How to connect a printer to your Android phone

Now you can find different devices on the market that can communicate with smartphones. For example, previously it was possible to connect the speaker only to the computer, but now it is enough to use Bluetooth and run the music from the phone. There are a huge number of such devices, but journalists, students and just ordinary people sometimes have a question: how to connect the printer to the phone on Android? Is it even possible to do this? And yes, the answer to each of these questions we will try to give in detail below.

What printers can be connected to the phone

As you have already guessed, not every printer can be connected to a smartphone, much less start printing documents. It must in any case support pairing with your phone in one of the available ways. Typically, every modern or more or less new printer allows you to connect to smartphones via Wi-Fi. You can read about this in the manual or on the manufacturer's official website.

Slightly outdated models can only be connected via USB cable using an additional adapter. Bluetooth-enabled devices are also available in stores. But this option is almost always found in mid- or high-end models.

We recommend that you look at the case of your printer. Most likely, there will be a special icon indicating the available connections to third-party devices. But even if it is not there, you do not need to worry. As practice shows, it is possible to send a photo or text document to print from your phone to the vast majority of printers.

Connecting a printer to an Android phone

So, did you manage to figure out from the printer model whether it is suitable for printing from your phone? If not, that's okay. We have prepared a list of several proven ways to connect, so you can read about them and then test each option in person.

Via OTG

As you know, a standard printer attaches to a computer or laptop via a USB cable. It simply plugs into the right port, and then the device is automatically detected and the necessary drivers are installed. With a smartphone the situation is slightly different. On the body of the phone you are unlikely to find a USB connector. There will be either a Micro-USB port or its improved version Type-C.

Therefore, you need to use an additional adapter called an "OTG cable". This is usually a short cord that connects one end to the smartphone and the other end directly to the printer. Such an adapter can be purchased at almost every electronics store, or, even easier, you can order it online. The cost of such a cord is low, and there is almost no difference between expensive and budget models.

Just pay attention to the connector of this cable when you buy it. It can be sold for smartphones with both Micro-USB and Type-C ports. As for the phones themselves, the ability to connect to third-party devices is already supported by default, starting with Android 4.0.

Via USB

But you may not need to buy an additional adapter. Modern printers may already have a USB port on the case. This allows you to connect your phone directly just by using the charging cable that comes with the device.

However, we do not recommend using cords from unknown manufacturers for pairing, much less from other types of gadgets. They may simply not support data transfer, but only allow you to charge the device.

Via Wi-Fi

Wireless data transfer technology over Wi-Fi greatly simplifies many tasks, including the ability to run a document or photo print without additional wires. It should be understood that not every printer supports this method of pairing. As mentioned earlier, you can pay attention to the casing of the device or find the instructions on the Internet. It will accurately indicate the possible connection options.

The principle of using this method is very simple: you need to turn on the WI-Fi on the printer, as well as on the phone. Then wait until the smartphone detects the device and start printing the desired text or image. But sometimes you may need to install an additional application from the manufacturer.

Via Google Cloud

Google Cloud Print is a special cloud-based service that allows you to send documents to print from almost anywhere in the world. Got curious? Then let's look at some of the details. First, to work with this platform, the printer must support a Wi-Fi connection or at least a wired Internet connection. Secondly, depending on the model of the printing device, you may need to have a computer running at all times. And third, you will need to use a mobile app.

So, the first thing to do is to register your own printer in the system. To do this, open the Google Chrome browser on your computer. Unfortunately, the mobile version of the browser will not be able to do this. Click on the three dots in the corner of the screen and in the list that appears, select "Settings".

Scroll to the very bottom of the page to the sub-item "Additional". Click on it to open an additional menu with settings.

Find the line "Virtual printer Google"and click on it. We want to point out that on the first item with the name "Printers" does not need to be clicked. It is used to pair the printer with the computer.

On the page that opens, look for the section "Managing virtual printing-enabled devices"and open it. If you perform the actions correctly, another tab will appear in the browser. Go to it.

If the printer is already connected to the Internet, its name will be displayed in the menu "New devices". To activate it, simply check the box next to the item, and then authenticate to your Google account. Note that you need to link the print device to the account that you use on your smartphone.

Is your printer already connected to your computer? Then just click on the "Add printers"and select the desired device from the list. And to start printing, you'll need to install a special application on your phone, which we'll tell you about a little further on, so read the instructions carefully.

Via Bluetooth

This method applies only to printers that support bluetooth connection. As a rule, these are modern models from well-known manufacturers (Epson, Canon, HP and Samsung). You can always read about the available pairing options in the device manual, or look carefully at the casing of the device. There should be an appropriate wireless data icon.

If you have one, the situation becomes much easier. On your smartphone, just select the desired document or photo, click on the button "Share", mark "Bluetooth"and connect to the printer. The selected file will be automatically loaded into the printer and printing will begin. However, there is a nuance - not every document can be converted to paper in this way.

How to enable/disable printing via the phone

Once we've figured out the options for connecting your printer to your Android phone, we'll gradually move on to the detailed instructions for each method. Note that the procedure may differ depending on the model of the printing device. But the general principle remains the same.

Via Google Cloud Print

The virtual printer is automatically linked to Google Cloud, which was described above. Now let's move on to installing a smartphone application that allows you to send documents to print. You can download it through the official Play Market store.

For clarity, we suggest reading the step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Google Play and enter the name of the application in the search box.
2. Go to the program page and click "Install".
3. Wait for the installation procedure to complete.

But you may encounter one unforeseen error - the application simply will not be able to install on modern phones. This is not surprising, because the last update of the utility was in 2018. For more than two years, the developers did not make any changes and did not optimize the program in any way. Therefore, it can't be installed on smartphones with Android 9 and 10.

On older phones, the application may start. Then to print, open a document or photo, and then tap the three-dot icon in the corner of the screen. Select "Share" or "Send", then check the item "Print". A settings window appears where you can specify DPI, sheet orientation, number of copies, and text color.

Via USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

As mentioned earlier, you can connect to a printer through your smartphone in a variety of ways. Some people are more comfortable simply connecting their phone through a USB cable, while others prefer to do wireless pairing. Suppose you decide to send a document to print via Wi-Fi. So how do you do it? Well, it's very easy, using the step-by-step instructions:

1. Turn on the printing device.
2. On the smartphone, open the settings.
3. Go to "Wi-Fi".
4. Move the slider to the right near the corresponding item.
5. Connect to the same local network as the printer.

After pairing, you go into the program and send a document or photo to be printed. The best applications will be described below. Decided to connect to a printer via Bluetooth? Follow these steps:

1. Turn on the printing device.
2. On the phone, open the desired document, photo or just a page in the browser.
3. Press the button "Share"or click on a similar icon.
4. Among the available options we choose "Bluetooth".
5. Connect to the printer and print.

Some printers support operation without additional applications, but in almost all cases you will need to install a special program on your smartphone. You can find both official utilities and third-party software in Play Market.

Through Dropbox, the cloud

Cloud storages are special services that allow you to store added files on servers. At any time you can access them by connecting to the Internet and logging into your account. Similar technology can be used for printing documents by sending the necessary files from your phone to your computer. The most popular services are Dropbox, Google Drive and Yandex Drive. Let's take a look at how to work with the last cloud for clarity.

It's most convenient to install the Yandex Disk mobile app on your smartphone, but you can also perform all the actions via the web version of the service. So, here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to the official site of Yandex Disk cloud storage.
2. Perform authorization in your own Yandex mailbox. If you do not have one, then create one. It does not take much time.
3. Go to the tab "Files"and click on the plus sign (+).
4. Choosing "Upload files".
5. On your smartphone, select the desired document or photo, and confirm the download.

By the way, you can read more about working with cloud storage here.

Now you need to use your computer. Connect the printer to it and authorize in the cloud storage "Yandex Disk". Select the desired document or photo, then at the top of the screen click on the button "Download".

In Explorer, find the file and right-click on it. This will open a window where you must select "Print". Find a printer among the connected devices and send a document or photo to be processed.

If you use cloud storage as a PC program, you can send files to print there even without downloading them first.

Mobile printing apps for Android

There are many apps available on Google Play that allow you to control your printer remotely. Some of the applications are developed by the official manufacturers of printing devices, while others are developed by third-party companies. We suggest that you find out which utilities can be used and which should be avoided.

PrinterShare

Are you looking for an easy-to-use program with an easy-to-understand interface? Then you can take a look at PrinterShare. Initially it may seem that the design of the utility is a bit archaic, but it doesn't affect the operation in any way. When you first start it, you will see a window notifying you that there are some restrictions in the free version of the utility. But they are not so serious as to force the user to purchase a paid version of the program.

It is quite comfortable to use the standard version of the application as well. To send a file to print, follow these steps:

1. Press the button "Continue to".
2. At the bottom of the screen click "Select".
3. Check the option to pair with a printer. The program supports different models of devices and even allows you to connect to the Google Cloud service. So if the official application is not supported by your device, you can use this alternative.
4. Choose a document or a photo. For your reference, you can print pictures, contacts, messages, and even emails.
5. In the settings, you specify the size of the sheet or image, scaling options, positioning, indentation from the edges, and page orientation.
6. Select a printer and connect to it. This can be done via WPS, Wi-Fi, USB, or Bluetooth. Find the printer in the list and send the document or photo.

All you have to do is wait for the desired sheet to be printed. If you prefer, you can print several documents at once by selecting the appropriate setting.

Canon Easy Print

Did you see a well-known manufacturer in the program name? And yes, this application is designed exclusively for Canon printers. It can be used to print not only documents, but also various photos. And thanks to the built-in editor, you can remove unnecessary objects from the image or change its scale. When you first start it, you need to agree to the terms of service by clicking in the window that appears "I accept".

Then give access to the file storage of the device, from which the program will download all the documents. Turn on the printer and try to add it to the application. To do this, click on the appropriate button and search for the device. When everything is complete, mark the model in the list and send the files to print.

Suppose you need to print a photo. In the program, open the tab "Photo print"and check the image. We adjust the parameters, scale and send the file to the printer if necessary. Similar actions are performed with text documents.

Brother iPrint Scan

Brother is one of the largest manufacturers of printing devices in the world. The latest models of printers from this brand are equipped by default with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This makes it possible to send files to print remotely through a mobile application on a smartphone.

Brother iPrint Scan is completely free of charge and can be downloaded from Google Play on both old and modern phones. All you need to do is click on the button "Install" next to the utility name. We suggest that you get acquainted with the brief instruction on how to work with the software:

1. At the first startup, review the license agreement and click "Yes".
2. Grant permission to access photos, media and files on your device.
3. Open tab "Print".
4. Turn on the printer and try to detect it in the application. To do this, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network or paired with each other via Bluetooth.
5. Select a document or photo and start printing.

It should be noted that with this program you can control the scanner from a reputable manufacturer. To do this on the start screen, select "Scan".

Epson Connect

Epson's cloud service allows you to remotely control not only your printer, but also your scanner. Initially, there was only a program for PCs, but a few months later a mobile application called Epson iPrint appeared. Now you can install it from Play Market on any modern smartphone.

Have you downloaded the software? Then skip to the step-by-step instructions, connect your printer and start printing:

1. Accept the terms of the license agreement and privacy policy by selecting "Agreed".
2. Provide access to the file storage of your smartphone by clicking in the window that appears "Allow".
3. Connect the printer to the program. This can be done via a shared Wi-Fi connection to which the printer and the phone are connected at the same time.
4. To start printing, select the appropriate file format on the Home screen. For example, you can mark a photo or document on your smartphone, or, even easier, you can download an object from cloud storage.

The document starts printing immediately after pairing with the printer. If an error occurs, we recommend that you make sure that both devices are connected to the same local network.

Samsung Mobile Print

A mobile app has also been developed for Samsung printers and other office equipment. It allows remote printing of photos or documents via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and even NFC connections. Such wireless data transfer technologies are supported by almost all of the manufacturer's printing devices. For clarity, here's a step-by-step tutorial detailing how to connect your printer to the app:

1. Open the application and check the box "I have read and accept the following terms and conditions". At the bottom of the screen click "Adopt".
2. View a short presentation with an overview of the program's main features. You can skip it if you like by clicking the appropriate button.
3. On the main screen, select "Add a device". Turn on the printer and click on its name in the application. If necessary, manually change the Wi-Fi and SNMP settings.
4. Select a photo or document on your smartphone to start printing. The program also supports the ability to send web pages and emails to print.

As you can see, printing a document from your phone on a network printer is no more complicated than doing the same thing from your computer. The main thing is to choose the right application for your device!

Video tutorial

Answers to popular questions

Question: What are mobile printers?
Mobile printers are portable devices that are used to print information quickly. They are usually used in commerce to create receipts, labels, tags, and supporting documents. Such devices are actively purchased by stores, cafes, warehouses and logistics companies. The principle of operation of the device is simple: a strip of paper is inserted and then the printing process is started via special software.

Q: How do I print a document from my phone using a printer?
You can find printers on the market that print from your phone or tablet. But if you don't have such a device, you can use a standard printer by connecting to it via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB cable.

Q: Why can't my phone see my printer via Wi-Fi and USB?
You may need to use a special program from the manufacturer. You can also try temporarily turning off the printer and then turning it back on again. Alternatively, the situation may be much simpler - the printing device simply does not support Wi-Fi connection.

Q: How do I print from my phone to a printer without Wi-Fi?
Try connecting your smartphone to the printer directly with a USB cable, or with an OTG adapter.

Q: How can I control what is currently being printed?
Usually you can use any application to keep track of which sheet is currently being printed. To do this, simply open the corresponding tab.

Q: Which application is universal?
PrinterShare allows you to connect to printers from different manufacturers, both via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as via USB.

To summarize, there are different ways to connect your printer to your Android phone. The most convenient way is to use Wi-Fi wireless technology, if the printing device supports it.