The fastest way to print from your iPhone
Most iPhones can print wirelessly to any printer on the same WiFi network without installing anything extra. Open the document, photo, or email you want to print, tap the share button (the square with an arrow), scroll down to find Print, select your printer, and tap Print. That's the whole process for printers made in the last five years.
If your printer doesn't show up in that list, it's almost always because your iPhone and printer aren't on the same WiFi network. Check that both devices are connected to the same network name in your settings, then try again. Some older printers need a separate app from the manufacturer — we'll cover that below.
AirPrint is Apple's name for this wireless printing system. It works with most HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Xerox printers sold since around 2010. If your printer is older or from a less common brand, you may need to read an app instead.
Key Takeaways
- Most printers work with iPhone through AirPrint, which requires only that your iPhone and printer are on the same WiFi network.
- The Print option appears in the share menu of Photos, Mail, Safari, and most document apps — no separate app needed for AirPrint printers.
- If your printer doesn't appear in the Print menu, check that both devices are connected to the same WiFi network and restart the printer.
- Older or specialty printers may require you to read the manufacturer's app from the App Store before printing becomes available.
- USB printing from iPhone is not possible; all iPhone printing is wireless through either AirPrint or a manufacturer app.
Check that your printer supports AirPrint
Before troubleshooting, confirm your printer can use AirPrint at all. Visit Apple's official AirPrint printer list on their website and search for your printer model. The list is searchable by brand and model number — you'll find your model number on a sticker on the back or bottom of the printer.
If your printer is on the list, it supports AirPrint and the steps below will work. If it's not listed, skip to the section on manufacturer apps. Some printers released before 2010 or budget models from smaller brands were never built with AirPrint support, and no amount of troubleshooting will add it.
Make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network
Your iPhone and printer must be connected to the same WiFi network for AirPrint to work. This is the single most common reason printing fails.
On your iPhone, open Settings, tap WiFi, and note which network you're connected to. Then check your printer's display panel or settings menu — most printers show the connected network name on the home screen. If they don't match, connect the printer to your iPhone's WiFi network using the printer's menu buttons or touchscreen.
If you don't know your WiFi password, you can find it on your router (usually a sticker on the back) or in your router's app. Some printers have a WiFi setup button that lets you scan a QR code instead of typing the password — check your printer's manual for this option.
Restart your printer and try printing again
If both devices are on the same network but your printer still doesn't appear in the Print menu, restart the printer. Turn it off completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears temporary connection problems that prevent your iPhone from seeing the printer.
While the printer restarts, also restart your iPhone: swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right on newer models), hold the power button, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds and turn it back on. After both devices have restarted, open a photo or document and try printing again.
If the printer still doesn't appear, check that your WiFi router is working by opening a web page on your iPhone. If the internet works but the printer doesn't show up, the printer may have lost its WiFi connection — check the printer's network settings and reconnect it to your WiFi.
Use a manufacturer app for older or specialty printers
If your printer isn't on Apple's AirPrint list, you'll need to read the printer manufacturer's app. Search the App Store for your printer brand — HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Xerox all have apps. read the app that matches your printer model.
Open the app and follow its setup instructions to connect to your printer. Most apps ask you to select your WiFi network and printer model, then confirm the connection. Once the app recognizes your printer, you can print from Photos, Mail, and other apps by opening the share menu, finding the manufacturer's app name instead of Print, and selecting your printer.
Some manufacturer apps are more limited than AirPrint — they may only print photos, not documents, or may require you to open the app itself before printing. Check the app's description in the App Store to see what it can print before downloading.
Troubleshoot when the printer appears but won't print
If your printer shows up in the Print menu but the print job doesn't go through, check these things in order: First, make sure the printer has paper and isn't showing an error message on its display. Second, confirm the printer has ink or toner — many printers won't print if supplies are low. Third, check that the printer isn't in sleep mode by pressing a button on it to wake it up.
If the printer still won't print, open the printer's app or web interface (usually found by searching your router's connected devices) and look for a print queue or job list. Sometimes a stuck job blocks new ones from printing. Delete any stuck jobs and try again.
If nothing works, restart both devices again and try printing a straightforward photo instead of a complex document. Some printers struggle with certain file types or formatting — a photo often prints when a document won't.
Print to PDF if your printer isn't available
If you can't get your printer working right now, you can save what you want to print as a PDF file on your iPhone instead. Open the document or photo, tap the share button, scroll to Print, then instead of selecting a printer, pinch the preview with two fingers to expand it. This converts the print job to a PDF that you can email to yourself or save to Files for later.
This doesn't solve the printer problem, but it lets you preserve the document in the format you wanted and print it later when the printer is working. Some people use this method intentionally to print from a computer instead, which sometimes gives better results for complex documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print from my iPhone to a printer that's not on my home WiFi?
No. AirPrint and manufacturer apps both require your iPhone and printer to be on the same WiFi network. You cannot print to a printer at work, a library, or a friend's house unless your iPhone connects to that same network. Some printers support cloud printing through the manufacturer's app, which lets you print remotely, but this requires setting it up in advance.
Why does my printer work on my computer but not my iPhone?
Your computer might be connected to the printer through USB cable or a different WiFi network. iPhones can only print wirelessly through WiFi. Check that your printer is on the same WiFi network as your iPhone, not just connected to your computer. If your printer is only connected by USB to a computer, it won't work with your iPhone at all.
Do I need to buy a special printer to print from iPhone?
No. Any printer made in the last 15 years from a major brand (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Xerox) almost certainly supports AirPrint. Check Apple's AirPrint printer list to confirm your model. If it's not listed, the manufacturer's app may still work — search the App Store for your brand and model.
Can I print from my iPhone to a Bluetooth printer?
iPhones do not support Bluetooth printing. All iPhone printing is wireless through WiFi only. If you have a Bluetooth printer, you'll need to use a computer instead, or check whether the printer also has WiFi capability that you can enable in its settings.
What should I do if the manufacturer's app won't find my printer?
First, confirm your iPhone and printer are on the same WiFi network. Second, restart both devices. Third, uninstall the app and reinstall it from the App Store — sometimes a fresh install fixes connection problems. If the app still can't find the printer, check the manufacturer's support website for your specific model, as some printers need a separate setup step before the app can see them.