The basic steps to print from a phone

Most phones can print to any modern printer without extra cables or complicated setup. On Android, open the document or photo you want to print, tap the menu (three dots or lines), look for "Print" or "Share", and select your printer from the list. On iPhone, open what you want to print, tap the Share button (arrow pointing up from a box), scroll down to "Print", and choose your printer.

The printer has to be on the same WiFi network as your phone. If it is, your phone will find it automatically. If your printer is older or doesn't have WiFi, you have other options — but the WiFi route is the fastest way to start.

Some printers come with their own app (HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson iPrint). These apps can make printing smoother, especially if your printer is finicky, but they are not required. The built-in print feature on your phone usually works fine on its own.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone's built-in print feature works with any WiFi printer without needing an app, as long as both devices are on the same network.
  • On Android, find Print in the menu of the app you are using; on iPhone, use the Share button and scroll to Print.
  • If your printer is not WiFi-enabled, you can print through cloud services like Google Drive or iCloud, or use your printer's own app if it offers that option.
  • Older printers may need their manufacturer's app to work with your phone, even if they have WiFi.

Setting up your printer to print from a phone

Before you print, make sure your printer is connected to WiFi. Most printers have a settings menu on the front panel or screen. Look for "Network" or "WiFi" settings and select your home network, then enter your WiFi password. Some printers have a WPS button that lets you connect by pressing a button on both the printer and your router instead of typing the password.

Once the printer is on your WiFi network, your phone should see it automatically the next time you try to print. If it does not appear in the printer list, restart both your phone and printer, then try again. If the printer still does not show up, check that both devices are truly on the same network — your phone might be on a guest network while the printer is on the main one.

Write down your printer's model number (usually on the front or back) in case you need to troubleshoot later or download an app. You can find this information in your printer's settings menu too.

Printing from Android phones

On Android, the print option lives in different places depending on which app you are using. In Google Chrome, tap the three dots in the top right, then "Print". In Gmail, open an email, tap the three dots, and select "Print". In Google Photos, open a photo, tap the three dots, and choose "Print". In most other apps, look for a Share button (usually an arrow or box with lines) and swipe through the options until you see "Print".

Once you tap Print, Android will show you a list of printers on your network. Select the one you want, adjust the number of copies or page range if needed, then tap "Print". The document goes to your printer immediately.

If you do not see your printer in the list, tap "All Printers" or "More Printers" to expand the options. If it still does not appear, go to your phone's Settings, find "Printing" or "Print Services", and make sure the default print service is turned on.

Printing from iPhones and iPads

On iPhone and iPad, the print option is in the Share menu. Open the document, photo, or email you want to print, then tap the Share button (an arrow pointing up from a box, usually in the top right or bottom of the screen). Scroll down through the options and tap "Print".

A menu will appear showing nearby printers. Select your printer, set the number of copies, and tap "Print" in the top right. Your document goes to the printer right away.

If your printer does not appear, make sure it is on and connected to the same WiFi network as your iPhone. If you still cannot see it, restart your iPhone and try again. Some older printers may need their manufacturer's app installed before they will show up in the print menu.

Printing when your printer does not have WiFi

If your printer only connects with a USB cable and has no WiFi, you can still print from your phone using cloud storage. Save the document to Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud, then print it from a computer on the same network as your printer. This is slower than direct printing, but it works.

Alternatively, if your printer is made by HP, Canon, Epson, or Brother, download their mobile app (HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson iPrint, or Brother iPrint&Scan). These apps sometimes work with older printers that do not have WiFi built in, though you may need to connect the printer to a computer first to set it up in the app.

Some printers can also print from email. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if yours has this feature. If it does, you can email a document to a special address and the printer will print it automatically.

Troubleshooting common printing problems

If your printer appears in the list but the print job does not go through, restart both your phone and printer. Then try printing a simple document first — sometimes a complex file with lots of images will fail when a plain text document works fine.

If your phone cannot find the printer at all, check that both are on the same WiFi network. Open your phone's WiFi settings and look at the network name. Then check your printer's network settings (usually in the menu on the printer itself) and confirm it is connected to the same network. If your phone is on a guest network, switch to the main network and try again.

If the printer prints but the output looks wrong — colors are off, text is blurry, or pages are cut off — check the print preview before you print. In the print menu, look for a preview of what will print. Adjust the page size, orientation (portrait or landscape), or scaling before sending the job to the printer.

If you installed a printer app and it is not working, uninstall it and try using your phone's built-in print feature instead. The built-in feature is usually more reliable. You can always reinstall the app later if you need specific features it offers.

Using printer apps for more control

Printer manufacturers offer apps like HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson iPrint, and Brother iPrint&Scan. These apps let you print directly from your phone and sometimes offer extra features like scanning documents with your phone camera or checking ink levels.

If you use one of these apps, you usually set up your printer once in the app, and then you can print from within the app itself. Some apps also let you print from other apps by using the Share menu — when you tap Share and look for Print, the app might appear as an option alongside your printer's name.

You do not need these apps to print. Your phone's built-in print feature works with any WiFi printer. Download an app only if you want the extra features it offers, like scanning or checking supplies.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if your phone is on the same WiFi network as the printer. If you are at work or visiting a friend, connect to their WiFi network, and your phone should find their printer. If the printer does not appear, ask the network owner whether guest devices can access printers on that network — some networks block this for security reasons.

What if I want to print but I do not have WiFi?

You can use mobile hotspot from another phone or device to create a temporary network, then connect both your phone and printer to that hotspot. This works but is slower than home WiFi. Some printers also support Bluetooth printing, though this is less common on newer models.

Why does my printer show up sometimes but not other times?

Your phone and printer may have disconnected from WiFi. Check that both are still on the same network. If the printer went to sleep, wake it up by pressing a button or sending a print job from a computer. Restart your phone's WiFi if the printer still does not appear.

Can I print photos directly from my phone without using an app?

Yes. Open the photo in your phone's default photo app or gallery, tap Share, select Print, choose your printer, and send it. You can adjust the size and number of copies before printing. Most phones print photos in high quality this way without needing any special app.

What happens if I print while my phone is not on WiFi anymore?

The print job will fail. Your phone needs to be on the same WiFi network as the printer at the moment you tap Print. If you accidentally sent a job while disconnected, reconnect to WiFi and try printing again.