The printer is the Keith Richards of machines – slowly on the decline, but seemingly immortal. They are no longer our go-to source of information like they were in the ’90s and early ’00s, but they still hold a special place in the hearts of those of us who prefer the physical print medium to the eye-straining digital format we’ve grown accustomed to on our laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
However, you don’t necessarily need a fully-fledged computer to serve all your basic printing needs. Your nifty, spiffy iPhone will do just fine.
There are plenty of options for printing work-related emails, selfie Instagram photos or directions should you be trekking into the boonies where obtaining cell reception is nigh impossible. Modern printers have made the task of wireless printing from an iPhone a breeze, incorporating Apple AirPrint functionality and a number of native and third-party apps that utilize your local Wi-Fi for remote printing.
Here’s our straightforward guide on how to print from an iPhone using AirPrint, email, or other available print apps.
Print using Apple AirPrint
AirPrint-enabled apps let you create and print full-quality documents and graphics without the chore of installing drivers or configuring the printer queue. The requirements are rather minimal – you need any model iPad, an iPhone 3GS or later, or a third-generation iPod Touch – as well as the latest version of iOS and an AirPrint-compatible printer with the latest firmware. Feel free to check Apple’s AirPrint basic support page for a comprehensive list of all compatible devices, including popular models from Canon, Epson, HP, Samsung, Brother, and a ton of other noteworthy manufacturers. AirPrint functionality is also the same across all iPhone models, making the software incredibly easy to use no matter if you have an iPhone 3GS or a 5.
Step 1: Connect to Wi-Fi
In order to use AirPrint, both your printer and iPhone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Keep in mind there may be multiple networks available in an office setting and you might have to enable the AirPrint function depending on your printer. Check your printer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for a more detailed instructions about how to turn on the function and connect to Wi-Fi.
Step 2: Select the printer
Check the connection between your iPhone and the printer by opening an AirPrint-supported app such as Mail, Safari, or Evernote. Most apps will feature a familiar arrow that resembles a forward or reply email icon. Tap the icon, select “Print” and your printer should appear as the selected device by default, otherwise tap “Select Printer” at the top and allow your iPhone to scan for nearby printers.
Step 3: Choose the number of copies
Select the number of copies you want to print by tapping the addition and subtraction arrows to the right of “Copy.” Obviously at least one copy is mandatory, but you can print up to a total of 99 pages at once if you’re feeling trigger happy.
Step 4: Print
Once you’ve selected the printer and the number of pages you want, hit the “Print” button in the middle of the page. You can cancel your print job or check its status by double-tapping the Home button and choosing the printer summary from the multitasking bar (the icon looks like a printer and should appear as the first app on your left).
AirPrint-enabled apps let you create and print full-quality documents and graphics without the chore of installing drivers or configuring the printer queue. The requirements are rather minimal – you need any model iPad, an iPhone 3GS or later, or a third-generation iPod Touch – as well as the latest version of iOS and an AirPrint-compatible printer with the latest firmware. Feel free to check Apple’s AirPrint basic support page for a comprehensive list of all compatible devices, including popular models from Canon, Epson, HP, Samsung, Brother, and a ton of other noteworthy manufacturers. AirPrint functionality is also the same across all iPhone models, making the software incredibly easy to use no matter if you have an iPhone 3GS or a 5.
Step 1: Connect to Wi-Fi
In order to use AirPrint, both your printer and iPhone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Keep in mind there may be multiple networks available in an office setting and you might have to enable the AirPrint function depending on your printer. Check your printer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for a more detailed instructions about how to turn on the function and connect to Wi-Fi.
Step 2: Select the printer
Check the connection between your iPhone and the printer by opening an AirPrint-supported app such as Mail, Safari, or Evernote. Most apps will feature a familiar arrow that resembles a forward or reply email icon. Tap the icon, select “Print” and your printer should appear as the selected device by default, otherwise tap “Select Printer” at the top and allow your iPhone to scan for nearby printers.
Step 3: Choose the number of copies
Select the number of copies you want to print by tapping the addition and subtraction arrows to the right of “Copy.” Obviously at least one copy is mandatory, but you can print up to a total of 99 pages at once if you’re feeling trigger happy.
Step 4: Print
Once you’ve selected the printer and the number of pages you want, hit the “Print” button in the middle of the page. You can cancel your print job or check its status by double-tapping the Home button and choosing the printer summary from the multitasking bar (the icon looks like a printer and should appear as the first app on your left).
Print using Email
Did you think people were the only ones with email addresses? Many of Epson and HP’s new models feature HP ePrint or Epson Email Print for printing anywhere in the world by simply emailing a photo or document file to your printer’s assigned email. Once set up, the process is relatively easy and straightforward, requiring you to merely send an email from your iPhone to your email-compatible printer. This is obviously not an option for all users and printer models, but it is available for many new models such as the Epson Expression and WorkForce series as well as most recent HP printers.
Step 1: Activate email printing
Assuming you have an email-compatible printer, the first thing you need to do is activate the email function. The enabling process will vary from device to device – Epson users are going to want to activate Epson Connect for instance – but the entire it should be outlined in greater detail in your printer’s manual or on the manufacture’s website. The printer will be assigned a default email address upon activation, likely a series of random characters at a specified domain name, but you can change this later to something you’ll actually remember. Although your iPhone doesn’t need to be connected to the same wireless network as your printer in order to use email printing, the printer will still be required to connect via Wi-Fi opposed to a standard USB cable.
Step 2: Print
If set up properly, all you need to do is email a document or image from your iPhone to your printer and it will automatically print the file to the default specifications – typically letter size on plan paper unless you otherwise adjusted the default settings during activation. You printer won’t accept all file formats, but should be able to handle files from Word, PowerPoint, and Excel as well as JPGs, GIFS, and PNGs among others. Check your printer for details regarding acceptable file formats, size, and the number of printable attachments you can include per email.
Print using other software
If both AirPrint and email printing are not viable options, you can always settle for software directly from your printer’s manufacturer or another third-party source. We recommend snagging FingerPrint ($20) if you don’t mind spending a little cash; it is compatible with nearly all printers old and new. Although it is not an iPhone app per say – you essentially install the software on your computer – it allows you to print from devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer and printer.
Alternatively, you can use your printer manufacturer’s free proprietary app such as Epson iPrint, HP ePrint, or Samsung Mobile Print. However, we cannot guarantee that the printing apps will work for all printer models, nor do all manufacturers have an accompanying app even available for their products.
Step 1: Download and install the application
Whichever application you decide upon, head to the App Store or website, download and install it. FingerPrint is also available as free trial so you can make sure your printer is compatible before you purchase the full application for your computer. Be forewarned though; it will place a watermark on your documents unless you opt for the premium version of the software.
Step 2: Launch the application
Next, launch the application either on your computer or your iPhone depending on where it was installed.
As previously mentioned, FingerPrint is not an iPhone app, so you will have to open the program on your Windows machine or Mac by accessing the application from the Windows taskbar or applications folder. Once opened, you will see a list of all printers connected to your network. Simply check the ones you wish to use with your iPhone from the list and close the application.
Step 3: Connect to Wi-Fi
In order to use FingerPrint, both your printer and iPhone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, whether you’re using a wireless printer or a one physically connected to a computer that uses Wi-Fi. Check your printer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for a more detailed instructions about how to connect to Wi-Fi.
Step 4: Select the printer
Check the connection between your iPhone and the printer by opening an app such as Mail, Safari, or Evernote. Most apps will feature a familiar arrow that resembles a forward or reply email icon. Tap the icon, select “Print,” and your printer should appear as the selected device by default. If it’s not, tap “Select Printer” at the top and allow your iPhone to scan any printers you checked in Step 2. Also, your computer must be awake in order to access the printer.
Step 5: Choose the number of copies
Select the number of copies you want to print by tapping the addition and subtraction arrows to the right of “Copy.” Obviously at least one copy is mandatory, but you can print up to a total of 99 pages at once if you’re feeling trigger happy.
Step 4: Print
Once you’ve selected the printer and the number of pages you want, hit the “Print” button in the middle of the page. You can cancel your print job or check its status by double-tapping the Home button and choosing the printer summary from the multitasking bar (the icon looks like a printer and should appear as the first app on your left).
Data source: digitaltrends (By Brandon Widder)
Did you think people were the only ones with email addresses? Many of Epson and HP’s new models feature HP ePrint or Epson Email Print for printing anywhere in the world by simply emailing a photo or document file to your printer’s assigned email. Once set up, the process is relatively easy and straightforward, requiring you to merely send an email from your iPhone to your email-compatible printer. This is obviously not an option for all users and printer models, but it is available for many new models such as the Epson Expression and WorkForce series as well as most recent HP printers.
Step 1: Activate email printing
Assuming you have an email-compatible printer, the first thing you need to do is activate the email function. The enabling process will vary from device to device – Epson users are going to want to activate Epson Connect for instance – but the entire it should be outlined in greater detail in your printer’s manual or on the manufacture’s website. The printer will be assigned a default email address upon activation, likely a series of random characters at a specified domain name, but you can change this later to something you’ll actually remember. Although your iPhone doesn’t need to be connected to the same wireless network as your printer in order to use email printing, the printer will still be required to connect via Wi-Fi opposed to a standard USB cable.
Step 2: Print
If set up properly, all you need to do is email a document or image from your iPhone to your printer and it will automatically print the file to the default specifications – typically letter size on plan paper unless you otherwise adjusted the default settings during activation. You printer won’t accept all file formats, but should be able to handle files from Word, PowerPoint, and Excel as well as JPGs, GIFS, and PNGs among others. Check your printer for details regarding acceptable file formats, size, and the number of printable attachments you can include per email.
Print using other software
If both AirPrint and email printing are not viable options, you can always settle for software directly from your printer’s manufacturer or another third-party source. We recommend snagging FingerPrint ($20) if you don’t mind spending a little cash; it is compatible with nearly all printers old and new. Although it is not an iPhone app per say – you essentially install the software on your computer – it allows you to print from devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer and printer.
Alternatively, you can use your printer manufacturer’s free proprietary app such as Epson iPrint, HP ePrint, or Samsung Mobile Print. However, we cannot guarantee that the printing apps will work for all printer models, nor do all manufacturers have an accompanying app even available for their products.
Step 1: Download and install the application
Whichever application you decide upon, head to the App Store or website, download and install it. FingerPrint is also available as free trial so you can make sure your printer is compatible before you purchase the full application for your computer. Be forewarned though; it will place a watermark on your documents unless you opt for the premium version of the software.
Step 2: Launch the application
Next, launch the application either on your computer or your iPhone depending on where it was installed.
As previously mentioned, FingerPrint is not an iPhone app, so you will have to open the program on your Windows machine or Mac by accessing the application from the Windows taskbar or applications folder. Once opened, you will see a list of all printers connected to your network. Simply check the ones you wish to use with your iPhone from the list and close the application.
Step 3: Connect to Wi-Fi
In order to use FingerPrint, both your printer and iPhone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, whether you’re using a wireless printer or a one physically connected to a computer that uses Wi-Fi. Check your printer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for a more detailed instructions about how to connect to Wi-Fi.
Step 4: Select the printer
Check the connection between your iPhone and the printer by opening an app such as Mail, Safari, or Evernote. Most apps will feature a familiar arrow that resembles a forward or reply email icon. Tap the icon, select “Print,” and your printer should appear as the selected device by default. If it’s not, tap “Select Printer” at the top and allow your iPhone to scan any printers you checked in Step 2. Also, your computer must be awake in order to access the printer.
Step 5: Choose the number of copies
Select the number of copies you want to print by tapping the addition and subtraction arrows to the right of “Copy.” Obviously at least one copy is mandatory, but you can print up to a total of 99 pages at once if you’re feeling trigger happy.
Step 4: Print
Once you’ve selected the printer and the number of pages you want, hit the “Print” button in the middle of the page. You can cancel your print job or check its status by double-tapping the Home button and choosing the printer summary from the multitasking bar (the icon looks like a printer and should appear as the first app on your left).
Data source: digitaltrends (By Brandon Widder)
thank you so much for this guide, i am usin g the print n share app at the mo with no issues, its good, worth the money spent
ReplyDeletePost a Comment