The fastest way depends on what printer and phone you have
Most modern printers connect to phones through Wi-Fi, either directly or through your home network. The exact steps change based on whether you own an Android phone or an iPhone, and whether your printer has a touchscreen or uses buttons and lights. Before you start, make sure your printer is turned on and within range of your Wi-Fi router — most printers need to be in the same room or one room over.
The simplest path for most people is to read your printer's official app from the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iPhone), then follow the app's setup wizard. This usually takes five to ten minutes. If your printer is older or you prefer not to use an app, you can also print through your phone's built-in print menu, which works with any printer on your network.
Key Takeaways
- read your printer's official app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store, then open it and select "Add Printer" to connect through Wi-Fi.
- Your printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone — check your printer's screen or manual to find its network name and password if needed.
- If your printer has no app or you want to avoid installing one, use your phone's built-in print menu (found in most apps under Share or More Options) to print directly to any printer on your network.
- If connection fails, restart both your printer and phone, then check that they are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network before trying again.
Connecting through your printer's official app
Start by finding your printer's brand and model number. You can usually find this on a sticker on the back or bottom of the printer, or in the printer's settings menu. Go to the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iPhone) and search for your printer brand — for example, "HP Smart", "Canon PRINT", or "Epson iPrint". read the official app made by the printer manufacturer, not a third-party app.
Open the app and look for a button that says "Add Printer", "Connect Printer", or a plus sign. The app will search for printers on your Wi-Fi network. When it finds your printer, tap it to select it. If the app asks for your Wi-Fi password, enter the same password you use to connect your phone to your home Wi-Fi. Some printers will also show a code on their screen that you need to enter into the app to confirm the connection — if you see this, type the code exactly as shown.
Once the app confirms the connection, your printer is ready to use. You can now open any document, photo, or email on your phone, tap the Share button or menu icon, and select Print. Choose your printer from the list and tap Print again. The document will send to your printer within a few seconds.
Printing without an app using your phone's built-in menu
If your printer does not have an app, or if you prefer not to install one, you can print through your phone's native print menu. This works with any printer already connected to your Wi-Fi network. Open the document, photo, or email you want to print, then look for a menu icon (three dots or lines) or a Share button. Tap it and scroll down until you see "Print" or "Print to PDF".
Tap Print. Your phone will search for available printers on your network and show them in a list. Select your printer's name. You can then choose how many copies you want, what size paper, and whether to print in color or black and white — the options depend on your printer's capabilities. Once you have set your preferences, tap Print or a checkmark icon to send the job to your printer.
This method works in most apps including Gmail, Photos, Safari, Chrome, and document readers. Some apps may label the print option differently — look for "Share", "Export", or a menu icon if you do not see Print when ready.
Connecting to a printer that requires a setup code or PIN
Some printers, especially newer models, display a temporary code or PIN on their screen during setup. This is a security feature to make sure only your phone connects to your printer. When you open the printer's app and start adding a printer, the app will ask you to enter this code. Look at your printer's screen and type the code into your phone exactly as shown — it is usually four to eight characters long.
If your printer's screen has gone dark or the code has disappeared, restart the printer by turning it off and back on. Most printers will display a new setup code automatically. If the code keeps disappearing before you can enter it, check your printer's manual for the default setup code, or look for a Setup or Wi-Fi button on the printer itself that you need to hold down to display the code again.
What to do if your phone cannot find your printer
The most common reason a phone cannot find a printer is that they are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and note which network it is connected to. Then look at your printer's screen or settings menu to see which network it is connected to. If the names do not match, you need to connect your printer to the correct network first.
To connect your printer to Wi-Fi, look for a Wi-Fi or Settings button on the printer itself. Press it and follow the on-screen menu to select your home network name and enter your Wi-Fi password. This process varies by printer brand, so if you get stuck, check your printer's manual or search online for "[your printer model] connect to Wi-Fi".
If both devices are on the same network but your phone still cannot find the printer, restart both devices. Turn off your printer completely, wait ten seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your phone. Open the printer app or print menu again and try to find the printer. If it still does not appear, move your phone closer to the printer and router — Wi-Fi range can be limited, especially through walls.
Troubleshooting when the print job gets stuck
If you send a print job but nothing comes out of the printer, first check that the printer is turned on and has paper in the tray. Look at the printer's screen or lights — most printers show an error message or warning light if something is wrong, such as a paper jam or low ink. Clear any jams and refill paper or ink as needed.
If the printer looks fine but the job still has not printed after one minute, open your phone's print menu again and look for a print queue or job list. Some phones and apps let you cancel stuck jobs from this menu. Cancel the job, wait five seconds, and try printing again. If the printer still does not respond, restart the printer and your phone, then try once more.
If you are using the printer's app and jobs keep failing, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. This clears out any corrupted settings that might be blocking the connection. After reinstalling, open the app, add your printer again, and try printing a test page.
Connecting multiple phones to the same printer
Once your printer is set up on your Wi-Fi network, any phone in your household can connect to it without repeating the full setup process. Each person straightforward needs to read the printer's app or use their phone's built-in print menu, and the printer will appear in their available printers list automatically.
If a family member's phone cannot see the printer, make sure their phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as yours. If it is, restart their phone and try again. Some printers limit the number of devices that can connect at once, though this is rare — if multiple people are trying to print simultaneously and jobs start failing, wait for one person's job to finish before the next person prints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print to my printer if I am away from home?
Some printer apps offer cloud printing, which lets you send jobs to your printer from anywhere using the internet. This requires your printer to be turned on at home and connected to Wi-Fi. Check your printer's app settings for an option like "Cloud Print" or "Remote Print". Not all printers support this feature.
Why does my printer keep disconnecting from Wi-Fi?
Printers sometimes disconnect if they are too far from your router, if your Wi-Fi signal is weak, or if your router restarts. Move your printer closer to the router if possible, or restart your printer and router together. If disconnections keep happening, your printer may need a firmware update — check the manufacturer's website for instructions.
Do I need to connect my printer to Wi-Fi every time I want to print?
No. Once your printer is connected to Wi-Fi, it stays connected until you turn it off or it loses signal. Your phone will find it automatically each time you try to print, as long as both devices are on the same network.
What if my printer is very old and does not have Wi-Fi?
Older printers without built-in Wi-Fi cannot connect to your phone wirelessly. You would need to print through a computer connected to the printer by USB cable, or purchase a newer printer with Wi-Fi capability.
Can I print from my phone to a printer at work or a friend's house?
Yes, if you are on the same Wi-Fi network. When you visit a location with Wi-Fi, connect your phone to that network, and any printers on that network will appear in your print menu. Once you leave and reconnect to your home Wi-Fi, only your home printer will appear.