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. Android phones and iPhones both support wireless printing, but the method differs slightly. If your printer is already set up on your home Wi-Fi — which you likely did when you first installed it — your phone can usually find it without extra steps. The printer must be powered on and within range of your Wi-Fi network.
Some printers also support Bluetooth, which works without Wi-Fi but has a shorter range and slower speeds. A few older or basic printers may require a USB cable connection through a computer instead, since they cannot connect wirelessly at all. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to see which connection types it supports.
Key Takeaways
- iPhones use AirPrint, which finds compatible printers automatically on your home Wi-Fi network without installing an app.
- Android phones need the printer manufacturer's app or Google Cloud Print to print wirelessly, depending on your printer model.
- Your printer must be powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone before either method works.
- Bluetooth printing works without Wi-Fi but only at close range and is slower than wireless network printing.
- If your printer does not support wireless printing, you can print through a computer connected by USB instead.
Connecting an iPhone to a printer using AirPrint
iPhones use a built-in system called AirPrint that finds printers automatically. Make sure your iPhone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your printer. Open the app where your document or photo is — Photos, Mail, Safari, or any app with a share button — and tap the share icon (usually three dots or an arrow coming out of a box).
Look for a "Print" option in the menu. Tap it, then tap "Select Printer" and your printer should appear in the list. If it does not show up, check that the printer is powered on and on the same Wi-Fi network. Tap your printer's name, set the number of copies, and tap "Print". The job will send to your printer when ready.
AirPrint works with most printers made in the last ten years, including models from HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Xerox. If your printer is not listed, check the manufacturer's website to see if it supports AirPrint. Some older or budget models do not.
Connecting an Android phone to a printer
Android phones do not have a built-in printing system like iPhones. Instead, you need either the printer manufacturer's app or Google Cloud Print, depending on your printer model. The easiest route is to read the official app from the printer maker — search for your printer brand plus "print app" in the Google Play Store.
Open the app and follow its setup steps to connect to your home Wi-Fi network. Once connected, open any document or photo on your phone, tap the three-dot menu or share button, and look for "Print" or "Print using [Printer Brand]". Select your printer from the list and tap "Print".
If the manufacturer does not offer an app, try Google Cloud Print through the Google Play Store. This app works with many printers but requires you to set up the printer in Google's system first through a computer. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's support page to see which method your model supports.
Using Bluetooth to print from your phone
Some printers support Bluetooth, which lets your phone connect without Wi-Fi. This works best for printing a few pages at close range — typically within 30 feet. Bluetooth printing is slower than Wi-Fi and may not work well for large documents or photos.
To set up Bluetooth, turn on your printer's Bluetooth mode (check the manual for the button or menu option). On your phone, go to Settings, find Bluetooth, and turn it on. Your printer should appear in the list of available devices. Tap it to pair. Once paired, you can print through the printer's app or through your phone's print menu, depending on the model.
Bluetooth is useful if your printer is far from your Wi-Fi router or if you want to print without connecting to your home network. However, if you print regularly, Wi-Fi is faster and more reliable.
Printing through a computer if your printer is not wireless
Older printers and some budget models only connect by USB cable to a computer. If your printer has no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you can still print from your phone by sending the file to a computer first. Email the document or photo to yourself, open it on the computer, and print from there.
Another option is to use cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. Upload the file from your phone, open it on the computer, and print. This takes a few extra steps but works with any printer that connects to a computer by USB.
Troubleshooting when your phone cannot find the printer
If your phone does not see your printer, start by checking that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Look at your printer's display or settings menu to confirm the network name and password match what your phone is connected to. Restart both the printer and your phone — turn them off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn them back on.
If the printer still does not appear, move your phone closer to the printer and router to rule out range issues. Check that your printer is powered on and not in sleep mode. Some printers have a button to wake them or require you to press a button to enable Wi-Fi. Consult your printer's manual if you are unsure.
For Android phones, uninstall and reinstall the printer app. For iPhones, try opening a different app that supports printing — sometimes one app has a glitch while others work fine. If your printer is very old, visit the manufacturer's website to see if it supports wireless printing at all. Some printers made before 2010 do not.
Printing from cloud apps and email
Many apps — Gmail, Google Drive, Microsoft Word, Adobe Reader, and others — have built-in print buttons. When you tap print in these apps, your phone searches for available printers on your Wi-Fi network. This is often faster than opening the printer's own app, especially if you print from different apps throughout the day.
Email attachments are particularly straightforward to print. Open the email on your phone, tap the attachment, look for a share or menu button, and select print. Your phone will find your printer automatically if it is on the same network. This works the same way on both iPhones and Android phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install an app to print from my iPhone?
No. iPhones use AirPrint, which is built in. As long as your printer supports AirPrint and is on your home Wi-Fi network, you can print directly from any app without downloading anything. You only need an app if your printer does not support AirPrint.
Can I print from my phone if my printer is not on Wi-Fi?
Yes, if your printer supports Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices, pair them, and print through the printer's app. If your printer has neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth, you can email or upload the file to a computer and print from there instead.
Why does my printer not show up when I try to print?
The most common reason is that your phone and printer are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check that both are connected to the same network name. Also make sure the printer is powered on and not in sleep mode. Restart both devices if they still cannot find each other.
Is wireless printing slower than printing from a computer?
No, Wi-Fi printing is about the same speed as printing from a computer on the same network. Bluetooth printing is slower. If you notice slow printing, check that your printer is not too far from your Wi-Fi router or that other devices are not using all the network bandwidth.
What if my printer brand does not have an app in the Google Play Store?
Try Google Cloud Print, which works with many printers even if the manufacturer does not offer an app. You set it up through a computer first, then your Android phone can print to it. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's support page to see if it is compatible.