The fastest way: Google Cloud Print and native printing

Chromebooks print through Google Cloud Print, which is built into Chrome OS. If your printer is already connected to your home Wi-Fi network, your Chromebook will often find it automatically when you try to print. The printer does not need special software or drivers — Chrome OS handles that part.

To print from any app on your Chromebook, press Ctrl+P (or go to File > Print). A dialog box opens showing available printers. If your printer appears in the list, select it and print. That is the whole process for most modern printers made in the last five years.

If your printer does not appear, it usually means one of two things: the printer is not on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromebook, or the printer does not support network printing at all. Older printers that only connect via USB cable cannot work with a Chromebook without a workaround.

Key Takeaways

  • Modern Wi-Fi printers connect automatically to Chromebooks through Google Cloud Print without needing drivers or software installation.
  • Press Ctrl+P to open the print dialog, and your Chromebook will show all available printers on your network.
  • USB-only printers cannot connect directly to a Chromebook, but you can print through a shared printer on a Windows or Mac computer instead.
  • If your printer does not appear in the print dialog, restart both the printer and Chromebook, then check that both are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Some older printers need manual setup through the Chromebook settings to appear in the printer list.

Setting up a printer that does not appear automatically

If your Wi-Fi printer does not show up when you press Ctrl+P, you may need to add it manually. Open your Chromebook settings by clicking the time in the bottom right corner, then select Settings. Go to Advanced > Printers and Scanners, then click Add Printer.

Your Chromebook will search for printers on your network. When it finds yours, click it to add it. If your printer still does not appear after searching, check that the printer is powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and on the same network as your Chromebook. Restart both devices and try again.

Some printers require you to enter their IP address manually. If the automatic search fails, print a network configuration page from your printer (usually by holding a button on the printer itself for several seconds). This page shows the printer's IP address. In the Chromebook settings, select "Add Printer" again and choose "Enter IP address or hostname" at the bottom, then type the address.

Printing from a USB-only printer through another computer

If your printer only has a USB port and no Wi-Fi capability, you cannot connect it directly to a Chromebook. Instead, you can print through a Windows or Mac computer that the printer is already connected to. This computer acts as a print server.

On the Windows or Mac computer, open Chrome and sign in with the same Google account you use on your Chromebook. Go to chrome.google.com/cloudprint and click "Set up Cloud Print" or "Add printers". Follow the prompts to register the USB printer to your Google account. Once registered, the printer will appear in your Chromebook's print dialog even though it is physically connected to another computer.

This method works as long as the Windows or Mac computer stays powered on and connected to the internet. If you turn off that computer, your Chromebook cannot reach the printer. For this reason, many people eventually replace USB-only printers with Wi-Fi models to avoid the extra step.

Troubleshooting when the printer appears but will not print

If your printer shows up in the print dialog but the print job fails or hangs, first check that the printer has paper and is not showing an error light. Many printers pause printing when they run out of paper or detect a jam, and the Chromebook cannot override that.

If the printer looks fine, restart it by turning it off for 30 seconds, then back on. While it restarts, open your Chromebook settings, go to Printers and Scanners, find your printer, and click the three dots next to it, then select "Remove". Once the printer has restarted, add it again through the same settings menu.

If print jobs keep failing, check your printer's web interface. Open a web browser on any computer on your network and type the printer's IP address into the address bar (the same address from the network configuration page). This opens the printer's control panel, where you can check for error messages, clear stuck print jobs, and update the printer's firmware if an update is available.

Printing to PDF instead of a physical printer

Chromebooks have a built-in option to save any document as a PDF file instead of printing it to paper. Press Ctrl+P to open the print dialog, then in the "Destination" dropdown at the top, select "Save as PDF" instead of a printer name. Choose where to save the file and click Save.

This is useful when your printer is not available, when you want to keep a digital copy of something, or when you need to send a document to someone else. The PDF will appear in your Downloads folder and can be opened, shared, or printed later from any device.

Connecting a printer on a guest or public Wi-Fi network

If your Chromebook and printer are on different Wi-Fi networks — for example, if your printer is on your home network but your Chromebook is connected to a guest network — they cannot find each other. Both devices must be on the same network to communicate.

Check which network your Chromebook is connected to by clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the bottom right corner. Then check your printer's network settings (usually through its control panel or web interface) to see which network it is on. If they do not match, connect your Chromebook to the same network as the printer, or reconnect the printer to the network your Chromebook uses.

Some home networks have a separate guest network that is intentionally isolated from other devices for security. If your printer is on your main network and your Chromebook is on the guest network, you will need to switch your Chromebook to the main network to print.

Printing from mobile apps and web-based documents

Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides have their own print buttons built into the interface. Open the document, click File > Print, and select your printer from the list. This works the same way as printing from other apps.

For other web-based apps or mobile-style apps from the Chrome Web Store, press Ctrl+P to open the print dialog. Some apps may not support printing at all — if you do not see a print option, check the app's help documentation to see if printing is a supported feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install printer drivers on my Chromebook?

No. Chrome OS handles printer drivers automatically for Wi-Fi printers. You do not need to read or install anything. For USB printers, you would need a Windows or Mac computer to act as the print server, and that computer handles the drivers.

Can I print from my Chromebook to a printer at work or a friend's house?

Only if that printer is registered to your Google account through Google Cloud Print. If it is not, you cannot access it remotely. You can only print to printers on your local Wi-Fi network or printers registered to your account.

What if my printer is very old and does not have Wi-Fi?

Connect it to a Windows or Mac computer via USB, then register that computer's printer to your Google account. Your Chromebook can then print to it through that computer, as long as the computer stays on and connected to the internet.

Why does my printer keep disconnecting from Wi-Fi?

Printers sometimes drop off the network if they are too far from the router, if the router is overloaded, or if the printer's Wi-Fi module needs a firmware update. Try moving the printer closer to the router, restart both the printer and router, and check the printer's settings for available updates.

Can I print wirelessly to a printer connected to my phone?

Not directly. Your phone would need to support Google Cloud Print or a similar service, and the printer would need to be registered to your account. Most phone-to-printer connections require the printer to have its own Wi-Fi capability or to be connected to a computer that shares it.