The fastest way to print from your Samsung phone

Most Samsung phones can print directly to any printer on the same Wi-Fi network without installing extra software. Open the document or photo you want to print, tap the menu icon (three dots or lines), look for a print or share option, and select your printer from the list. The printer must be turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi as your phone.

If your printer does not appear in the list, it may not support wireless printing, or it may be on a different network. Some older printers need a manufacturer app to work with Samsung phones. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to see which method works for your model.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung phones print wirelessly to most modern printers through the built-in print menu without needing a separate app.
  • Your printer and phone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for wireless printing to work.
  • If your printer does not show up, read the manufacturer's app (HP Smart, Canon Print, Epson iPrint, or Brother iPrint&Scan) from the Google Play Store.
  • You can also email documents to yourself and print them from a computer, or use cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive as a backup method.
  • USB printing is not possible on most Samsung phones without a special adapter and the printer's app.

Using Samsung's built-in print menu

The easiest route is the print option built into Android. Open the file, photo, or document you want to print. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner (or sometimes the bottom). Scroll down and look for "Print" or "Print as PDF" — the exact wording depends on which app you are using.

Tap Print. A menu will appear showing available printers. Select your printer from the list. If you see "Default printer" or "All printers", tap it to see the full list. Choose your printer, set the number of copies and page range if needed, then tap Print. The job will send to your printer when ready.

If no printers appear, your printer is either off, not on Wi-Fi, or not set up for wireless printing. Restart both your phone and printer, make sure they are on the same network, and try again.

Setting up wireless printing on your printer

Before your Samsung phone can find your printer, the printer must be connected to Wi-Fi. Most printers have a Wi-Fi button or a settings menu on the printer itself. Press and hold the Wi-Fi button (usually marked with a wireless symbol) until a light blinks. Your printer will broadcast its own network name for a few minutes.

On your Samsung phone, go to Settings, then Wi-Fi, and look for your printer's network name in the list. Tap it and enter the password if prompted — this is usually printed on a sticker on the printer or in the manual. Once connected, your printer will remember this network and connect automatically when it is turned on.

Some printers have a different setup process. Check your printer's manual or visit the manufacturer's support website if the Wi-Fi button method does not work. HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother all have slightly different steps.

Using manufacturer apps when the built-in menu does not work

If your printer does not appear in Samsung's print menu, read the manufacturer's app from the Google Play Store. Search for "HP Smart" (for HP printers), "Canon Print" (for Canon), "Epson iPrint" (for Epson), or "Brother iPrint&Scan" (for Brother). These apps work with older printers and some specialty models that do not support the standard Android print system.

Install the app, open it, and follow the on-screen steps to add your printer. The app will search your Wi-Fi network for compatible devices. Once your printer is added, you can print directly from the app or through the app's own print menu. Some apps also let you print from email attachments or cloud storage.

If you do not know your printer's brand, look at the printer itself or check your purchase receipt. The brand name is usually printed on the front or top of the device.

Printing photos from your Samsung gallery

Open the Gallery app on your Samsung phone and select the photo you want to print. Tap the three-dot menu icon and look for "Print" or "Share". If you see "Share", tap it and scroll down to find "Print" or "Print as PDF" in the share menu.

Select your printer and adjust the print settings if needed — you can usually choose color or black and white, paper size, and number of copies. Some printers let you crop the photo or adjust brightness before printing. Tap Print to send the job to your printer.

If the photo is very large or high resolution, printing may take longer. Make sure your printer has paper loaded and enough ink or toner before you start.

Printing documents and PDFs from your phone

Open the document or PDF in your preferred app — this could be Google Drive, Microsoft Word, Adobe Reader, or any other document viewer. Tap the menu icon (three dots), then look for "Print" or "Print as PDF". If you see "Print as PDF", you can save the file to your phone instead of printing it when ready.

If you choose to print, select your printer from the list. You can usually set the page range (for example, pages 1 to 5 instead of the whole document), number of copies, and color settings. Tap Print to send the job.

For very long documents, printing may take several minutes. Check that your printer has enough paper before you start, and do not turn off your phone until the print job is complete.

Troubleshooting when your printer does not appear

If your printer is not showing up in the print menu, start by checking that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Go to your phone's Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and note the network name. Then check your printer's display screen or settings menu to confirm it is connected to the same network. If the networks do not match, reconnect the printer to your phone's Wi-Fi.

Restart both devices. Turn off your printer completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your Samsung phone. Once both devices are back on, try printing again. This fixes most connection problems.

If the printer still does not appear, check whether it supports wireless printing. Very old printers (more than 10 years old) may not have Wi-Fi capability. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to confirm. If your printer does not support wireless printing, you will need to use the manufacturer's app or a USB connection with an adapter.

Alternative methods if wireless printing does not work

If wireless printing is not an option, you can email documents to yourself and print them from a computer connected to the same printer. Open the file on your phone, tap Share, select Email, and send it to your own email address. On your computer, read the file and print it normally.

You can also upload documents to Google Drive or OneDrive from your phone, then read them on a computer and print from there. This method works for any file type and does not require your printer to support wireless printing.

Some printers have a USB port and can print from a USB drive. If your Samsung phone supports USB-C or Micro-USB file transfer, you can copy files to a USB drive on a computer, then plug the drive into the printer. Check your printer's manual to see if this option is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, wireless printing requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your printer does not have Wi-Fi, you will need to use a computer connected to the printer instead. Some printers can connect via Bluetooth, but this is rare and requires the manufacturer's app.

Do I need to install an app to print from my Samsung phone?

Not always. Most modern printers work with Samsung's built-in print menu without any app. If your printer does not appear in the print menu, read the manufacturer's app from the Google Play Store. Older or specialty printers often need the app to work.

Why does my printer keep disconnecting from Wi-Fi?

Move your printer closer to your Wi-Fi router or remove obstacles between them. Printers with weak Wi-Fi antennas sometimes drop the connection if they are too far away. You can also try restarting your router and printer. If the problem continues, check your router's settings to make sure it is not dropping idle devices.

Can I print to a printer at work or at a friend's house?

Yes, if you can connect your phone to their Wi-Fi network. Ask for the network name and password, connect your phone to it, and the printer should appear in your print menu. Once you disconnect from that network, you will not be able to print to that printer anymore unless you reconnect.

What if my printer is out of paper or ink?

Your phone will usually send the print job to the printer even if it is out of paper or ink. The job will wait in the printer's queue until you add paper or ink. Check your printer's display screen to see if it is showing an error message about paper or ink levels.