The fastest way: Google Cloud Print and native printing

Chromebooks print through Google Cloud Print, which is built into Chrome OS. You do not need to install drivers or read software. If your printer is already on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromebook, you can print directly from most web pages and Google apps without any setup at all.

To print something, open the document or image, press Ctrl+P (or Command+P on a Mac Chromebook), and look for your printer in the list. If it appears, select it and print. That is the entire process for most modern printers made in the last five years.

If your printer does not show up in that list, it either is not on the same network, does not support network printing, or needs to be registered with your Google Account first. The next sections cover each of those situations.

Key Takeaways

  • Most modern printers connect to Chromebooks through Google Cloud Print without needing drivers or extra software.
  • Your printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromebook, and you must be signed into a Google Account on the Chromebook.
  • Older printers that only connect via USB cable cannot work with Chromebooks directly, but you can print through a Windows or Mac computer instead.
  • If your printer is not showing up, restart both the printer and the Chromebook, then check that they are on the same network.

Register your printer with your Google Account

Some printers require you to register them with Google before they appear in the print menu. This is most common with older network printers or ones from manufacturers that do not have full Chrome OS support built in.

Go to google.com/cloudprint while signed into your Google Account on your Chromebook. Click "Add Printers" and follow the steps to search for your printer on the network. Once it is registered, it will appear in the print menu on any Chromebook signed into that same Google Account.

Registration usually takes less than a minute. If your printer does not appear in the search, it may not support network printing at all, or it may be offline or disconnected from Wi-Fi.

Check that your printer and Chromebook are on the same network

Both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check your printer's display panel or settings menu to see which network it is connected to. On your Chromebook, click the network icon in the bottom right corner to see which network you are on.

If they are on different networks, connect the printer to your Chromebook's network. Most printers have a Wi-Fi setup menu where you can select your network and enter the password. Check your printer's manual for the exact steps, as they vary by brand.

After both devices are on the same network, restart the printer and wait 30 seconds, then try printing again. Sometimes the printer needs a moment to be recognized by the network.

Print through a computer if your printer only has a USB cable

Older printers that connect only through a USB cable cannot work directly with a Chromebook. Instead, you can print through a Windows or Mac computer that is on the same network.

On the computer with the printer plugged in, go to google.com/cloudprint and sign into the same Google Account you use on your Chromebook. Click "Add Printers" and select the USB printer from the list. Google will register it as a shared printer.

Now when you print from your Chromebook, that USB printer will appear in the print menu. The Chromebook sends the print job to Google's servers, which send it to the computer, which sends it to the printer. It takes a few extra seconds, but it works reliably as long as the computer stays on and connected to the internet.

Troubleshoot when your printer does not appear

If you have checked that both devices are on the same network and the printer still does not show up, try these steps in order.

First, restart the printer by turning it off, waiting 30 seconds, and turning it back on. Then restart your Chromebook by clicking the power button in the bottom right, selecting "Sign out", and signing back in. This clears temporary connection issues that prevent the devices from finding each other.

Second, check that your printer actually supports Wi-Fi. Some older models only work with USB cables. Look up your printer model on the manufacturer's website to confirm it has Wi-Fi capability.

Third, if your printer has a display screen, look for a network or Wi-Fi menu and check the signal strength. If it shows "no connection" or a weak signal, move the printer closer to your router or check that the Wi-Fi password is correct.

If none of these steps work, your printer may not be compatible with Chrome OS. Check the manufacturer's website or search for your exact model number plus "Chromebook" to see if other users have had success connecting it.

Print from Android apps and offline documents

Google Cloud Print works from most web pages and Google apps like Docs, Sheets, and Gmail. It also works from Android apps that you install on your Chromebook through the Google Play Store.

If you need to print a document that is not online, you can upload it to Google Drive, open it there, and print from the Drive preview. This works for PDFs, Word documents, and many image files.

Some Android apps have their own print buttons that may not use Google Cloud Print. If the standard Ctrl+P shortcut does not work, look for a "Print" or "Share" option in the app's menu.

Understand what happens when you print

When you print from a Chromebook, the document goes to Google's servers first, then to your printer. This means your Chromebook does not need to stay on or stay connected to the internet after you send the print job — Google holds it until your printer is ready.

If your printer is offline when you print, the job waits in Google's queue. As soon as the printer comes back online, it will print automatically. You can see the status of all your print jobs by going back to google.com/cloudprint.

This also means that if you are printing something sensitive, it passes through Google's servers. If that concerns you, check whether your printer has a direct printing option that does not use Google Cloud Print — some newer printers support this, though it is less common.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print from my Chromebook if the printer is at a different location?

Yes, as long as both devices are signed into the same Google Account. The printer does not need to be on your home network. This is useful if you want to print to a printer at work or at a family member's house, as long as they have registered it with your Google Account.

Why does my printer show up in the print menu but nothing prints?

Check that the printer is actually on and connected to Wi-Fi. If the printer is in sleep mode, it may appear in the menu but not respond. Turn it off and back on, wait for it to fully boot up, and try again. Also check that the printer has paper and is not showing an error message on its display.

Do I need to buy special ink or paper for a Chromebook?

No. Chromebooks use the same ink and paper as any other computer. The printer itself does not care what device sent the print job.

What if I want to print but I do not have Wi-Fi?

You cannot print directly from a Chromebook without an internet connection. If you have a USB printer and a Windows or Mac computer, you can print through that computer using the Google Cloud Print method described above, as long as the computer is connected to the internet.

Can I print to a printer that is password-protected?

If the printer requires a password to connect to Wi-Fi, enter that password when you first set up the printer on your network. After that, the Chromebook will connect automatically without needing the password again. If you change the printer's Wi-Fi password, you will need to reconnect it to the network on your Chromebook.