How to Print Photos and Documents from Your Smartphone or Tablet

Printing photos and documents from your phone or tablet is simpler than ever. Whether you want to print a family photo to frame, a boarding pass for travel, or a recipe to use in the kitchen, you can send print jobs directly from your mobile device without connecting cables or transferring files to a computer.

This guide covers wireless printing from both iPhone and Android devices. Most modern printers support wireless printing, and setting it up takes just a few minutes.

Checking If Your Printer Supports Wireless Printing

Most printers manufactured after 2015 support wireless printing. Look for the Wi-Fi symbol on your printer or check the model name for AirPrint or Google Cloud Print support. If you are unsure, search your printer model online or check the manual that came with the device.

If your printer is older and does not support wireless printing, you can still print from your phone using a computer as a bridge. Email the document or photo to yourself, open it on your computer, and print from there. Alternatively, inexpensive wireless print adapters are available for older printers.

Connecting Your Printer to Wi-Fi

Before you can print wirelessly, your printer must be connected to your home Wi-Fi network. Most printers have a Settings or Network menu on their control panel. Select Wireless Setup Wizard and choose your home network from the list. Enter your Wi-Fi password using the printer’s controls.

This step can be frustrating if you are not familiar with your printer’s menu system. Ask a family member or neighbor for help the first time. Once connected, your printer remembers the Wi-Fi settings and will reconnect automatically in the future.

Printing Photos from an iPhone or iPad

Open the photo you want to print. Tap the Share icon, which looks like a square with an upward arrow. Scroll down and select Print. If you do not see Print, scroll to the right in the bottom row of options and tap More to add Print to your sharing options.

Select your printer from the list of available printers. Choose the number of copies and paper size. Tap Print at the top right corner. Your photo will begin printing within a few seconds. Make sure your iPhone and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network for this to work.

Printing from an Android Device

Open the photo or document you want to print. Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Print. If you do not see Print, tap Share and then select Print from the sharing options. Android uses Google Print, which works with most wireless printers.

Select your printer from the dropdown menu. Adjust settings like color, number of copies, and paper size. Tap the Print button. If your printer does not appear, install the printer manufacturer’s app from the Google Play Store, which often provides additional printing features and compatibility.

Troubleshooting Common Printing Issues

If your device cannot find your printer, ensure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Restart both your printer and your phone. Check that your printer has paper and ink. Sometimes a simple restart resolves connection issues that seem complicated.

If the print quality is poor, clean the printer heads through the printer’s maintenance menu. Replace ink cartridges if they are low or expired. For photo printing, use photo paper rather than regular printer paper for the best results. Photo paper is available at office supply stores and online.