How to set up a printer on iPhone or iPad

Thanks to Apple’s AirPrint protocol, printing to iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch is easier than you think. You just need to spend some time setting up the printer on your iPhone or iPad before you can start using it with an iOS or iPadOS device.

How to set up a printer on iPhone or iPad

But what if you have a printer that doesn’t support AirPrint? Do not worry. You can still rely on the printer manufacturer’s support app to send print jobs wirelessly. Plus, if you’re using a wired-only printer, you can opt for a third-party AirPrint activator to help you out.

Use AirPrint to print on iPhone and iPad

AirPrint is a wireless protocol from Apple that allows the iPhone iPad to communicate wirelessly with printers. Requires no drivers or supporting software. The only thing you need to do is make sure the printer and your iOS device are on the same Wi-Fi router. If they are, you can print right away!

If you are using a recent wireless capable printer, it is likely to be AirPrint compatible. Here is a complete list of compatible printer models with AirPlay support. If your printer is not listed, go to the next section.

1. Start by connecting your printer to the same wireless network router as your iPhone or iPad. You should check your printer’s user manual or online documentation for specific instructions. Eg, if you are using an HP printer with a touchscreen, open the settings menu of net The wireless and use thewireless setup wizard to access the network.

2. Open (or select) the image, document or web page you want to print and tap the icon Share. It is shaped like an arrow coming out of the top of a box and is present in most apps (eg Files, Photos and Safari) on iPhone and iPad. Then, tap on the option Press on the Share menu.

3. Tap the option Select printer at the top of the screen. If your printer supports AirPlay (and you are connected to the same wireless network as your iPhone or iPad), it will appear in the list. Touch to select it.

4. Make any changes to the print job, such as number of copies, media quality, paper size, and so on. Then, tap Print in the right corner of the screen. Your AirPrint printer will start printing immediately.

5. You can continue to queue print jobs. If you want to see them, open the App Switcher on your Apple mobile device (swipe up from the bottom of the screen or double-click the Home button) and select Print Center. You can then touch a print job and choose Cancel Print if you want to cancel it.

Use the printer support software to print on iPhone and iPad

If your wireless printer does not support AirPrint, you need to install any support software available from the App Store. For example, printing apps like Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY, Epson iPrint e HP Smart allow you to wirelessly print from your iPhone or iPad. These apps also provide additional customization options for AirPrint compatible printers, so you may still want to install them regardless.

How to print from iPhone with and without AirPrint

Here is a brief summary of the HP Smart app in action.

1. Install HP Smart from the App Store.
2. Open HP Smart and create an HP account (or sign in if you already have one).
3. Tap the option Add the first printer to add an HP printer. If the wireless printer doesn’t appear, make sure it’s connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone or iPad. Or enter its IP address. If your printer uses Bluetooth for connectivity, remember to turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone and iPad.
4. Tap a category (for example, Print photos The Print documents ) to create a print job.
5. To touch Press to send the print job to the HP printer.

Use Printopia or O’Print to print on iPhone and iPad

It is assumed that you are using a non-AirPrint wireless printer without supporting software or a wired-only printer. If so, you can print from your iPhone or iPad by sending print jobs wirelessly via desktop devices. For this, you need third-party apps for Mac or PC that simulate AirPrint.

Printopia is a paid app for Mac that costs $ 19.99, but comes with a 7-day free trial. It lets you add up to five printers to use with your iPhone or iPad. However, don’t expect it to work with Android smartphones.

1. After downloading and installing Printopia, open it and switch to the tab Printers.
2. Then, select the button More to add a printer.
3. Assuming your Apple devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, open the photo, document or webpage you want to print on the iPhone or iPad and tap the button Share. The printer will then appear in the printer selection box.
4. Select, make the required changes for the print job and tap Press.

O’Print is an AirPrint activator for Windows PCs. It costs $ 19.80, but you can take advantage of a 30-day trial. Download, install and open O’Print. You should then see all the printers you have already added to your PC. If not, here it is how to add new printers on windows.

By default, O’Print enables all printers (including PDF printers) for iPhone and iPad. Just select the green icon next to a printer to disable it.

Next, start a print job on your iPhone or iPad and you should be able to select your printer. Then, edit the print job as needed and tap Press.

Print to any printer from iPhone and iPad

If your printer supports AirPrint, you can use it to print from an iPhone or iPad with minimal effort. If not, use the printer manufacturer’s support app to get the job done. In the case of a wired USB printer, you can use Printopia or O’Print, it’s a cost-effective solution compared to buying an AirPrint compatible printer.