How to Print a Gmail Email: A Simple Guide for All Devices

Printing emails is still a necessary task in our digital age. Whether you need a hard copy for record-keeping, meetings, or simply prefer reading on paper, printing a Gmail email is straightforward across various devices. This guide will walk you through the process of How To Print A Gmail Email effectively, ensuring you can easily get a physical copy of your important messages.

Printing from Your Desktop Browser

The most common and arguably easiest way to print a Gmail email is from your desktop computer using a web browser. Here’s how:

1. Open Gmail: Go to Gmail in your preferred web browser and log in to your account.

2. Select the Email: Click on the email you wish to print to open it.

3. Find the Print Option: Look for the Reply button at the top right of the email, just below your profile icon. Next to the Reply button, you’ll see a More icon, which is typically represented by three vertical dots or a down arrow. Click on this icon.

4. Click “Print”: From the dropdown menu, select Print.

   This action will open your browser’s print dialog box. Here, you can adjust settings like printer selection, page range, layout, and more.

5. Adjust Print Settings (Optional): Before printing, you can customize:

   • Destination: Choose your printer from the dropdown menu. You might also have the option to “Save as PDF” if you need a digital copy instead of a physical print.
   • Pages: Specify if you want to print all pages or a custom range.
   • Layout: Select between portrait and landscape orientation.
   • More settings: Explore additional options like paper size, margins, scale, and whether to include headers, footers, and background graphics.

6. Print: Once you are satisfied with your settings, click the Print button. Your Gmail email will now be sent to your printer.

Printing from the Gmail App on Mobile Devices (iPhone & iPad)

Printing from the Gmail app on mobile devices like iPhones and iPads requires a slightly different approach, as the print option might not be as immediately obvious as on a desktop browser. While direct print functionality within the Gmail app has sometimes been reported as missing or less prominent in older versions, the current method primarily relies on the device’s share sheet and AirPrint (for iOS devices).

Here’s how to print a Gmail email from the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Gmail App: Launch the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad and navigate to the email you want to print.

2. Open the Email: Tap on the email to open and view its content.

3. Locate the Share Icon: Look for the Share icon. This is usually located at the top right corner of the email and is represented by an upward-pointing arrow coming out of a box. Tap on this icon.

4. Scroll and Find “Print”: In the share sheet that appears, scroll through the available actions until you find Print. You might need to scroll horizontally through the icons. Tap on Print.

   If you don’t see the “Print” option directly, look for the “More” option (often represented by three dots or labeled “More”). Tapping “More” will expand the list of actions, and “Print” should be among them.

5. Printer Options: Tapping “Print” will open the Printer Options screen. Ensure your printer is selected. If you have AirPrint-compatible printers on your Wi-Fi network, they should automatically appear in the printer selection list.

6. Adjust Settings & Print: In Printer Options, you can typically adjust:

   • Printer: Choose your AirPrint-compatible printer.
   • Copies: Specify the number of copies you need.
   • Range: Select the page range if needed.
   • Double-sided: Choose to print on both sides of the paper if your printer supports it.

7. Tap “Print”: After adjusting your settings, tap the Print button, usually located at the top right corner. Your Gmail email will be printed via AirPrint.

Workarounds if Direct Print is Not Available or Problematic:

If you encounter issues with direct printing from the Gmail app or are using an older version where the print option is less accessible, here are a couple of workarounds mentioned by users:

• Using the Share Sheet to “Mail” it to Yourself then Print from Desktop: As a workaround, you can use the share sheet to forward the email to yourself. Then, access your Gmail account on a desktop browser and print the email following the desktop browser instructions. While a few extra steps, this ensures you can still get a printout.
• Setting up Gmail in iOS Mail App: Another suggested workaround involves configuring your Gmail account within the native iOS Mail app. Once set up, you can access your Gmail emails through the iOS Mail app, which generally has a more readily available print option via the share sheet.

Conclusion

Printing a Gmail email is generally a simple process, whether you are using a desktop computer or a mobile device. On desktops, the print option is easily found within the email view. On iPhones and iPads, utilize the share sheet and AirPrint functionality to print your emails. By following these steps, you can easily obtain hard copies of your important Gmail correspondence whenever needed. Remember to check your printer settings to ensure optimal print output for your documents.