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• PG-245 black
• CL-246 color
• PG-245XL / CL-246XL

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications