- Step one: get the printer on your Wi-Fi
- Step two: choose the printer when you print
- Where the Print button hides in common apps
- Printing several photos in one go
- Checking or cancelling a print job
- Printers AirPrint can't reach
- When the printer doesn't appear in the list
- Sharing one printer around a small office
- Why no drivers are needed
- What I'd do
- Frequently asked questions
There's no Add Printer setting on an iPhone. Connect an AirPrint-enabled printer to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone, then in any app tap Share or More, tap Print, tap No Printer Selected and choose your printer. Your iPhone remembers it next time, with no drivers to install.
If you've gone looking through Settings for a place to add a printer, you won't find one. Apple's approach is different: the printer joins your Wi-Fi, your iPhone spots it when you go to print, and that's the setup done. It's called AirPrint, and it works with most popular printers without downloading anything.
Step one: get the printer on your Wi-Fi
Your iPhone and the printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Apple's general advice for connecting the printer itself:
- Printers with a screen: use the printer's own display to pick your Wi-Fi network and enter its password.
- Printers with a WPS button: check your router's instructions for adding a WPS printer.
- Printers with no screen: Apple says you may be able to connect the printer to a Mac with a USB cable, run the setup assistant that came with it to join your Wi-Fi, then unplug the cable. The printer should stay on the network.
- Anything else: follow the printer's documentation or the manufacturer's setup steps.
Then check your iPhone is on the same network. If your router runs a separate guest network, or two networks with different names, make sure the phone and the printer are on the same one.
Step two: choose the printer when you print
- Open the app you want to print from, such as Mail, Photos or Safari.
- Tap the Share button, the More button, the Reply button or the Actions button, depending on the app.
- Tap Print. If you can't see it, swipe up.
- Tap No Printer Selected and choose your AirPrint printer.
- Set the number of copies and any other options, such as which pages to print.
- Tap Print in the top-right corner.
That's the moment the printer is "added". Next time you print, it'll usually be selected already.
Where the Print button hides in common apps
| App | Tap this first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Safari | Share button | |
| Reply button | Print (swipe up if needed) | |
| Photos | Share button on an open photo | |
| Other App Store apps | Share, More or Actions button | Check the app's help if Print is missing |
Printing several photos in one go
In the Photos app, tap Library or open a collection, tap Select, pick the photos you want, tap the Share button and then Print. Handy for product shots or event pictures you want to pin on a board.
Checking or cancelling a print job
Once you've sent something, open the App Switcher and tap Print Center. Apple says the badge on the icon shows how many documents are in the queue. To stop one, select it and tap Cancel Printing. It's the quickest way to stop a long attachment you didn't mean to send, before it eats a whole tray of paper.
Printers AirPrint can't reach
This is the catch. AirPrint works over Wi-Fi or a wired network connection. Apple says printers plugged into the USB port of an AirPort Base Station or AirPort Time Capsule, or connected to a computer over Bluetooth, can't use AirPrint. So an old printer that's only cabled to your desktop PC won't show up on your iPhone, however long you wait.
If your printer isn't AirPrint-enabled at all, Apple's advice is to check with the manufacturer. Many printer makers have their own app in the App Store, and Apple notes that many App Store apps support AirPrint too.
When the printer doesn't appear in the list
- Confirm the printer supports AirPrint. Apple keeps a searchable list of AirPrint-enabled printers on its AirPrint support page.
- Check the printer is switched on, awake and connected to Wi-Fi, not just plugged in.
- Make sure your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network, not on mobile data or a guest network.
- Restart the printer and try again from the Print screen.
- Remember not every app can print. If Print never appears, check the app's own help.
Sharing one printer around a small office
Because AirPrint works over the network, one printer can serve everyone on the same Wi-Fi: your iPhone, a colleague's iPad and the office Mac. There's nothing to install on each device, so a new starter can print on day one. My own tip is to give the printer a clear name, such as the room it's in, if its settings allow it, so people pick the right one from the list rather than guessing between two identical model numbers.
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Why no drivers are needed
If you're used to Windows, you'll expect to download software for every printer. Apple says AirPrint doesn't need additional drivers or other software. Its features include easy discovery and automatic media selection, which is why the setup's so short and why you'll rarely need to fiddle with paper settings.
What I'd do
If you're buying a printer for a small office, check it's on Apple's AirPrint list before anything else, and set it up on your main Wi-Fi rather than a guest network. After that, printing from your iPhone takes three taps. If you still need to send the odd document the old-fashioned way, my guide on faxing from iPhone has you covered, and for forms you'll print from Docs, here's how to add a text box in Google Docs.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I add a printer in iPhone Settings?
You don't. AirPrint printers appear when you tap Print and then No Printer Selected in an app.
Why can't my iPhone find my printer?
Check it supports AirPrint and is on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. USB and Bluetooth-only printers can't use AirPrint.
Do I need to install a printer driver on iPhone?
No. Apple says AirPrint printers don't need additional drivers or other software.
How do I cancel printing on iPhone?
Open the App Switcher, tap Print Center, select the job and tap Cancel Printing.
Can I print from any app on iPhone?
Not all apps support printing. Mail, Photos and Safari do, and many App Store apps support AirPrint.
