Sometimes you may need to print something from your iOS device. In this how-to article I will discuss how to wirelessly print from your iOS device.
First of all you need an AirPrint compatible printer. Apple does not make printers. Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, HP, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Lexmark, Samsung, and Zink offer a variety of AirPrint printers differing on printer speed, printer resolution, type of cartridge and functionality. For a complete list of AirPrint compatible printers, visit Apple’s support page. You also need to make sure that your iOS device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your printer.
Once you have the printer set up you are now able to print from your iOS device. For most apps, the printing process is the same in any app. The first method involves using the Share button. In this example we are going to use Safari. Down at the bottom in the center, tap on the Share button in blue with the square and arrow sticking up.
Pressing on the Share button presents the different options that are available to share that item. Options include sending the item as a text message, emailing it, posting it to Twitter, posting it on Facebook, Add a Bookmark, Add to Reading List, Add to Home Screen, Copy and Print. When you press Print, it has you select your printer. Usually the first time printing, it might take a few moments for the printer and iOS device to connect. Then select your printer. You then have the ability to decide if you need more than one copy printed of the item, and depending on the printer you can choose to print double-sided. When you are ready to print press Print in blue.
Across iOS 8, the Share button is in many apps, but the color of it and location of it may be different. This method works in Maps, Notes, Photos and iWork. A lot of third party apps have this functionality built into the app.
Printing emails works differently as there is no Share button. First open up the email you want to print. Then tap on the blue arrow, second to the left down at the bottom. Then you would tap on print.
If for some reason the app you are in does not have a way for you to print it, you can take a screenshot of what is on the display by pressing the home and lock button at the same exact time. The screenshot would be saved in the Photos app and from there you can print it.
This is how you print wirelessly from your iOS device.
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Printopia from Ecamm allows your Mac to share printers with iOS devices. I’ve been using it for about two years, and it works great. It’s not freeware, but I believe that there is a trial period.
There is also handyPrint from netputing. Does more than printopia at a quarter of the price.
Never heard of it before now. I’m perfectly satisfied with Printopia, and I own a license, so there’s no need for me to go looking for something else. Price is not the only factor. If someone is unwilling to pay for great software, they deserve the crapware that they get for being so cheap. The screenshots that I just saw don’t look as well polished as Printopia, and whats what that stupid Facebook Like button? That’s tacky. I don’t want a Like button in my software.
Thank goodness for Printopia. Bought my copy with some bundle awhile back and it’s been worth every penny. Windows users had a program called Presto, but they’ve since been bought by a company called Collobos and turned it into a stupid $20/year subscription. Luckily, there’s one other competitor called O’Print that offers a one-time $19 purchase, but I don’t know if it works past iOS 7 (don’t see why not though).
This head line made me think that there is a solution to print without AirPrint printer until I read the first line
Wow. No mention of HandyPrint?
What is The Best printer for Printing an A4 sheet (a normal Page) on the go?
I accept a premium price, but I care for weight.
Also, Brother’s printers which print using heat are not very appreciated.
I am a MetLife sales person, so a good “on the road” solution would be appreciated.
I’d like to know as well.
Another excellent option which frees you from the idea that “you need an AirPrint compatible printer” is Printer Pro – available on the App Store. First, download the free Printer Pro Lite to see if it will work with your setup. Then download the $6.99 Printer Pro (not the $49.99 Printer Pro Classic) app. It works with any app that supports the “Open In…” option.
Another option is an app called HandiPrint by Netputing. It allows you to print from your IOS device to any printer available to your Mac including other network printers. I have used it for over 4 years and can be had for as little as a $5 donation.
So a compatible AirPrinter is still a requirement? We still cannot print to one that is connected to the USB port on an AirportExpress or AirportExtreme? Pity, though I do think getting a new printer after the ink ran out is cheaper than getting new cartridges nowadays.
One tiny problem that isn’t covered is what to do when the printer doesn’t show up in the list of printers.
The article mentions “You also need to make sure that your iOS device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your printer.”
However, this is unclear. If you have one Wi-Fi router that is running one network on 2.4 GHz and another on 5 GHz, then these are *different* networks for AirPrint. Which is a complete pain in the butt. Maybe the 2.4 GHz is used throughout your large home and you can make use of the faster 5 GHz network only when you are close enough to the router that you can make that connection work. Great. Except that AirPrint will only find your 2.4 GHz printer when you are far away from the router, or vice versa if your printer happens to support 5 GHz.
Life will become easier when Apples writes some clever code in iOS to figure this one out and/or printers support both frequencies.