Since the very first versions of iOS, Apple included among the iPhone or iPad features, the ability to print any type of document using the “AirPrint” option, which is still accessible on many printers on the market today. However, many other products that don’t have this certificate can also be used for the same purpose. For this reason, today we’re going to see just how to print from iPhone and iPad.
Printing with AirPrint
Although the list of compatible printers is quite long, it is not certain that the one used in your home (or office) is compatible with AirPrint. Therefore, before following the steps that we’ll list below, we recommend that you take a look at the characteristics of the device in use, to understand if it can actually be used in the following way.
- Connect the printer to the home Wi-Fi using the system settings (they vary depending on the model you have)
- Verify that the iPhone is connected to the same network as the printer
- Open, on the iPhone, the document to be printed
- Click on the share button (icon of a square and an arrow pointing up)
- Choose the “Print” option from those below
- Select the pages to be printed and the number of copies
- Select the name of your printer by clicking on “Printer”.
- Conclude with “Print” at the top right.
Cancel the print queue with AirPrint
During the printing process, by accessing the multitasking on the iPhone or iPad, you will be able to view the currently active queue by scrolling to the right among all the open applications.
Then, opening the aforementioned print queue and selecting the one to be interrupted, the “Cancel Print” button will appear at the bottom, along with various information about the current process.
Printing with all Wi-Fi printers
Thanks to a very simple application available on the App Store, it will be possible to transform any printer with a Wi-Fi connection into a printer compatible with wireless printing from iPhone and iPad. The app in question is Printer Pro from Readdle (also available as a free trial) and will require an active server (which will act as a bridge) within the computer (Windows or Mac) connected to the printer you want to use. This can be downloaded and installed for free from the official Readdle website. Once done, just follow the steps below.
- Open the “Printer Pro from Readdle” application previously downloaded on your iPhone or iPad
- Click on “+Printer” in the middle of the screen
- Select the name of the printer that will be automatically recognized by the server installed on your computer (obviously your computer must be active, connected to the printer and to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone or iPad)
- Continue with “Next” in the bottom right corner
- Click on “Print test page” to test its operation
- At this point, depending on the print job you have done, you will need to click on the “OK”, “Not OK” or “Nothing printed” buttons. In case the answer should be the second one, it will be necessary to select the printing language used by the printer, easily found in the instruction manual.
Once the configuration is complete, you can proceed to print your favorite documents.
- Open, on the iPhone, the document to be printed
- Click on the share button (icon of a square and an arrow pointing upwards)
- Choose the “Print with Printer Pro” option from the list below
- Select the printer from the list above
- Click on “More options” to modify the print job
- Finish with “Print” at the bottom