Printing documents and photos is still a necessity in our daily lives, and while PCs are commonly used for this task, your Android phone or tablet can also handle printing with ease. This guide will walk you through the process of adding a printer to your Android device and printing various types of content.
Adding a Printer to Your Android Device
The good news is that adding a printer to your Android device is generally straightforward, especially with modern Wi-Fi printers. Many printers are automatically detected by Android without requiring any complex setup. However, if your printer isn’t automatically recognized, don’t worry, we’ll show you how to manually add it.
Since Android 8.0 Oreo, Google has incorporated native printing support through a partnership with the Mopria Alliance. This collaboration ensures compatibility with a wide range of printer brands, including household names like HP, Epson, Brother, Samsung, Canon, and Xerox. This built-in support simplifies the process significantly.
Let’s get started with adding your printer:
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Access Settings: Swipe down from the top of your Android screen once or twice to open the Quick Settings panel. Then, tap the gear icon to go to the main Settings menu.
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Find Printing Settings: The quickest way to find the printing settings is to use the search bar within the Settings menu. Type “print” and select the option that appears under “Connected Devices” or “Connections,” depending on your Android version.
Print search result in android settings. -
Default Print Service: You will see “Default Print Service” which is usually enabled by default. Tap on “Default Print Service” to initiate a scan for printers available on your Wi-Fi network.
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Add Printer Manually: If your printer isn’t listed, tap the three-dot menu icon (usually located in the top right corner) or a plus button, and select “Add Printer”.
Default print service menu. -
Search for Wi-Fi Direct Printers: Tap “Find” or “Search for Wi-Fi Direct Printers.” This will prompt your Android device to actively search for printers broadcasting a Wi-Fi Direct signal.
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Select Your Printer: Once your printer appears in the list of available printers, tap on it to select it.
Wireless printer in Android settings.
Congratulations! You have successfully added your printer to your Android device. If you encounter any issues, printer setup can sometimes be a bit finicky. Consider installing the Mopria Print Service app from the Google Play Store. This app can provide broader compatibility and might resolve connectivity problems. Follow the app’s instructions for setup if needed.
Printing from Your Android Device
Now that you’ve added your printer, printing from your Android phone or tablet is a breeze. The process is designed to be as intuitive as sharing any other type of content.
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Find the Share Option: Open the document, photo, webpage, or any content you wish to print. Look for the share icon, which is commonly represented by three dots connected by lines in a sideways “Y” shape.
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Select “Print” from the Share Menu: In the share menu that appears, scroll through the options and tap “Print.”
Print option in android share menu.Alternatively, some apps, like Google Docs, might have a “Print” option directly within their menu, eliminating the need to go through the “Share” menu first.
print option in android share menu. -
Choose Your Printer: The standard Android print dialog box will appear. Tap on the “Printer” dropdown (it might initially show “Save as PDF” or a default printer if you have previously used printing). Select the printer you added earlier from the list.
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Adjust Print Settings: You can now customize your print job. Expand the menu (usually by tapping a “More options” or similar button) to adjust settings like:
- Paper Size: Choose the correct paper size for your printer (e.g., Letter, A4).
- Color: Select color or black and white printing.
- Orientation: Choose portrait or landscape orientation.
- Pages: Specify which pages to print if you don’t need the entire document.
Android print format options. -
Print! Once you’ve configured your settings, tap the printer icon (usually a printer symbol) to send the print job to your printer.
That’s all it takes to print from your Android device! When everything works smoothly, it’s a remarkably convenient feature. However, as we all know, printers can sometimes be unpredictable, so patience might be needed occasionally.
Printing Photos from Your Android Device
Printing photos from your Android device uses the same basic process as printing documents. However, if you’re aiming for high-quality photo prints, especially in color, you might want to consider alternative methods if your home printer isn’t optimized for photo printing.
Option 1: Using the Standard Print Service
For quick photo prints, you can use the built-in Android print service:
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Open the Photo: Open the photo you want to print in your preferred gallery app (like Google Photos, or your phone’s default gallery).
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Share and Print: Look for the share icon and tap it. Then, select “Print” from the share menu, just as you would for any other document.
Share button and print sharing option. -
Select Printer and Adjust Settings: The Android print dialog will appear. Tap “Select Printer” to choose your printer. Expand the settings menu to adjust paper size, color settings, and orientation as needed for your photo.
Android print format options. -
Print the Photo: Tap the printer button to start printing your photo.
Option 2: Ordering Prints via Google Photos
If you need high-quality photo prints or don’t have a color photo printer at home, ordering prints through the Google Photos app is a convenient and affordable alternative.
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Open Photo in Google Photos: Open the Google Photos app and select the photo you want to print.
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Swipe Up for Menu: Swipe up on the photo to reveal a menu with more options.
Swipe up on a photo to reveal the menu. -
Order Photo Prints: Select “Order Photo” from the menu, and then choose “Photo Prints.”
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Choose Print Options and Order: Follow the on-screen guide to select print sizes, quantity, delivery method, and enter your payment details. Google Photos offers competitive pricing for photo prints and delivers them to your address. This is a great option for getting physical copies of your favorite memories without needing a specialized printer.
Printing Text Messages from Your Android Device
Android phone with text messages on screen.
Sometimes, you might need to print out text messages from your Android phone, whether for personal record-keeping or legal purposes. While Android messaging apps don’t have a direct “Print” option, there are still ways to achieve this.
For detailed instructions, we have a dedicated guide on how to print text messages from Android. In summary, your main options are:
- Taking Screenshots: The simplest method is to take screenshots of your text message conversations and then print the screenshots as images using the steps described in the “Printing Photos” section above. This is straightforward but might require multiple screenshots for long conversations.
- Using Third-Party Apps: Alternatively, you can use third-party apps that are designed to create printable transcripts of your text messages. These apps often offer more formatting options and can be more efficient for printing lengthy conversations.
While printing from Android has become significantly more user-friendly over the years, having a reliable printer is still key for a smooth printing experience. Whether you’re printing documents, photos, or even text messages, Android’s built-in printing features offer a convenient way to get your digital content onto paper. And remember, if you also use Apple devices, printing from an iPhone or iPad is also possible, ensuring you’re covered across your mobile devices. Investing in a good printer can make all these tasks much easier and more efficient.
