How to Print from Your Phone or Tablet (Step-by-Step Guide)

There are times when you simply need something on paper. Maybe it is a boarding pass for a flight, a lovely photo of the grandchildren, a recipe you found online, or an important email from your doctor. The good news is that you can print all of these things directly from your phone or tablet, without ever needing to turn on a computer. This guide will walk you through the entire process in plain, simple steps.

Why Print from Your Phone or Tablet?

You might wonder why you would bother printing from a phone when you already have a computer. Here are a few good reasons:

Convenience. Your phone is usually right there in your hand. There is no need to transfer a file to your computer first.
Speed. It only takes a few taps to send something to the printer.
Photos. When someone sends you a lovely photo on WhatsApp or you take one yourself, you can print it straight away.
No computer needed. If you do not own a laptop or desktop, your phone or tablet can do the job perfectly well.

How Wireless Printing Works

In the past, you needed a cable to connect a device to a printer. Today, most printers can connect to your home WiFi network, just like your phone or tablet does. Once both your phone and your printer are connected to the same WiFi network, they can talk to each other through that network. You tap "Print" on your phone, the phone sends the file over WiFi to the printer, and the printer produces your page.

If you are not familiar with WiFi or need a refresher, have a look at our guide on what WiFi is and how it works. Some printers also use a technology called Bluetooth for short-range connections. You can learn more about that in our simple guide to Bluetooth.

The key thing to remember is this: your phone and your printer must be on the same WiFi network. If they are not, they cannot find each other.

Step 1: Connect Your Printer to WiFi

Before you can print from your phone, your printer needs to be connected to your home WiFi. Here is how to do it on most modern printers:

Turn on your printer and make sure it has paper and ink.
Find the WiFi or Settings menu on your printer. Most printers have a small screen with buttons, or a touchscreen. Look for a wireless icon (it looks like a small fan or radio waves) or a menu item that says "Network" or "Wireless Setup."
Select your WiFi network from the list that appears. This is the same network name you use on your phone.
Enter your WiFi password using the printer's screen. This can be a little fiddly on printers with small buttons, so take your time. Use the arrow keys to select each letter and number.
Wait for the connection. The printer will take a moment to connect. Once it does, you should see a WiFi icon on the printer's display, or the wireless light will stop flashing and stay steady.

Top tip: If your printer does not have a screen, it may use a method called WPS (WiFi Protected Setup). Press the WPS button on your router first, then press the WPS button on your printer within two minutes. They will connect to each other automatically.

If you are unsure how to do this on your specific printer, check the quick-start guide that came in the box, or type your printer's name followed by "WiFi setup" into Google.

Step 2: Printing from an iPhone or iPad (AirPrint)

Apple makes printing very straightforward with a built-in feature called AirPrint. You do not need to download any extra apps. AirPrint works with most modern printers from HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and others.

How to Print Using AirPrint

Open the item you want to print. This could be a photo, a webpage in Safari, an email, a PDF, or a document.
Tap the Share button. This is the small square with an upward arrow. You will find it at the bottom of the screen in most apps, or at the top in some.
Scroll down and tap "Print." If you do not see it right away, scroll through the list of options.
Select your printer. Tap "Printer" at the top of the print screen. Your phone will search for nearby printers on your WiFi network. Tap your printer's name when it appears.
Choose how many copies you want. You can also select which pages to print if it is a long document.
Tap "Print" in the top right corner.

That is it. Your printer should whir to life and produce your page within a few seconds.

What If Your Printer Does Not Appear?

Make sure your printer is turned on and connected to WiFi.
Make sure your iPhone or iPad is on the same WiFi network as the printer.
Try turning your printer off and on again, then wait a minute and check once more.
Check that your printer supports AirPrint. Most printers made after 2015 do, but very old models may not.

Step 3: Printing from an Android Phone or Tablet

Android phones and tablets also have a built-in print feature. The process is very similar to iPhone.

How to Print on Android

Open what you want to print. This could be a photo in your gallery, a webpage in Chrome, an email in Gmail, or a document.
Tap the three-dot menu (usually in the top right corner of the screen) or tap the Share button.
Tap "Print." On some apps, you may find it under "Share" and then "Print."
Select your printer. Android will search for printers on your WiFi network. Tap the dropdown at the top to choose your printer.
Adjust settings if needed. You can change the number of copies, select colour or black and white, or choose the paper size.
Tap the Print button (it looks like a small printer icon).

Installing Your Printer's Plugin (If Needed)

Some Android phones need a small add-on called a "plugin" to find your printer. If your printer does not appear:

Go to Settings on your phone.
Search for "Printing" in the settings search bar.
Tap "Printing" or "Print Service."
If your printer brand is not listed, tap "Add Service" and download the plugin for your printer brand (for example, "HP Print Service Plugin" or "Canon Print Service").
Once installed, go back and try printing again.

Note: Google Cloud Print was an older service that Google used to offer for printing from Android and Chrome. Google shut it down in December 2020. You do not need it any more. Modern Android phones can find printers on your WiFi network directly, or you can use your printer manufacturer's plugin as described above.

Printing Photos from Your Phone

One of the most popular reasons to print from a phone is to get photos onto paper. Here is how:

On iPhone or iPad

Open the Photos app.
Find the photo you want to print and tap it to open it.
Tap the Share button (the square with the arrow).
Scroll down and tap "Print."
Select your printer, choose the number of copies, and tap "Print."

On Android

Open the Google Photos app or your phone's Gallery app.
Tap the photo you want to print.
Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
Tap "Print."
Select your printer, adjust the settings, and tap the Print button.

Photo tip: For the best results, use photo paper instead of ordinary printer paper. Photo paper gives you sharper, more vibrant images that look much closer to what you see on your screen. You can buy photo paper in most supermarkets or online.

If you have lots of photos on your phone and want to get them better organised before printing, our guide on how to organise photos on your phone can help.

Printing Documents, Emails, and Webpages

Printing an Email

On iPhone: Open the email in the Mail app, tap the reply arrow at the bottom, then scroll down and tap "Print."
On Android (Gmail): Open the email, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then tap "Print."

Printing a Webpage

On iPhone (Safari): Tap the Share button at the bottom of the screen, then tap "Print."
On Android (Chrome): Tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then tap "Share" and then "Print," or simply tap "Print" if you see it directly.

Printing a PDF or Document

If someone has sent you a PDF file (perhaps a letter from your bank or an appointment confirmation), open it on your phone. Then use the Share button or three-dot menu to find the "Print" option, just as described above.

Best Printers for Seniors

If you are looking to buy a new printer that is easy to use with your phone or tablet, here are three excellent choices:

HP Envy Series

The HP Envy range is one of the most popular choices for home use. These printers support AirPrint for Apple devices and have the HP Smart app for Android. They are easy to set up, produce great-quality prints, and can also scan and copy. The touchscreen on most models makes them straightforward to operate.

Why seniors like it: Simple WiFi setup, clear instructions, and the HP Smart app walks you through everything step by step.

Canon PIXMA Series

Canon PIXMA printers are known for producing excellent photo prints. They support AirPrint and have the Canon PRINT app for Android. If printing family photos is important to you, a PIXMA is a wonderful choice.

Why seniors like it: Outstanding photo quality, quiet operation, and affordable ink refills on many models.

Epson EcoTank Series

The Epson EcoTank range uses refillable ink tanks instead of traditional cartridges. This means you spend much less money on ink over time. They support AirPrint and the Epson Smart Panel app for Android. The initial price is a bit higher, but you save money in the long run because the ink bottles last much longer than cartridges.

Why seniors like it: Very low ink costs, less hassle replacing cartridges, and reliable wireless printing.

Printer Apps Worth Knowing About

While you can usually print without downloading anything extra, these free apps from printer manufacturers can make the experience even smoother:

HP Smart (iPhone and Android) — Set up your HP printer, check ink levels, scan documents, and print with ease.
Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY (iPhone and Android) — Print and scan from your Canon printer, including directly from your camera roll.
Epson Smart Panel (iPhone and Android) — Set up your Epson printer, print photos and documents, and check ink levels.

These apps are free to download from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Google Play Store (Android). Simply search for your printer brand's name.

Troubleshooting Common Printing Problems

If something is not working, do not worry. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them.

"I cannot find my printer"

Check your WiFi. Your phone and printer must be on the same WiFi network. If your router has two networks (one ending in "2.4G" and another in "5G"), try connecting both devices to the same one.
Restart your printer. Turn it off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Give it a minute to reconnect to WiFi.
Restart your phone. Sometimes a simple restart fixes the problem.
Move closer. If the printer is in a far corner of the house, your phone's WiFi signal might not reach it well. Try standing in the same room as the printer.

"The printout looks wrong or is cut off"

Check the paper size setting on the print screen. Make sure it matches the paper you have loaded (usually A4 in the UK or Letter in the US).
If a webpage is printing oddly, try using the "Reader View" in your browser first (tap the "AA" icon in Safari's address bar, or look for a similar option in Chrome). This strips away adverts and sidebars.

"The print is streaky or faded"

You may be running low on ink. Check your ink levels using the printer's menu or the manufacturer's app on your phone.
Run a print head cleaning from the printer's settings menu. This clears dried ink from the nozzles.

"Nothing happens when I tap Print"

Make sure the printer has paper loaded and is not showing any error lights.
Check that the printer is not in sleep mode. Press any button on the printer to wake it up, then try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the internet to print from my phone?

Not necessarily. Your phone and printer communicate through your home WiFi router, so as long as both are connected to the same router, printing will work even if your broadband internet connection goes down. However, you do need the router to be switched on and working.

Can I print from my phone if my printer is old?

It depends on how old. Most printers made in the last ten years support wireless printing. If your printer only has a USB cable connection and no WiFi, you will not be able to print from your phone wirelessly. In that case, it might be worth considering one of the affordable printers mentioned above, which all support wireless printing out of the box.

Is it expensive to print at home?

The cost depends on how much you print and which printer you have. A basic colour printout costs just a few pence in ink. If you print a lot, an Epson EcoTank can bring costs down significantly because the refillable ink tanks last much longer than traditional cartridges. Paper is inexpensive and can be bought in bulk from supermarkets or online.

Final Thoughts

Printing from your phone or tablet is much easier than most people expect. Once your printer is connected to WiFi and your phone is on the same network, it usually takes just a few taps to get something onto paper. Whether you want to print a cherished family photo, an important email, or a recipe you found online, your phone can handle it.

If you run into trouble, start with the basics: make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network, restart the printer, and try again. Nine times out of ten, that solves the problem. And if you are shopping for a new printer, any of the three models mentioned above will serve you very well for years to come.