The fastest way to print from a tablet

Printing from a tablet works through wireless printing, which connects your tablet to a printer over your home or office network without a cable. Most tablets made in the last five years support this through either AirPrint (Apple), Google Cloud Print (Android), or Mopria (Android and some others). You do not need to install anything extra if your printer is newer than 2012 — it likely has the feature built in.

The basic steps are the same across all tablets: open the document or photo you want to print, tap the share or menu button, select print, choose your printer from the list, and tap print. The whole process takes under a minute once your printer is set up on your network.

Key Takeaways

  • Your tablet and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network for wireless printing to work.
  • Apple tablets use AirPrint, while most Android tablets use Google Cloud Print or Mopria — check your printer's manual to see which it supports.
  • If your printer is older or does not support wireless printing, you can use a third-party app like Epson iPrint or Canon PRINT Inkjet to print instead.
  • Some printers require you to read their manufacturer's app before they will show up in your tablet's print menu.

Setting up your printer for wireless printing

Before you can print, your printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your tablet. Check your printer's screen or control panel — most modern printers show the network name and signal strength. If your printer is not connected, use its touchscreen or buttons to find the Wi-Fi settings, select your network name, and enter your password.

Once both devices are on the same network, your tablet should find the printer automatically the next time you try to print. If it does not appear in the print menu, restart both your tablet and printer, then try again. If your printer is still not showing up, check the manufacturer's website to see whether it needs a companion app installed on your tablet first — many newer printers require this step.

Printing from different apps on your tablet

The print button location changes depending on which app you are using. In most apps, look for a three-line menu icon (sometimes called a hamburger menu), a share icon that looks like an arrow pointing out of a box, or a gear icon for settings. Tap it and look for "Print" or "Print to PDF" in the menu that appears.

In web browsers, tap the three dots in the top right corner, then select "Print" or "Share" and look for a print option. In email apps, open the message or attachment, tap the menu icon, and select print. In photo apps, tap the share button (usually at the bottom of the screen) and choose print from the list. If you cannot find a print option in an app, the app may not support printing — in that case, you can take a screenshot and print the screenshot instead.

Troubleshooting when your printer does not appear

If your printer is not showing up in the print menu, the most common cause is that it is not on the same Wi-Fi network as your tablet. Check your printer's display to confirm it is connected to Wi-Fi. If it shows a different network name or no network at all, reconnect it to your home network using the printer's control panel.

If both devices are on the same network and the printer still does not appear, restart your printer by turning it off for 30 seconds, then turning it back on. While it restarts, restart your tablet as well. Once both are back on, open the app you want to print from and try again. If the printer still does not show up, check whether the printer manufacturer offers a companion app in your tablet's app store — some printers will not appear in the print menu until their app is installed.

If your printer is older and does not support wireless printing, you can use a third-party printing app instead. Epson iPrint, Canon PRINT Inkjet, HP Smart, and Brother iPrint&Scan are free apps that work with their respective printer brands and often support older models. read the app, sign in with your printer's network address (found in the printer's settings menu), and print through the app instead of your tablet's built-in print function.

Printing to PDF instead of paper

If you do not have a printer or do not want to print to paper right now, most tablets let you save documents as PDF files instead. In the print menu, look for an option that says "Save as PDF" or "Print to PDF" — this option usually appears at the top of the printer list. Tap it, choose where to save the file (usually your Downloads or Documents folder), and tap Save. The PDF will be stored on your tablet and you can email it, share it, or print it later.

This method works in almost every app on both Apple and Android tablets. It is useful when you want to keep a digital copy of something or send it to someone else before printing.

Printing from cloud storage apps

If your document is stored in Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud, or Dropbox, you can print directly from those apps without downloading the file first. Open the app, find the file, tap the menu icon (three dots or lines), and look for a print option. Select your printer and tap print. This works the same way as printing from other apps — your printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Some cloud storage apps also let you print multiple files at once. Open the app, select the files you want by tapping the checkbox next to each one, then tap the menu icon and select print. Your tablet will send all selected files to the printer in order.

Printing wirelessly when away from home

If you are away from your home network, you cannot use standard wireless printing because your tablet and printer are not on the same Wi-Fi network. However, some printer manufacturers offer cloud printing services that let you print remotely. Google Cloud Print (now being phased out) and HP ePrint are two examples. These services let you send print jobs to your printer over the internet, even if you are in a different location.

To use cloud printing, you must set it up at home first while your printer is on your home network. Check your printer manufacturer's website to see whether they offer a cloud printing service and follow their setup instructions. Once it is set up, you can print from your tablet anywhere you have an internet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy anything to print from my tablet?

No. If you already own a printer made after 2012, it almost certainly supports wireless printing. You do not need to buy cables, adapters, or software. If your printer is older, you may be able to use a free app from the manufacturer instead.

Can I print from my tablet to a printer at work or school?

Only if the work or school network allows guest devices to connect. Ask your IT department or network administrator whether you can connect your tablet to the network. If the network is restricted, you may not be able to see the printer in your print menu.

What if my printer keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi?

Move your printer closer to your Wi-Fi router or remove obstacles between them. If it still disconnects, restart your printer and router by turning them off for 30 seconds. If the problem continues, check the printer manufacturer's website for a firmware update — an outdated printer can have Wi-Fi connection problems that an update will fix.

Can I print from my tablet to a printer that is plugged into a computer?

Not directly. Your tablet can only print to printers that are on your Wi-Fi network. If a printer is only connected to a computer by USB cable, your tablet cannot see it. You would need to move the printer to your Wi-Fi network or use a computer to print instead.

Why does my printer show up in the print menu but then say it is offline?

The printer is on your network but not responding. Check that the printer is turned on and has paper and ink. Restart the printer by turning it off for 30 seconds, then turn it back on. If it still shows offline, move it closer to your Wi-Fi router — a weak signal can cause this problem.