Printing From a Phone or Tablet: What Works and What to Check

01Key takeaway

To print from a phone, put the phone and printer on the same Wi-Fi network, open what you want to print, choose Print from the share or app menu, and select your printer. iPhones and iPads use AirPrint, built into iOS and iPadOS. Many Android devices use a built-in print service or the Mopria Print Service. If your printer supports neither, the manufacturer’s app may still let you print.

02Terms used in this guide

• AirPrint: Apple’s built-in printing system for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It works with printers that support it, without extra apps.
• Mopria: an industry standard for printing from Android and other devices to supported printers.
• Print service: an Android component that handles printing; some are built in, others come from printer manufacturers.
• Wi-Fi Direct: a feature on some printers that lets a phone connect directly to the printer without a router.
• Manufacturer’s app: the printer brand’s own phone app, which may add scanning, ink levels and setup tools.

03Check compatibility first

Before troubleshooting anything, confirm your printer supports mobile printing. Look on the manufacturer’s product page or in the manual for “AirPrint” or “Mopria”, and note whether the manufacturer has an app for your model.

04Print from an iPhone or iPad

1. Join the same Wi-Fi network as the printer. Mobile data won’t work for local printing.
2. Open the item to print, such as a photo, web page, email or document.
3. Tap the Share button (a square with an arrow) or the app’s menu, then tap Print. In some apps, Print is in a “…” menu.
4. Tap Printer and choose your printer from the list.
5. Set options such as copies, page range, color or black and white, and two-sided where available.
6. Tap Print.

You should see: the job start within a few moments. To see or cancel it, open the App Switcher while it prints; a Print Center entry appears while jobs are active.

05Print from an Android phone or tablet

Android menus vary between phone makers, so names may differ slightly.

1. Join the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.
2. Check printing is turned on. In Settings, search for “printing”. Make sure the default print service or Mopria Print Service is on, or install the manufacturer’s print service or app from the official app store if your printer needs it.
3. Open the item to print and choose Print from the share menu or the app’s menu (often under the three-dot menu).
4. Choose your printer from the list at the top of the print preview. Choose “All printers” if it isn’t shown.
5. Set paper size, color and copies, then tap the print button.

Did it print? If the printer isn’t listed, the print service may be off, or the phone may be on a different network.

06If your phone can’t find the printer

• Same network? Phones often switch to mobile data or a different Wi-Fi network, such as a guest network or a neighbor’s extender. Check the Wi-Fi name.
• Is the printer online? Print a network status page from the printer. If it isn’t connected, see connecting a printer to Wi-Fi.
• Restart both. Turn the printer off and on, and restart the phone.
• Router features. Some routers keep devices apart (sometimes called client or AP isolation), which blocks local printing. This is often on for guest networks. Use your main network.
• Try the manufacturer’s app. It may find printers that the built-in methods don’t, and can help with setup.

Never install printing apps from websites or pop-ups. Use your phone’s official app store, and check the publisher is the printer manufacturer.

07Printing without a router

Most of the time, your phone and printer talk through your router. There are two exceptions worth knowing about.

Some printers offer Wi-Fi Direct, which creates a direct connection between your phone and the printer. It is handy where there is no network, but your phone may lose internet access while connected. Steps and the Wi-Fi Direct network name and password are shown on the printer’s screen or settings page; the manual describes how to use it.

08When to get more help

If your printer supports AirPrint or Mopria and is online, but no phone can find it, check the printer’s web page or settings for options related to mobile printing or network services, using the manual for guidance, or contact the manufacturer’s support. For problems with a specific phone, the phone maker’s support or Apple Support can help. If you need to scan from your phone, see our guide to scanning to PDF, which mentions app-based scanning.

09Common questions

Do I need to install an app to print from my iPhone?

Not if your printer supports AirPrint. Otherwise, the manufacturer’s app may support your model.

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

Only if your printer and its manufacturer offer a cloud or remote printing service, which usually needs an account. Standard AirPrint and Mopria printing work on the same local network.

Why does my phone print photos too small?

Check the paper size and any scaling or “fit” options in the print preview. Some apps print photos at a fixed size; the manufacturer’s app may offer more control.

Can several family phones use the same printer?

Yes. Any compatible phone or tablet on the same Wi-Fi network can print to it, and each one simply chooses the printer from its print menu.

Is printing from my phone secure?

On your own secured Wi-Fi network, local printing stays within your network. Avoid printing sensitive documents over public Wi-Fi or to printers you don’t control.