How to Print From a Phone or Tablet

In short

You can print from a phone or tablet without a computer, as long as the printer and the phone are on the same Wi-Fi network. On an iPhone or iPad, the built-in AirPrint feature does the work. On Android, the built-in print option uses a print service that comes with the phone or can be added from the printer maker. This tutorial covers both, plus fixes for a phone that can’t see the printer.

Before you start

Your printer must already be connected to Wi-Fi. If it isn’t, follow our tutorial on connecting a printer to Wi-Fi first. Then make sure the phone is on the same network: phones sometimes switch to mobile data or a guest network without you noticing.

Check whether your printer supports AirPrint (for Apple devices) or Mopria (a standard many Android phones use). Most wireless printers sold in recent years support one or both; the printer’s box, manual or the maker’s support page will say. If yours doesn’t, the printer maker’s own app, such as HP Smart, is usually the answer.

Steps on Android vary between phone makers and Android versions, so menu names on your phone may differ slightly. Keeping the phone updated helps; Google’s help page in Official documentation shows how to check your Android version.

Key terms

• AirPrint: Apple’s built-in printing technology for iPhone, iPad and Mac. No app or driver is needed.
• Print service (Android): a component that lets Android send documents to printers. Android includes a default one, and printer makers offer plug-ins.
• Mopria: an industry standard that lets Android devices print to many printer brands.
• Share button: the square-with-arrow icon on Apple devices, and the share or three-dot menu on Android, where Print usually lives.

Lesson 1: print from an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the item you want to print, for example a photo in Photos, an email in Mail or a web page in Safari.
2. Tap the Share button (a square with an arrow pointing up). In Mail, tap the reply arrow instead.
3. Scroll down the list of actions and tap Print.
4. Tap Printer and choose your printer. If the list is empty, see the troubleshooting section below.
5. Choose the number of copies and other options, such as page range, color or double-sided, if your printer supports them.
6. Tap Print.

Checkpoint: the printer starts within a few seconds. To see the print job, open the App Switcher; a Print Center item shows the queue while printing.

Lesson 2: print from an Android phone or tablet

1. Open the item you want to print, for example a photo in Google Photos, a document in Google Docs or a web page in Chrome.
2. Tap the three-dot menu or the Share button, then tap Print. In some apps it’s under Share > Print.
3. At the top, tap the printer list and choose your printer. Select All printers to search if it isn’t listed.
4. Adjust copies, paper size, color and orientation with the small arrow under the printer name.
5. Tap the print button.

If no printers appear, add a print service: open the phone’s Settings, search for Printing, and check that a print service is turned on. Your printer maker may offer a plug-in or app in the Google Play Store; install only the one published by the maker.

Checkpoint: a notification shows the print job progressing. Tap it to cancel if needed.

Lesson 3: printing photos well

1. Load photo paper the right way up as the paper tray shows; the shiny side usually faces the print side described in the manual.
2. In the print options, choose the matching paper size (such as 4 × 6 inches) and paper type, if offered.
3. For the best results, print from the original photo rather than a screenshot or a photo sent through a messaging app, which may be compressed.

If you’d rather edit or organize photos on a bigger screen first, see transferring photos from a phone to a computer.

Check that it worked

Print a short web page from your phone, then a photo. Both should come out with the right size and orientation. Try it again from another room: as long as the phone is on your home Wi-Fi, printing should work anywhere in the house.

If something goes wrong

• The phone can’t find the printer: check both are on the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile data or a guest network), then restart the printer and the phone.
• The printer appears but says “offline”: fix the printer’s connection first; see printer offline or not printing.
• There’s no Print option in an app: use the Share menu, or open the file in another app such as Photos, Files or Chrome, which have print options.
• Android finds no printers at all: turn on the default print service in Settings, or install the printer maker’s official plug-in.
• Photos print cropped: match the paper size setting to the paper loaded, and check any “fit” or “fill” option.

If problems continue, use the support pages on the printer maker’s official website, which often include phone printing instructions for each model.

FAQ

Do I need an app to print from my iPhone?

Not if your printer supports AirPrint. Printing is built into iPhone and iPad. A printer maker’s app is useful for printers without AirPrint or for extra features like scanning.

Can I print from my phone without Wi-Fi?

Some printers support Wi-Fi Direct, which lets a phone connect straight to the printer. Others can print from a phone by USB with the right adapter. Check your printer’s manual.

Why does my phone print only some pages?

Check the page range in the print options. Some apps, especially web browsers, also include or exclude pages based on the page layout.

Can I print from my phone when I’m away from home?

Some printer makers offer cloud printing through their apps or email-to-print services. These depend on the model and need setting up through the maker’s official app or website.