How to print from your phone: step-by-step guide for Android and iPhone (2026)
Actualizado 16 mayo 2026Share
Summary: To print from your mobile, you only need the phone and printer to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. On Android, this is done with the built-in printing service (Mopria) or with the manufacturer's app; on iPhone and iPad, with AirPrint, without installing anything. This guide covers both systems step-by-step, how to print from your everyday apps, what to do if the printer doesn't appear, and alternatives when there is no Wi-Fi.
Printing no longer requires turning on the computer. Your flight ticket, the PDF contract, the group photo, or the bank receipt come out of your mobile to the tray in less than a minute, if you know where to tap. The problem is that every manufacturer calls it something different, which creates the feeling that it is complicated. It is not. This guide organizes it by operating system, by brand, and by situation.
What you need before you start
Three conditions cover 95% of cases:
- A printer with Wi-Fi. Almost all sold since 2015 have it. If yours only has a USB cable, skip to the non-Wi-Fi alternatives section.
- The mobile and the printer on the same network. This is the number one failure: the phone is on the guest Wi-Fi or the 5 GHz band while the printer uses the 2.4 GHz one. They must share a network.
- The printer on and without errors on the screen. A paper jam or an empty ink warning makes it invisible to the mobile.
With that resolved, choose your system.
How to print from an Android mobile
Android offers two paths. The built-in one is faster for loose documents; the manufacturer's app gives more control (scanning, ink levels, settings).
Option 1 · The built-in printing service (Mopria)
Android has a built-in universal printing system based on the Mopria standard, compatible with thousands of HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Lexmark, and Samsung models. Steps:
- Open Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → Printing (the path varies slightly depending on the mobile brand).
- Check that the Default print service is turned on. If it does not appear, install Mopria Print Service from Google Play; it is free and official.
- The mobile will scan the network and show your printer. Select it.
- Go to the document, photo, or webpage you want to print, press the menu (⋮) or the Share icon and choose Print.
- Adjust copies, color, paper size, and double-sided, and confirm.
Option 2 · The official manufacturer app
If you also want to scan from your mobile, see how much ink is left, or set up the printer for the first time, install your brand's app. We see them in detail in the following section.
How to print from an iPhone or iPad (AirPrint)
On iOS, you don't have to install anything. Apple integrates AirPrint, and most Wi-Fi printers on the market are compatible. Steps:
- Open the file: a PDF, a photo, an email, a Safari page.
- Tap the Share icon (the square with the upward arrow) or the (⋯) menu.
- Scroll down and tap Print.
- Tap Printer and select yours from the list.
- Choose the number of copies and page range, and tap Print at the top right.
If your printer does not appear in the AirPrint list
It means that this model does not support AirPrint, which is common in printers from before 2012 or very basic ones. Solution: install the manufacturer's app (HP Smart, Epson Smart Panel, Canon PRINT, Brother iPrint&Scan), which does print even if AirPrint is not available.
Before buying a printer, look for the "Works with AirPrint" logo on the box or in the technical specifications. If it is there, printing from an iPhone will always be instantaneous, without apps or drivers, throughout the life of the equipment.
Quick guide by brand: HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother
The general steps work for almost everything, but each manufacturer has its app and its nuances. This table saves you the search:
| Brand | Official app | What the app provides | Built-in systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP | HP Smart | Initial Wi-Fi setup, scanning, ink levels, remote printing via email | AirPrint + Mopria |
| Canon | Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY (and Canon PRINT Business for laser) | Printing and scanning, photo cropping, advanced settings | AirPrint + Mopria |
| Epson | Epson Smart Panel | Setup, printing, scanning, and printer diagnostics | AirPrint + Mopria |
| Brother | Brother iPrint&Scan | Printing and scanning via Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, USB, and even NFC | AirPrint + Mopria |
The important column is the last one: all four brands work with AirPrint on iPhone and with Mopria on Android. The app is only essential for the first setup or for scanning. If you only want to print a PDF, you don't need to install anything.
Printing from your everyday apps
The Print menu is almost always behind the Share icon. What changes is where that icon is hidden in each app:
- Email (Gmail, Outlook, Mail). Open the message and, to print an attachment, open it first. Then: three-dot menu → Print.
- Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive. Open the file inside the app, press the (⋮) menu and choose Print or Share → Print.
- Photos. Open the image, press Share → Print. Before confirming, check the paper size (10×15 cm for a photo, A4 for a sheet) so it doesn't come out cropped.
- WhatsApp. You cannot print from the chat. Open the received document or photo, press Share or the download icon and, from the viewer, choose Print.
- Web pages. In Chrome (Android) or Safari (iPhone): menu → Print or Share → Print. Useful for tickets, passes, and purchase confirmations.
- Word, Excel, and PDF. Microsoft 365 apps and PDF readers have their own Print option within the file menu.
The mnemonic rule is simple: if you can "Share" something, you can print it.
Printing without a Wi-Fi network: Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, and USB
No router, or is the printer not connected to the network? There are three ways:
- Wi-Fi Direct. The printer creates its own Wi-Fi network to which the mobile connects directly, without a router in between. Activate it on the printer panel (Settings → Wi-Fi Direct), connect from the mobile to that network, and use the normal printing service. It is the best option when there is no home network.
- Bluetooth. Available especially on portable photo and label printers. Pair the mobile with the printer from the Bluetooth settings and use the manufacturer's app.
- USB-OTG Cable. Many Androids allow connecting the printer via a USB-OTG adapter. iOS does not support this for printing.
What happened to Google Cloud Print?
If you were looking to print from your mobile with Google Cloud Print, that feature no longer exists: Google retired it on December 31, 2020. You don't need a special substitute or a strange app. On Android, the built-in printing service (Mopria) does exactly the same thing natively; on iPhone, AirPrint. And to send jobs remotely, that function is covered today by the apps of each manufacturer. If an old website still recommends Google Cloud Print to you, it is outdated.
Printing from your mobile when you are not at home
To send a document to the printer at home or the office while you are out, you need cloud printing. The most solid option today is HP Smart with HP's remote printing service, which assigns your printer an email address: any document you send to that address is printed upon arrival. Brother and Epson offer equivalent functions within their apps. Keep in mind that the printer must be on and connected to the internet at the destination.
Android vs. iPhone: which is easier?
Both platforms print well; each excels at something different.
| Android | iPhone / iPad | |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in system | Print service / Mopria | AirPrint |
| Is an app needed? | Only for scanning or setup | Only if the printer is very old |
| Initial setup | Manufacturer app recommended | Automatic if there is AirPrint |
| Print without router | Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, USB-OTG | Wi-Fi Direct |
On both systems, printing a document is three taps away. The iPhone wins in simplicity when the printer is compatible with AirPrint; Android wins in flexibility when there is no router, thanks to the USB-OTG cable.
The printer does not appear or does not print: quick solutions
If the mobile does not find the printer or the job stays in the queue, review this list in order:
- Same network. Confirm that the mobile and printer are on the same Wi-Fi. Watch out for guest networks and separate 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz bands.
- Restart both. Turn off the printer for 30 seconds and turn it back on; deactivate and reactivate the mobile's Wi-Fi.
- Get closer to the router. A weak signal makes the printer disappear intermittently.
- Check the printer screen. A paper jam or a consumable warning leaves it out of service for the mobile.
- Update the firmware from the manufacturer's app: it corrects frequent connection faults.
If the problem is that the printer does not recognize the cartridge, we cover it thoroughly in our guide my printer does not recognize the compatible toner.
The mobile prints, but the quality fails
When the connection works but the copies come out pale, with stripes, or with dull colors, the problem is no longer the mobile: it is the consumable or the print head. Before changing anything, identify exactly which cartridge your equipment takes with our guide how to know which toner your printer needs.
And when it's time to replenish, a certified compatible cartridge performs the same as the original at a fraction of the price: ink and toner for HP, Brother, Canon, and Epson, with three years of legal warranty. Calculate how much you would save per year in our savings calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install an app to print from my mobile?
Not always. On iPhone and iPad, AirPrint is already integrated and does not require any app. On Android, the built-in printing service (Mopria) covers most models; you only need the manufacturer's app if you want to scan, see ink levels, or set up the printer for the first time.
Why can't my mobile find the printer?
The most common cause is that the phone and the printer are on different Wi-Fi networks (for example, the guest network, or separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands). Make sure both share the same network, restart the printer, and move it closer to the router.
Can I print from my mobile without Wi-Fi?
Yes. Activate Wi-Fi Direct on the printer so it creates its own network to which you can connect the mobile directly, without a router. Some portable printers also support Bluetooth, and many Androids print via a USB-OTG cable.
How do I print a PDF from my mobile?
Open the PDF, press the Share icon or the three-dot menu and choose Print. Select the printer, adjust copies and pages, and confirm. It works the same on Android and iPhone.
How do I print a photo from my mobile without it being cropped?
In the print options, first select the correct paper size (10×15 cm for photo, A4 for sheet). If the photo's proportion does not match the paper's, choose "fit to page" so it fits completely with margins, or "fill" if you prefer it to occupy the whole paper assuming a minimum crop.
Can I print a document sent to me via WhatsApp?
Yes. It is not printed from the chat window: open the received file (PDF, photo, or document), press the Share or download icon and, from the viewer that opens, choose Print.
Can I print from my mobile while away from home?
Yes, with cloud printing. Apps like HP Smart assign your printer an email address: the document you send to that address is printed upon arrival. The printer must be on and connected to the internet.
Is Google Cloud Print still working?
No. Google retired Google Cloud Print on December 31, 2020. Instead, use Android's built-in print service (Mopria) or AirPrint on iPhone; neither requires additional setup.
Can I print from a tablet or a Chromebook?
Yes. Android tablets and iPads use exactly the same system as mobiles (Mopria and AirPrint). Chromebooks print from the browser menu or from any app, detecting the printer on the local network.
My printer does not appear in AirPrint, what do I do?
That model is not compatible with AirPrint, which is common in equipment from before 2012. Install the manufacturer's official app (HP Smart, Epson Smart Panel, Canon PRINT, or Brother iPrint&Scan): you will print just the same from your iPhone.
Does printing from my mobile use more ink?
No. Consumption depends on the document and quality settings, not the device sending the job. To save, print in draft or grayscale mode when you don't need photographic quality.
I print from my mobile but the copies come out with stripes, is it the connection?
No. If the job arrives but the quality is bad, the problem is in the print head or the cartridge, not the mobile. Check the ink or toner level and, if necessary, replace the consumable with a new one.
Keep reading on Startoner
- My printer does not recognize the compatible toner: definitive solution
- How to know which toner your printer needs
- How to extend the life of your toner and ink cartridges
- Savings calculator · how much you save per year with certified compatible
- Complete catalog of certified compatibles
Last update: May 2026. Startoner, Central Warehouse, Calle Océano Atlántico 38, 11379 Los Barrios, Cádiz. CHICTRATEC S.L. (NIF B72834534), part of the Recycop Group founded in 1998.