How to Print From Your Phone: Documents and Photos

What you’ll need

To print directly from your phone, your printer needs to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone, or support a direct connection (Wi-Fi Direct). Almost all home printers sold in recent years have Wi-Fi. If yours only has a USB cable, send the file to a computer connected to the printer or take it to a print shop.

On iPhone (AirPrint)

1. Make sure your printer supports AirPrint (check the box, manual, or manufacturer’s website) and is on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.
2. Open the document, photo, or webpage.
3. Tap Share (the square with an arrow), then choose Print.
4. Select your printer, the number of copies, and the pages to print, then tap Print.

You don’t need to install anything. If the printer doesn’t show up, restart your router and printer, and make sure your iPhone isn’t connected to a different guest network.

On Android

1. Check the print service under Settings › Connected devices › Connection preferences › Printing (the path varies by brand). Android’s Default Print Service works with many printers, and manufacturers also offer their own plugins in the Play Store.
2. Open the file and look for Print in the three-dot menu or under Share.
3. At the top, tap Select printer and choose yours.
4. Adjust the paper size, color settings, and pages, then tap the print button.

Get your file ready to print

• Several photos or screenshots in one document: Combine them into a PDF with Images to PDF, choosing A4 paper and a margin. Printing each photo separately wastes paper and time.
• PDF pages in unusual sizes (Letter, screen sizes, or cropped pages): Standardize them with Resize PDF to A4, which adjusts the content without distorting it.
• Passport-style photo: Arrange several copies on one sheet with Online passport photo, using the exact size, then print them on photo paper or take them to a photo lab.
• Printing photos at home: Choose the right paper type (photo paper) in the settings. Otherwise, the printer may use too little ink and the photo will look faded.

No printer at home

Print shops and office supply stores usually accept files by email, WhatsApp, or USB drive. To avoid any surprises:

• Always send files as PDF: the formatting stays the same on every computer, unlike Word files.
• Specify the paper size, whether you want color or black-and-white, single- or double-sided printing, and the number of copies.
• Avoid sending sensitive personal documents through channels that stay open on the store’s computer. Ask them to delete the files after printing.

Common problems

• Printer doesn’t appear: Your phone and printer may be on different networks (some routers treat 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz as separate networks), the printer may be in power-saving mode, or the manufacturer’s plugin may be missing on Android.
• Printout is cut off: The paper size set on your phone doesn’t match the paper in the tray. Make sure both are set to Letter or A4.
• Printout is too small: The file has very large margins or is a screenshot. Crop the edges first or use a Letter- or A4-sized PDF.
• Print queue is stuck: Cancel the job in the printer app, or turn the printer off and back on.

You can also scan documents with your phone

Many Wi-Fi all-in-one printers let you use the scanner through the manufacturer’s app and send the file straight to your phone as a PDF. This is the best option for documents that need high-quality scans, such as contracts with small print. If you don’t have an all-in-one printer, your phone can act as a scanner: the Document Scanner crops the page and creates a PDF that’s ready to print or share.

Frequently asked questions