How to Add a Printer to Your Phone: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to print directly from your phone offers unparalleled convenience. Gone are the days of transferring files to a computer just to get a hard copy. Whether it’s important documents, cherished photos, or essential tickets, printing from your smartphone or tablet is now simpler than ever. This guide will walk you through the various methods to connect your printer to your phone, ensuring you can print wirelessly via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and even email.

Setting Up Your Printer for Phone Connectivity

Before diving into connecting your phone, the first crucial step is to ensure your printer is set up for wireless connectivity. Most modern printers offer Wi-Fi capabilities, and sometimes Bluetooth. The setup process can vary between brands and models, so the best starting point is your printer’s manual. If you’ve misplaced the physical copy, a digital version is usually readily available online. Simply search for your printer brand and model number – typically found on the printer’s case or a sticker – followed by “manual” or “setup guide.”

Once you have your manual (or online guide), follow the networking instructions to connect your printer to your Wi-Fi network. This is essential for most wireless printing methods and will allow your phone to discover and communicate with your printer.

Connecting an Android Phone to a Printer

Android devices offer a straightforward approach to connecting to printers through the Default Print Service. This built-in service effectively replaced Google Cloud Print and is designed to seamlessly discover compatible printers on your network.

Connecting via Wi-Fi

The Android Default Print Service is designed to automatically detect printers that are on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone or tablet. Major printer manufacturers like Canon and Epson widely support this service, making Wi-Fi connection the most common and user-friendly method.

To begin, ensure both your printer and Android device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Mobile data connections (4G or 5G) will not allow your phone to discover local network printers for this method.

Here’s how to connect via Wi-Fi using the Default Print Service:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Search for “printing” in the settings search bar and select Printing from the results.
3. Tap on Printing again within Connection preferences.
4. Select Default Print Service and toggle it On.

Your Android device will now scan for compatible printers on your Wi-Fi network. A list of available printers should appear. Simply tap on your printer’s name to select it.

Android default print service

Your phone automatically detects compatible printers on your shared Wi-Fi network.

Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Connection Issues:

If your printer doesn’t appear in the list of available printers, you have several options to try:

• Add Manufacturer-Specific Print Service: Return to the Printing settings page (Settings > Connection preferences > Printing). Instead of Default Print Service, tap Add service. This will take you to the Google Play Store, listing printer services or plugins from various manufacturers. Find your printer brand, download and install the service. After installation, revisit the Default Print Service settings; your printer model should now be discoverable.

Android print service

Manufacturer-specific services can help find their printers on your network.

• Third-Party Print Services: If a manufacturer-specific service doesn’t work, or isn’t available, consider using a third-party print service app. These apps, also found on the Google Play Store, are designed to scan your network for active printers regardless of the brand. Popular options include PrinterOn and PrinterShare Mobile Print, though it’s advisable to research user reviews before installing.

• Manually Add Printer via IP Address or Wi-Fi Direct: For more advanced users, or if automatic discovery fails, you can manually add your printer to the Default Print Service.

  • Using IP Address: First, you’ll need to find your printer’s IP address. This is usually found within your router’s settings. Access your router’s settings (the method varies by router brand – consult your router manual if needed) and look for a section typically labeled Attached Devices or similar. Locate your printer in the list and note down its IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100). Then, in the Default Print Service settings on your Android device, tap the three vertical dots (menu icon) in the top right corner, select Add printer, and then Add printer by IP address. Enter the IP address you noted down and tap Add. Your printer should now appear in the list.

  • Using Wi-Fi Direct: Wi-Fi Direct allows for a direct wireless connection between your phone and printer without needing a traditional Wi-Fi network. To use this, in the Add printer menu, turn on Wi-Fi Direct printing. Your phone will scan for printers broadcasting a Wi-Fi Direct signal. Select your printer from the list to establish a direct connection.

Android WiFi direct 1

Access the menu via the three dots in Default Print Service to manually add your printer.

Android WiFi direct 2

Manually add your printer by IP address or select from Wi-Fi Direct enabled printers nearby.

Connecting via Bluetooth

While less common than Wi-Fi for printers, Bluetooth connectivity offers a direct, network-free connection. If your printer supports Bluetooth, it can be an even simpler setup process than Wi-Fi, as it bypasses network configurations.

If you’ve paired Bluetooth devices like headphones before, the process is very similar:

1. Activate Bluetooth scanning on your printer. Refer to your printer’s manual for specific instructions as this varies by brand and model. Typically, this involves navigating through the printer’s control panel menu.
2. On your Android phone, go to Settings, then tap Connected devices, and select Pair new device. Your phone will begin scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices.
3. When your printer’s name appears in the list of available devices, tap on it to initiate pairing. You might need to confirm a pairing request on both your phone and printer.

Android Bluetooth

Initiate pairing by tapping “Pair new device” when your printer is in Bluetooth scanning mode.

Once paired, your printer will appear in the list of previously connected devices under Connected devices settings. Note that Bluetooth connections are typically short-range. If you turn off Bluetooth or move too far from the printer, the connection will drop. Reconnection should be automatic when Bluetooth is re-enabled and devices are in range. If not, simply select your printer from the list of previously connected devices.

You can also personalize your printer’s name in Bluetooth settings. Tap the cog icon next to your printer’s name in the connected devices list, then the pencil icon next to Device details. Enter a new name and tap “Rename” to save the change.

How to Print from an Android Device

Once your printer is successfully connected to your Android phone, printing is a straightforward process, regardless of whether you used Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Printing Images:

1. Open the image you want to print in your Photos app or Gallery.
2. Tap the three vertical dots menu icon (usually located in the top right or bottom corner).
3. Scroll through the horizontal menu options (you may need to swipe left) and tap Print.

Printing Documents (e.g., PDFs, Word documents):

1. Open the document in its respective app (e.g., Google Drive for PDFs, Google Docs for documents).
2. Tap the three vertical dots menu icon (usually in the top right corner).
3. Select Print.

Print Menu and Options:

After selecting “Print,” you’ll be taken to the print preview screen. Here you can:

1. Tap Select a printer to choose your connected printer from the list (if you have multiple printers set up).
2. Adjust print settings like paper size, color or black and white, number of copies, and page orientation, depending on the available options for your printer and the document type.
3. Preview your document to ensure it looks correct.
4. Finally, tap the print icon (usually a printer symbol) to send the print job to your printer.

Android print 1

Steps to print images and documents from your Android phone.

Android print 2

Standard Android print screens with print options and the print icon.

Connecting and Printing from an iOS Device (iPhone & iPad)

Similar to Android, iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) have a built-in printing service called AirPrint, which simplifies connecting to compatible printers over Wi-Fi.

Connecting via Wi-Fi using AirPrint

AirPrint is Apple’s technology designed for seamless wireless printing to printers on the same Wi-Fi network. A wide range of printers from major manufacturers support AirPrint. For a comprehensive list of compatible printers, refer to the Apple support website.

When purchasing a new printer for use with your iPhone or iPad, look for the AirPrint logo on the printer box to ensure compatibility and ease of setup.

Setting up AirPrint:

1. Connect your AirPrint-compatible printer to your Wi-Fi network following the printer’s setup instructions.
2. Ensure AirPrint is enabled in your printer’s settings. The location of this setting varies by printer model, but it’s often found within the “Network” or “Wireless” settings accessed via the printer’s control panel or web interface. Consult your printer’s manual for specific instructions.

Airprint icons

Look for the AirPrint logo when choosing a new printer for easy iOS printing.

Printing with AirPrint:

The following steps are based on iOS 18, but the process is generally consistent across recent iOS versions.

1. Open the document, photo, or webpage you wish to print on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the share icon (a square with an arrow pointing upwards), typically located at the bottom of the screen in most apps. This will open the share sheet with various options.
3. Scroll down the share sheet options and select Print. This will open the Printer Options screen.

Print from iOS 18 – 1

Access Printer Options via the share icon.

4. The first time you use Printer Options, the Printer section at the top will likely show “No Printer Selected.” Tap on Select Printer.
5. Your iPhone or iPad will automatically search for AirPrint-enabled printers on your Wi-Fi network. Select your printer from the list. iOS will usually remember this printer for future use as the default.
6. Adjust print options like paper size, range, and copies as needed.
7. Tap Print in the top right corner to send the print job.

Print from iOS 18 – 2

Select “Print” from the share menu to open Printer Options and choose your AirPrint printer.

Non-AirPrint Printers:

If your printer is not AirPrint compatible, you’ll typically need to use the printer manufacturer’s app.

1. Search for your printer brand in the App Store and download the official app.
2. Follow the app’s instructions to connect to your printer. These apps often guide you through Wi-Fi setup and printer discovery.
3. Printing processes vary between apps. Some apps require you to open documents within the app itself for printing, while others may add a shortcut to the iOS share sheet for easier access from other apps.

Third-Party Apps:

Alternatively, consider third-party printing apps like Printopia 3 or Print n Share. These apps can bridge compatibility gaps and may offer additional features, but it’s recommended to research and compare options to find one that suits your needs.

Connecting via Bluetooth on iOS

While some sources suggest Bluetooth printing with iOS is possible, Apple doesn’t officially support direct Bluetooth printing to printers from iPhones or iPads. While there might be workarounds or specific printer models that enable it, AirPrint (Wi-Fi) is the recommended and most reliable method for wireless printing from iOS devices.

Tap and Print with NFC

Near Field Communication (NFC) offers another convenient way to initiate a connection, particularly for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi setup. Some printers support NFC for simplified pairing.

Using NFC Printing:

1. Ensure both your smartphone and printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (for Wi-Fi printing) or that your printer has Bluetooth enabled (for Bluetooth printing).
2. Enable NFC on your Android or compatible iPhone. NFC settings are usually found within the “Connections” or “Wireless & Networks” section of your phone’s settings.
3. Locate the NFC touchpoint on your printer. This is usually indicated by an “NFC” logo on the front or side of the printer.
4. Tap your phone’s NFC area (typically the back of the phone) against the printer’s NFC touchpoint.

NFC

The NFC icon indicates the touchpoint on your printer for NFC connection.

NFC will automatically handle the device pairing and connection process. Once connected, you can print using the standard printing procedures for your Android or iOS device.

Printing from an Android or iOS Device via Email

A convenient feature offered by some printer brands is email printing. This allows you to print documents, photos, and web pages by simply emailing them to your printer.

Email Printing Setup and Usage:

1. Set up an email address for your printer. The setup process is brand-specific. Some brands like HP may require software installation, while others might involve printer registration. The printer manufacturer will typically either assign a unique email address to your printer or allow you to create one during setup. Refer to your printer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for detailed instructions.
2. Print by emailing. Once set up, to print, simply email the document or photo as an attachment to your printer’s email address. You can do this from anywhere with internet access – you don’t need to be on the same network as your printer. As long as your printer is powered on and connected to the internet, it will automatically receive and print the emailed documents.

Email printing is particularly useful for remote printing or when you need to print from devices that are not directly connected to your local network.

Conclusion

Printing from your phone has revolutionized mobile productivity, making it easier than ever to get hard copies of your digital content. Whether you’re using an Android or iOS device, a range of connection methods – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and email – provide flexibility to suit different printer capabilities and user needs. By following this comprehensive guide, you can effortlessly set up your printer for phone printing and enjoy the convenience of wireless mobile printing in your daily life.