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How to Print from Any Device to Your Printer

February 15, 2024

How to Print from Any Device to Your Printer

Introduction

Printing documents, photos, and other files from your devices to a printer allows you to create physical copies of digital content. With the rise of smartphones, tablets, and laptops, printing remotely is more convenient than ever. In this guide, I will walk you through the steps to set up printing from a variety of devices and operating systems. Whether you want to print from your iPhone, Android phone, iPad, MacBook, Windows PC, or other devices, this guide has you covered.

Setting Up Printers for Remote Printing

The first step is ensuring your printer is set up for wireless printing and compatible with your devices. Here are some tips:

Make Sure Your Printer is Wireless

Most new printers have built-in wireless connectivity or Wi-Fi Direct to allow printing from mobile devices and computers over a wireless network. Check your printer manual to confirm your model supports wireless printing and Wi-Fi Direct.

If your printer only has traditional USB connectivity, you can purchase a wireless print server to connect to your printer and enable wireless printing capabilities.

Connect Printer to Wireless Network

To print wirelessly, your printer will need to join the same local wireless network as your devices.

Use your printer’s setup software or menu to connect it to your Wi-Fi router. Most printers have a WPS push button to easily join the network.
For Wi-Fi Direct printing, consult your printer manual on how to enable this peer-to-peer connection mode.

Install Printer Software and Drivers

You’ll need to install the manufacturer’s printer software and drivers on devices wanting to print. Download the software from the company’s website based on your printer model and operating system.

The software handles communication between devices and printer and enables access to printer features. Keep software updated for best performance.

Printing from a Windows PC

Windows computers have built-in support for network printing. Here’s how to add printers and print in Windows:

Add Printer in Windows

Open Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners
Click Add a Printer or Scanner
Select your printer and click Add Device to install drivers

Your printer now shows under Printers & Scanners and is ready to print from.

Printing from Applications

When using any application like Word, Excel, Photos, etc:

Select File > Print (or Ctrl/Cmd + P)
Select your printer from the menu
Customize settings like pages, orientation, and click Print

Files will be sent to your printer and print automatically.

Printing from File Explorer

You can print documents directly from File Explorer:

Right-click a file and select Print
Pick your printer and enter any options
Click Print to send to the printer

Printing from an iPhone or iPad

Thanks to AirPrint, you can easily print wirelessly from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to compatible printers.

Set Up AirPrint Printer

Turn on printer and connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as your iOS devices
Go to Settings > Printers & Scanners on your iPhone/iPad
Tap Add Printer and select your AirPrint printer from the list

You only need to add the printer once. Now it’s available for printing from any app.

Printing from Apps

When viewing a document, photo, web page, or other content in an app, tap the Share icon (usually in top right) and select Print. You can then choose the printer, page range, and copies before sending the print job.

Apps like Safari, Photos, Mail, iBooks, and many third-party apps support AirPrint printing.

Printing from an Android Phone or Tablet

Printing from Android devices works seamlessly with Google Cloud Print compatible printers. Here’s how to set it up:

Set Up Google Cloud Print

Turn on your printer and connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as your Android device
On your phone/tablet, open the Chrome browser and go to Settings > Cloud Print
Click Add printers and select your printer from the list to register it

Once registered, the printer is ready for cloud printing.

Printing from Apps

In any app, tap the share button (usually 3 dots or lines) and select Print. Choose your printer, options, and tap Print.

The print job is sent to your printer over the internet via Google Cloud Print. Enable Google Drive on your device to print documents from Drive.

Printing from a Mac Computer

MacOS makes it simple to add desktop printers and send print jobs wirelessly:

Add Printer on Mac

Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners
Click + to add printer and select it from the discovered printers list
If the printer isn’t automatically found, click IP and enter its IP address manually

Now your Mac can print to this printer.

Printing from Apps

When using any app, click File > Print (or Cmd + P) and select your printer. Adjust settings like page range and copies, then click Print to send the job.

You can print documents, photos, emails, webpages, and more from most apps.