Connect Your Samsung Tablet to a Printer

Printing from a Samsung tablet works through Samsung Print Service, which is built into most Samsung tablets running Android 4.4 or later. The tablet and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network. You do not need to install anything extra if your printer supports Wi-Fi Direct or is already connected to your home network.

Before you start, turn on your printer and make sure it is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. Check that your tablet is also on the same network. If your printer is older or does not have Wi-Fi, you can still print using a USB cable and a USB adapter, though this method is less common on tablets.

Samsung tablets also work with Google Cloud Print (though Google shut down the service in 2021, so this is no longer an option for new setups) and third-party apps like HP Smart, Canon PRINT, or Epson iPrint if your printer brand has its own app. Most people use the built-in Samsung Print Service because it requires no extra steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung tablets print through Samsung Print Service, which is built in and works with most Wi-Fi printers without extra software.
  • Your tablet and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network before you can print.
  • To print, open the document or image, tap the menu button, select Print, choose your printer, and tap Print again.
  • If your printer does not appear in the printer list, restart both devices and check that they are on the same network.
  • Brand-specific apps like HP Smart or Canon PRINT may offer more features but are not required for basic printing.

Print a Document or Photo in Four Steps

Open the file you want to print on your Samsung tablet. This can be a photo in the Gallery app, a document in Google Drive, a PDF in Chrome, or any other app that supports printing. Tap the three-line menu button (called a hamburger menu) or the three-dot menu button in the top corner of the app.

Look for an option labeled Print, Share, or More. If you see Share, tap it and then look for Print in the list that appears. Once you tap Print, a dialog box will open showing available printers on your network.

Select your printer from the list. If you see only one printer, it will be highlighted already. If you have multiple printers, tap the one you want to use. Then adjust the number of copies, page range, or color settings if needed. Most tablets let you choose between color and black-and-white printing.

Tap the Print button at the bottom right of the screen. Your tablet will send the file to the printer, and the print job will start within a few seconds. You can close the app while the printer is working.

What to Do If Your Printer Does Not Appear

If your printer is not showing up in the printer list, the most common reason is that it is not on the same Wi-Fi network as your tablet. Check your printer's display panel or settings menu to confirm it is connected to Wi-Fi. Write down the network name (SSID) and make sure your tablet is connected to the exact same network.

Restart both devices. Turn off your printer completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your tablet by holding the power button and selecting Restart. Once both devices are back on and reconnected to Wi-Fi, try printing again.

If the printer still does not appear, check whether your printer supports Wi-Fi printing. Older printers may only work with USB cables. You can also try downloading your printer's brand-specific app from the Google Play Store — apps like HP Smart or Canon PRINT sometimes find printers that the built-in service misses.

Print Using Your Printer's Brand App

If Samsung Print Service is not working or your printer is not detected, you can read your printer's official app. Search the Google Play Store for your printer brand — for example, "HP Smart" for Hewlett-Packard, "Canon PRINT" for Canon, or "Epson iPrint" for Epson. read and install the app on your tablet.

Open the app and follow its setup instructions to add your printer. Most brand apps will search your Wi-Fi network and find the printer automatically. Once the printer is added, you can print directly from the app or use the app's print button when you are viewing a document or photo in another app.

Brand apps often include extra features like scanning, copying, or adjusting ink levels, but they are not required for basic printing. Use them only if the built-in Samsung Print Service is not working for you.

Print Over Mobile Data or Away From Home

If you are away from home and your printer is not on a public Wi-Fi network, you cannot print directly to it over mobile data. Your tablet and printer must be on the same local network. However, you can use cloud printing services as a workaround.

Some printer brands offer cloud printing through their apps. For example, HP ePrint lets you email documents to a special email address and the printer will print them when it is back online. Canon and Epson have similar services. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if this feature is available.

Alternatively, you can email the document to yourself, save it to cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive, and print it when you return to a location where your printer is available on Wi-Fi.

Troubleshoot Common Printing Problems

If your print job gets stuck or the printer starts but does not finish, check the printer's paper tray and make sure it has enough paper. Also check for error messages on the printer's display. Clear any paper jams by opening all access panels and gently removing any torn pieces of paper.

If the printed page looks faded or has missing colors, your printer may be low on ink or toner. Check the ink or toner levels on the printer itself. If levels are low, replace the cartridge before printing again. You can also try printing a test page from the printer's settings menu to see if the problem is with the printer or with how your tablet is sending the file.

If the printer prints but the text or images are cut off at the edges, the document may be set to a page size that does not match your printer's paper. Before printing, check the print preview and look for a Fit to Page or Scale option. Turning this on will shrink the document to fit the paper size your printer uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print from my Samsung tablet to a printer that is not on Wi-Fi?

No, not without a USB adapter and cable, which most tablets do not support well. Your printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your tablet. If your printer does not have Wi-Fi, you can add a Wi-Fi printer to your home network or use your printer's brand app if it offers cloud printing.

Do I need to install Samsung Print Service, or does it come with my tablet?

Samsung Print Service is built into most Samsung tablets running Android 4.4 or later. You do not need to install it. If for some reason it is missing, you can read it free from the Google Play Store by searching "Samsung Print Service".

What if my printer is an older model that does not support Wi-Fi?

Older printers without Wi-Fi cannot connect to your tablet wirelessly. You would need a USB cable and adapter, which is not practical for most tablets. Your best option is to transfer the file to a computer that is connected to the printer via USB, or ask your printer manufacturer if they offer a Wi-Fi upgrade kit.

Can I print to multiple printers at the same time?

No, you can only send one print job to one printer at a time. If you want to print the same document to multiple printers, you must repeat the print process for each printer separately.

Why does my printer appear in the list but will not print?

The printer may be out of paper, low on ink, or experiencing an error. Check the printer's display panel for warning messages. Also make sure the printer is not in sleep mode — some printers turn off after a period of inactivity. Press a button on the printer to wake it up and try printing again.