The fastest way: AirPrint
If your printer supports AirPrint, connecting your iPhone takes about 30 seconds. AirPrint is Apple's built-in printing system — it works over your home WiFi network without installing any app or driver software. Most printers made in the last five years support it, including models from HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Xerox.
To check if your printer has AirPrint, look in the printer's manual or search the manufacturer's website for your exact model number. You can find your model number on a sticker on the back or bottom of the printer, or in the printer's settings menu.
Once you confirm AirPrint support, make sure both your iPhone and printer are connected to the same WiFi network. Then open any app with something to print — Photos, Safari, Mail, or a document app. Tap the Share button (the square with an arrow), scroll down and tap Print, and your printer should appear in the list. Select it, choose how many copies you want, and tap Print.
Key Takeaways
- AirPrint is the easiest method and requires no app installation — both devices just need to be on the same WiFi network.
- Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to confirm AirPrint support before you start.
- If your printer does not support AirPrint, you will need to install the manufacturer's app from the App Store.
- Some printers require you to enter a WiFi password during setup, which you can find in your router settings or on the sticker attached to your router.
- If printing fails, restart both your iPhone and printer, then check that they are still on the same network.
Using the manufacturer's app if your printer is older
Older printers or budget models may not have AirPrint built in. In that case, the printer manufacturer usually offers a free app in the App Store. Search for your printer brand — HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson iPrint, Brother iPrint&Scan — and install the one that matches your brand.
Open the app and follow its setup wizard. It will ask you to select your WiFi network and enter your WiFi password. Your WiFi password is usually on a sticker on the back or bottom of your router, or you can find it in your router's settings on a computer. Once the app finds your printer, you can print directly from the app, or from other apps by using the Share button and selecting the manufacturer's app instead of Print.
The downside of manufacturer apps is that they sometimes update and stop working with older printers, or they collect data about what you print. If you are concerned about privacy, stick with AirPrint if your printer supports it.
Connecting to a printer on a different network
If your printer is on a guest network or a different WiFi network than your iPhone, it will not appear in the AirPrint list. Move the printer to your main home network, or move your iPhone to the same network as the printer.
To change which network your printer uses, go into the printer's WiFi settings. This is usually done through the printer's touchscreen menu or a physical button on the printer itself. Look for a WiFi or Network button, select your home network, and enter the password. Restart the printer after you change the network.
If you do not know your WiFi password, you can find it on the sticker attached to your router, or by going to Settings on a computer or another device that is already connected to that network.
Troubleshooting when your printer does not appear
If you have confirmed AirPrint support and both devices are on the same network but your printer still does not show up, restart both devices. Turn off your iPhone completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your printer by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.
After both devices restart, open the app you want to print from again and tap Share > Print. If the printer still does not appear, check that you are on the correct WiFi network by going to Settings > WiFi on your iPhone and confirming the network name matches the one your printer is on.
If your printer is very far from your router, move it closer. WiFi signals weaken with distance and through walls. If moving the printer is not practical, consider moving your router or adding a WiFi extender to strengthen the signal in that area.
Printing over Bluetooth if WiFi is not available
Some printers support Bluetooth printing as an alternative to WiFi. This works without a network connection, but the range is shorter — usually 30 feet or less, and the connection is slower. Bluetooth is useful if your printer is in a location where WiFi is weak or unavailable.
To set up Bluetooth printing, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone, make sure Bluetooth is on, and look for your printer in the list of available devices. Tap it to pair. Once paired, you can print using the Share button just as you would with AirPrint or a manufacturer app.
Not all printers support Bluetooth. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if yours does. If it does not, WiFi is your only wireless option.
Printing from email and web pages
You can print from Mail and Safari without leaving the app. In Mail, open an email, tap the arrow at the bottom right, and scroll down to find Print. In Safari, tap the Share button and scroll down to Print. Both will show your available printers in the same menu.
Some apps like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft Word have their own Print option in the Share menu. If you do not see Print in an app's Share menu, the app may not support printing — in that case, you can usually take a screenshot and print the screenshot instead, though the quality may be lower.
Keeping your printer find while it is connected
Once your printer is on your home WiFi network, it becomes part of your home network and can be accessed by anyone else on that network. If you have guests or roommates, they can print to your printer without your permission. If you want to prevent this, most printers have a security setting in their menu that lets you require a PIN or password before printing.
Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website for instructions on setting a PIN. You can also disable WiFi printing entirely and use only USB or Bluetooth if you want tighter control, though this is rarely necessary in a home setting.
Keep your printer's firmware updated. The manufacturer usually releases updates through the printer's menu or through the manufacturer's app. Updates often fix security issues, so check for them every few months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install anything on my iPhone to use AirPrint?
No. AirPrint is built into iOS, so you do not need to install an app or driver. As long as your printer supports AirPrint and is on the same WiFi network, it will appear in the Print menu automatically.
Can I print from my iPhone to a printer at work or a library?
Only if you are on the same WiFi network as that printer. If the printer is on a different network, you cannot print to it wirelessly. Some workplaces and libraries offer cloud printing services where you upload a document to a website and pick it up at a printer on their network, but that is a different process than direct printing.
What if my printer is not showing up even though it has AirPrint?
Restart both your iPhone and printer. Unplug the printer for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to finish starting up. Then check that both devices are on the same WiFi network by looking at your iPhone's WiFi settings and the printer's network menu.
Can I print wirelessly if my WiFi is down?
Only if your printer supports Bluetooth and you have already paired it with your iPhone. WiFi printing requires a network connection. If you have neither WiFi nor Bluetooth, you can connect your iPhone to the printer with a USB cable if the printer has a USB port, though most modern printers do not support this.
Is it safe to leave my printer connected to WiFi all the time?
Yes, as long as you keep the printer's firmware updated and your WiFi password is strong. Printers are not usually targeted by hackers, but they can be used as an entry point to your network if they are not updated. Check the manufacturer's website every few months for firmware updates and install them when they are available.