Canon SELPHY QX20: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon SELPHY QX20 right for you?

The SELPHY QX20 is Canon's pocket-size photo printer, announced in September 2024 and on sale from October 2024 at $149.99, replacing the SELPHY QX10. It uses dye-sublimation rather than ink cartridges or ZINK paper: heat transfers color from a ribbon in layers, which gives smooth, continuous-tone prints instead of the dotted look of inkjet. It is sold worldwide and has ranked among the best-selling photo printers on Amazon in Australia, the UK and Japan. It is also the first SELPHY on this site. It suits families, travelers and scrapbookers who print from a phone and want small keepsake prints rather than 8x10 enlargements.

Best for: Phone photographers who want durable pocket prints for albums and gifts

Setting up the Canon SELPHY QX20

Charge the printer fully before first use. Install Canon's SELPHY app on your phone, check that the app listing names the QX20 before downloading, and pair the printer from inside the app rather than from the phone's settings. Use ink and paper packs made for the QX20; SELPHY ink and paper are sold as matched sets, so the print count is fixed per pack. If prints show lines or blank patches, reseat the cassette and check the ribbon is not creased. Keep packs sealed until you need them.

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 SELPHY QX20 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Canon SELPHY ink and paper packs made for the QX20 (check the pack lists the QX20 before buying)

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