How to Connect Your Printer to an iPhone

The fastest way: AirPrint

If your printer supports AirPrint, connecting to your iPhone takes about 30 seconds. AirPrint is Apple's wireless printing system built into most modern printers made after 2010. Your iPhone and printer just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network — they find each other automatically.

To print from any app on your iPhone, open the document or photo you want to print, tap the share button (the square with an arrow), scroll down and tap Print, then tap Select Printer. Your AirPrint printer should appear in the list. Tap it, choose how many copies you want, and tap Print. That's the entire process.

Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to confirm it has AirPrint. Most Canon, HP, Epson, Brother, and Xerox printers made in the last decade do. If you're not sure, search "[your printer model] AirPrint" online — the manufacturer will say yes or no clearly.

Key Takeaways

AirPrint printers connect automatically when your iPhone and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network, with no app or setup required.
If your printer doesn't have AirPrint, you can use the manufacturer's app (like HP Smart or Canon PRINT) to print wirelessly.
Both methods require your printer to be powered on and connected to your home Wi-Fi, not just plugged in.
Some older printers need a USB cable and a computer to set up Wi-Fi the first time, even if they print wirelessly afterward.

Using the printer manufacturer's app

If your printer doesn't support AirPrint, the manufacturer usually offers a free app that does the same job. HP Smart works with HP and Hewlett-Packard printers. Canon PRINT works with Canon printers. Epson iPrint works with Epson printers. Brother iPrint&Scan works with Brother printers. read the app from the App Store, open it, and it will search for printers on your network.

The first time you use the app, you may need to enter your printer's Wi-Fi password or confirm the connection on the printer's screen. After that, printing works the same way as AirPrint: open a document in any app, tap share, tap Print, select your printer from the app, and send it.

These apps often include extra features like scanning documents with your iPhone's camera and sending them to the printer, or checking ink levels without walking to the printer. But the core printing function is free and works on any Wi-Fi network.

Connecting your printer to Wi-Fi for the first time

Before your iPhone can find your printer, the printer itself must be connected to your home Wi-Fi. Most modern printers have a Wi-Fi setup button or a screen menu where you can choose your network and enter your password. Check your printer's manual for the exact steps — they vary by brand.

Some printers have a small screen on the front where you navigate with buttons. Others have a Wi-Fi button you hold for a few seconds, which puts the printer in pairing mode so your phone can find it. A few older models require you to connect them to a computer with a USB cable first, run setup software, and then transfer them to Wi-Fi.

Once your printer shows it's connected to Wi-Fi (usually a light on the printer or a message on its screen), your iPhone will see it. If the printer is on the same network as your iPhone but your phone doesn't find it, restart both devices and try again.

Troubleshooting when your iPhone doesn't see the printer

The most common reason an iPhone can't find a printer is that they're on different Wi-Fi networks. Check your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings and confirm it's connected to the same network name as your printer. If you have a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network with the same name, some older printers only work on 2.4GHz — switch your iPhone to that band and try again.

If both devices are on the same network and your iPhone still doesn't see the printer, restart your printer by turning it off, waiting 10 seconds, and turning it back on. Then restart your iPhone. Open the app or the Print menu again and look for the printer. If it still doesn't appear, check that your printer actually supports wireless printing — some older models only work with a USB cable.

If you're using a manufacturer's app and it won't connect, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. Sometimes the app cache gets stuck and a fresh install fixes it. Make sure you're using the correct app for your printer model — HP Smart won't find a Canon printer, for example.

Printing over cellular or away from home

Both AirPrint and manufacturer apps require your iPhone and printer to be on the same Wi-Fi network. You cannot print over cellular data or from outside your home unless your printer supports cloud printing.

Some printers, especially newer HP and Epson models, offer cloud printing through their manufacturer's app. This lets you send a print job from anywhere, and the printer receives it when it's next turned on and connected to Wi-Fi. Check your printer's manual or the app to see if this feature is available — it's usually free but may require you to create an account with the manufacturer.

If your printer doesn't support cloud printing and you need to print from outside your home, you can email the document to yourself, save it to your iPhone, and print it when you're back on your home network.

Printing from email, photos, and web pages

Once your printer is connected, you can print from almost any app on your iPhone. In Mail, open an email, tap the reply arrow at the bottom, scroll right, and tap Print. In Photos, open a photo, tap the share button, tap Print, and select your printer. In Safari, tap the share button, scroll down, tap Print, and choose your printer.

Some apps don't have a Print option built in. For those, take a screenshot of what you want to print, open the Photos app, find the screenshot, tap share, and print it. This works for web pages, documents, and anything else you can see on your screen.

If you want to print a document file like a PDF or Word document, open it in the Files app or in a document viewer, tap share, and look for Print. Not every app supports printing, but most do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install anything on my iPhone to use AirPrint?

No. AirPrint is built into iOS, so if your printer supports it, you just connect to Wi-Fi and print. You don't need an app or any setup beyond making sure your printer is on the same network as your iPhone.

Can I print in color from my iPhone?

Yes, if your printer prints in color. Your iPhone sends the full color image to the printer, and the printer handles it the same way it would from a computer. Black-and-white printers will print in black and white regardless of what you send them.

What if my printer is really old and doesn't have Wi-Fi?

Older printers without Wi-Fi can only connect to an iPhone through a computer. You would need to email the document to a computer, print it from there, or use a USB cable to connect the printer to a computer and print that way. Wireless printing requires the printer to have Wi-Fi built in.

Will printing from my iPhone use a lot of data?

No. When you print over Wi-Fi, the data stays on your home network and doesn't use your cellular plan. Cloud printing does use a small amount of cellular data to send the job to the printer, but it's usually just a few hundred kilobytes per document.

Can multiple people in my house print to the same printer from their iPhones?

Yes. As long as everyone's iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer, they can all print to it. The printer handles multiple jobs in order, so if two people print at the same time, one job goes first and the other follows.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.