The basic way to print from iPhone

You can print directly from your iPhone to any printer that supports AirPrint, which is Apple's wireless printing system. AirPrint works over your home or office Wi-Fi network — your iPhone and printer must be on the same network. Most printers made in the last ten years support it, including models from HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Xerox.

The printer does not need to be plugged into a computer. Once it is on and connected to Wi-Fi, you can print from your iPhone's Photos app, Mail, Safari, or any app that has a share menu. The process is the same across all these apps: open what you want to print, tap the share button, select Print, choose your printer, and send.

Key Takeaways

  • AirPrint printing requires your iPhone and printer to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Most modern printers support AirPrint, but older printers may need a separate app or workaround.
  • You can print from Photos, Mail, Safari, and most other apps by tapping the share button and selecting Print.
  • If your printer is not showing up, restart both your iPhone and printer, then check that they are on the same network.

How to print a photo from your iPhone

Open the Photos app and find the photo you want to print. Tap the photo to open it full-screen, then tap the share button — it looks like a square with an arrow pointing up, usually in the bottom left corner. Scroll down through the share menu until you see Print.

Tap Print. A new screen will appear showing "Printer" at the top with a box underneath. Tap that box to see a list of available printers on your network. Select the one you want to use. Below the printer name, you will see options to choose how many copies you want and which size paper to print on. Once you have made your choices, tap Print in the top right corner.

How to print from Safari or email

Printing a webpage or email works the same way. In Safari, open the page you want to print. Tap the share button at the bottom of the screen — it is the square with the arrow. Scroll down and tap Print. In Mail, open the email message, tap the reply arrow at the bottom, then scroll down and tap Print.

After you tap Print, you will see the printer selection screen. Choose your printer from the list, set the number of copies, and tap Print. Safari will print the entire webpage by default, which may be multiple pages. Some webpages print better than others depending on how they are designed.

What to do if your printer does not show up

If you do not see your printer in the list, the most common reason is that your iPhone and printer are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your printer's display panel or settings to see which network it is connected to. Then go to Settings on your iPhone, tap Wi-Fi, and make sure you are connected to the same network name.

If both devices are on the same network, restart your printer by turning it off, waiting ten seconds, and turning it back on. Then restart your iPhone by holding down the power button and sliding to power off, waiting ten seconds, and turning it back on. After both devices have restarted, try printing again. If the printer still does not appear, check the printer manufacturer's website to confirm it supports AirPrint.

Printing to older printers without AirPrint

If your printer does not support AirPrint, you have two options. The first is to download the printer manufacturer's app from the App Store. HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother all offer free apps that let you print wirelessly even if the printer itself does not have AirPrint built in. Search for your printer brand in the App Store, download the app, and follow the setup instructions to connect to your printer.

The second option is to email the document or photo to yourself, open it on a computer connected to that printer, and print from there. This is slower but works with any printer that is set up on a computer on your network. Some people also use cloud printing services like Google Cloud Print, though this requires additional setup and is less common now.

Printing from apps other than Photos and Mail

Most apps that let you view documents, photos, or web content have a share button or print option. In a document app like Pages or PDF reader, look for a menu button (three horizontal lines or three dots) and tap it. Scroll down to find Print or Share. In web browsers other than Safari, the process is the same — tap the share button and look for Print.

Some apps do not have a print option built in. If an app does not show Print in the share menu, you cannot print directly from that app. Your workaround is to take a screenshot of what you want to print, save it to Photos, and then print the screenshot instead.

Troubleshooting common printing problems

If your print job does not go through, first check that your printer is turned on and has paper and ink. Then check that your iPhone still has a strong connection to the Wi-Fi network — if you have moved far from the router, move closer and try again. If the printer is on but still not responding, restart it again.

If the printer appears in the list but the print job fails after you tap Print, the printer may have run out of paper or ink, or there may be a paper jam. Check the printer's display panel for error messages. If you see an error on your iPhone after tapping Print, try restarting both devices and printing again. If printing continues to fail, restart your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it for ten seconds and plugging it back in.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if your iPhone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer. If you are at work, connect to the work Wi-Fi network. If you are at a friend's house, connect to their home Wi-Fi. You cannot print to a printer on a different network.

What if I want to print something but do not see a Print option in the share menu?

Not all apps support printing. If Print does not appear in the share menu, take a screenshot of what you want to print by pressing the side button and volume up button at the same time, then print the screenshot from your Photos app instead.

Can I print from my iPhone without Wi-Fi?

No. AirPrint requires a Wi-Fi connection between your iPhone and printer. If your printer has a mobile app, check whether it supports printing over cellular data, but most do not. You will need Wi-Fi to print.

Why is my printed photo coming out blurry or low quality?

Check that your printer supports the paper size and quality settings you selected. Some printers print better on certain paper types. Also make sure the photo itself is high resolution — very small or compressed photos will print blurry no matter what printer you use.

Can I print multiple photos at once?

Not directly from the Photos app. You have to print one photo at a time. If you want to print many photos, print them one by one, or use your printer's app if it has a batch printing feature.