The Basic Steps to Print From a Tablet

Printing from a tablet works through wireless printing, which connects your tablet to a printer over your home network or through a direct connection. Most modern printers support this, and most tablets have the feature built in—you just need to set it up once, then print whenever you need to.

The fastest way is to open the document or image you want to print, tap the share or menu button, look for a print option, select your printer, and confirm. The whole process takes about 30 seconds once your printer is connected. If you don't see a print option in the app you're using, your tablet may need a separate printing app, which we'll cover below.

Key Takeaways

  • Your tablet and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network for wireless printing to work.
  • Most tablets have a built-in print feature accessible through the share menu or app settings, but some apps require a separate printing app to function.
  • If your printer doesn't appear in the printer list, restart both devices and check that they're connected to the same network.
  • Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint are the two main wireless printing systems; your printer supports one or both depending on its age and brand.

Check That Your Printer Supports Wireless Printing

Not every printer can print wirelessly. Older printers with only a USB cable port cannot connect to a tablet without an adapter. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if it lists Wi-Fi or wireless printing as a feature. Look for terms like "AirPrint," "Google Cloud Print," "Wi-Fi Direct," or "wireless printing."

If your printer is fewer than five years old, it almost certainly supports wireless printing. If you're unsure, look at the printer's control panel—if there's a Wi-Fi symbol or a network settings menu, it can print wirelessly. If the printer has only a power button and paper tray controls, it likely cannot.

Connect Your Printer to Your Wi-Fi Network

Your printer needs to be on the same Wi-Fi network as your tablet. Most printers have a settings menu on their control panel. Look for a network or Wi-Fi option, select your home network name, and enter your Wi-Fi password using the printer's buttons or touchscreen.

If your printer doesn't have a touchscreen, check the manual for the exact steps—some older models require you to hold down a button for several seconds to enter pairing mode. Once connected, the printer will usually display a confirmation message or a Wi-Fi symbol on its screen. Restart the printer after connecting to make sure the connection sticks.

Set Up Printing on Your Tablet

On an iPad, printing is built into most apps. Open the document or photo you want to print, tap the share button (usually a square with an arrow), scroll down and tap "Print," then select your printer from the list. If you don't see your printer, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, then try again.

On an Android tablet, the process depends on which app you're using. In Google Chrome, open the page, tap the menu button (three dots), tap "Print," and select your printer. In Google Photos, open the image, tap the menu, and look for "Print." In other apps, look for a share button or menu option that includes print. If print isn't available in the app itself, you may need to install a printing app from the Google Play Store—search for your printer's brand name plus "print app."

Some Android tablets require you to enable printing in Settings. Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Printing and turn on the printing service for your printer's brand (usually Google Cloud Print or the manufacturer's own service).

Troubleshoot When Your Printer Doesn't Appear

If you tap Print and your printer doesn't show up in the list, the devices are not communicating. First, restart both your tablet and printer—turn them off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn them back on. This fixes the problem about half the time.

Next, check that both devices are truly on the same Wi-Fi network. On your tablet, go to Settings and look at which network you're connected to. On your printer, check the network settings menu to see which network it's connected to. They must match exactly. If your home network has a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz option, some older printers only work on 2.4 GHz—try connecting your tablet to the 2.4 GHz network instead.

If the printer still doesn't appear, restart your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully restart, then try printing again. If you're still stuck, check whether your printer needs a separate app installed on your tablet—visit the printer manufacturer's website and read their printing app from the app store.

Print Your Document and Check the Output

Once your printer appears in the printer list, tap it to select it. You'll see options for the number of copies, color or black-and-white, and sometimes paper size or orientation. Set these to what you need, then tap the Print button. A confirmation message will appear, and the document will be sent to your printer.

Printing usually takes 10 to 30 seconds depending on the document size and your Wi-Fi signal strength. If nothing comes out after a minute, check that the printer has paper and is not showing an error message on its screen. If the printer is jammed or out of paper, clear the jam or refill the tray, then try printing again.

Print Without Wi-Fi Using Direct Connection

If you don't have Wi-Fi or your network is down, some printers support Wi-Fi Direct, which lets your tablet connect straight to the printer without a network in between. Check your printer's manual to see if it has this feature. If it does, turn on Wi-Fi Direct on the printer (usually a button or menu option), then on your tablet go to Settings > Wi-Fi and look for your printer's name in the available networks. Connect to it like you would any other network.

Once connected, open the document you want to print and follow the normal print steps. Your tablet will see the printer and send the file directly to it. This works even if your home Wi-Fi is not working, but the connection range is shorter—usually 30 feet or less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print from my tablet to a printer that's not on my network?

Not directly. Your tablet and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network, or the printer must support Wi-Fi Direct. If you're at a coffee shop or library, you can print to their printer only if you connect to their network and the printer is set up for guest printing. Ask the staff whether printing is available.

Why does my printer appear in the list but won't actually print?

The most common cause is that the printer lost its connection to the network even though it still appears in your tablet's list. Restart the printer and try again. If that doesn't work, check that the printer has paper, is not jammed, and is not showing an error message on its screen. You can also try restarting your tablet.

Do I need to install an app to print from my tablet?

Not always. iPads have printing built into most apps without needing anything extra. Android tablets usually have printing built in too, but some apps don't include the print option—in that case, you'll need to install your printer manufacturer's app from the Google Play Store.

Can I print wirelessly if my printer is very old?

Probably not without an adapter. Printers made before 2015 often don't have Wi-Fi built in. You can check your printer's manual or contact the manufacturer to confirm. If your printer truly has no wireless option, you would need a USB adapter or a newer printer to print from a tablet.

What's the difference between AirPrint and Google Cloud Print?

AirPrint is Apple's system for iPads and iPhones. Google Cloud Print is Google's system for Android tablets and Chromebooks. Most modern printers support both, so it doesn't matter which tablet you have—your printer will work with it. Older printers may support only one or the other.