How to print from your phone or tablet

Print from an iPhone, iPad or Android phone or tablet without a cable or a computer. Here is how, and what to check when the printer does not appear.

What you need

• A printer that is switched on and joined to your Wi-Fi network. If it is not, see how to connect a printer to Wi-Fi.
• Your phone or tablet on the same Wi-Fi network, not on mobile data and not on a separate guest network.
• A printer that supports the printing method your device uses: AirPrint for iPhone and iPad, and for Android the built-in print service (the Mopria standard is common). Check the printer's box, manual or the maker's website for the word AirPrint or Mopria.

Print from an iPhone or iPad

Apple says the printer must support AirPrint over a Wi-Fi or wired network, and the iPhone or iPad must be on the same Wi-Fi network. AirPrint does not work with a printer connected to the USB port of an AirPort Base Station or AirPort Time Capsule, or to a computer over Bluetooth.

1. Open the app you want to print from, such as Photos, Safari or Mail.
2. Open the document, photo or page you want.
3. Tap the Share button, or the three-dot Actions button, to find the print option.
4. Scroll down and tap Print. If you cannot find it, the app may not support printing. Check the app's Help.
5. Tap No Printer Selected, then tap your printer in the list.
6. Set the number of copies, and which pages to print if you need to.
7. Tap Print in the upper-right corner. The printer should start within a short time.

Print from an Android phone or tablet

Android 8 and later include a Default Print Service, so no extra app is needed for many printers. Menu names vary by maker, such as Samsung and Google Pixel.

1. Open the app and the item you want to print.
2. Open the app's menu, often the three dots in a corner, and tap Print. In some apps, look under Share instead.
3. Tap the printer selector near the top. Choose your printer from the list. If it is missing, tap All printers to search for nearby wireless printers.
4. Choose the number of copies and any options, such as color, paper size or two-sided printing.
5. Tap the Print icon.

Turn on or change the print service

If no printers appear, check the print service is switched on.

1. Open Settings and search for Printing. On a Google Pixel phone the path is Settings then Connected devices then Connection preferences then Printing. Samsung and other makers name it differently.
2. Open the print service that is listed and make sure it is on.
3. If your printer needs more features, the printer maker's own app, or the Mopria Print Service, can be installed. Get these only from the official app store, and only the one your printer's maker or the Mopria Alliance names.

Check that it worked

1. Watch the printer. It should wake and start the job, usually within a minute.
2. If nothing happens, look at the printer's screen for a message, such as out of paper or an open cover.
3. Print one page first to test, especially for photos, before printing many copies.

If something goes wrong

• No printer appears: confirm the phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer, not on mobile data. Turn Wi-Fi off and on. If the phone will not stay on Wi-Fi, see phone won't connect to Wi-Fi.
• The printer is on but cannot be found: restart the printer and, if needed, the router. Guest networks and some Wi-Fi extenders can keep devices apart.
• The job sends but does not print: see printer offline: how to get it back online and printer won't print or the queue is stuck.
• The app has no Print option: not all apps support printing. Try opening the item in a different app, or save it as a PDF and print the PDF.
• Your printer has no Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and works only by USB: AirPrint needs a Wi-Fi or wired network connection. Set it up on a computer instead; see how to add a printer in Windows.

Frequently asked questions