This guide will help you to add a printer to your iPad and print from it directly.
Dealing with printers can be frustrating, especially if you are doing it for the first time.
The process is going to be easy for those who are using AirPrint-compatible printers. But don’t worry, if you don’t have a compatible printer, I have some methods to help you.
How To Connect Printer to iPad (Wirelessly)
You will be only available to print from printers that are AirPrint compatible. Otherwise, it won’t work. I’ll cover that part later in the article. The steps are identical for iPads and iPhones. The only difference is that the share button might be located in different positions.
Make sure your printer and iPad are connected to the same WiFi network.
- Open the document you want to print (PDF, word, notes, picture, etc.)
- Locate and press the “Share button.”
- Tap on Print
- Tap on Printer
- Your Printer should appear on the list
- Connect both of the devices
- Adjust the setting as you wish and print your document.
That’s it! Your iPad will send the print job to your selected printer, you should see your documents or items being printed shortly.
How To Print from Printers That Don’t Have AirPrint
If your printer doesn’t have AirPrint there are alternative apps you can try to make it work with your iPad or iPhone.
I recommend searching for the manufacturer’s app on the Apple Store. If you have HP printer and it doesn’t have AirPrint, no worries, you can download their HP Smart app on your iOS device and still connect it to your iPad and print documents, photos, etc.
HP Smart
Download HP Smart from App store.
From within the app, you will be able to browse documents from your iPad and iPhone.
- Open The App
- Tap “Print Documents”
- Find the document/photo you want to print
It even has the function to print from your printer if you are not at home.
Printer Pro App
You can download the Printer Pro App on the Apple Store.
Essentially this app allows you to print directly from your iPhone or iPad any document, file, or photo.
What is Apple AirPrint Technology?
AirPrint is a convenient feature that enables seamless printing without the need to install printer-specific drivers. It works wirelessly between compatible printers and iOS devices, allowing Apple users to enjoy a user-friendly and hassle-free printing experience.
I love this feature, as it works with Wi-Fi Direct and is powerful enough to make high-quality documents, emails, webpages, and photos from your iOS, iPad, or Mac devices.
In a nutshell: AirPrint makes printing on iPad great.
Things To Try If Printer Is Not Working on iPad
Users often report problems with AirPrint technology, and most of these problems have a very simple solution.
So, If you’re also going through some issues, then let me add some useful tips for you.
- Check for Software Updates
Outdated software can create issues for you, so updating your iPad to the latest version of iPadOS is recommended.
- Bring both devices closer
Sometimes interference, like walls, tables, etc., between the modem and printer can create problems with the signals.
- Check Wi-Fi
Both of the devices need to be connected to the same network.
- Turn off Airplane Mode
The AirPrint feature doesn’t work when Airplane mode is turned on.
- Restart your devices
It’s the simplest thing you can do and it solves 8/10 problems. Simply restart both of your devices.
If none of these tips were helpful, make sure your printer has AirPrint technology if it does and you still can’t print, please, reach out to technical help. There might be a hardware issue.
Best AirPrint Printers For iPad
If you are planning to print from your iPad or iPhone, it’s a good idea to buy a printer that has AirPrint. You will be able to print not only from your PC and Mac, but you will be also able to print from iPad and iPhone.
So let’s look at the best printers for iPads and iPhones.
1. Canon Pixma iX6820 – Best Overall
The Canon Pixma iX6820 is a powerful printer that excels at producing high-quality prints, especially when it comes to documents and photos. The color accuracy and sharp details make it a popular choice among photographers and graphic designers
The printing speed on this device is fast, and not just fast, but also convenient and efficient.
It has Air Print and Google Cloud Print as well. Which is the most important feature to have if you want to print from your iPad.
2. Canon TS5320 – Editor’s Pick
This is my pick. It’s a very affordable wireless Printer with a scanner and AirPrint from Canon. Perfect for families and home use. It’s slow, but considering the fact that I print 1-2 documents a month I don’t mind it being slow. As long as it gets the job done.
The Canon Pixma TS5320 is a good all-in-one budget printer for families who need to print and copy things like text, graphics, and photos. It does especially well with photos.
It comes in 4 different colors: black, white, pink and blue.
3. Brother MFC-J1205W – Best Budget Option
This is a printer I recommend to users that don’t print that often, that just need a basic printer, to print out tickets, documents, some photos occasionally and that’s it. It’s very simple you plug it in, you set it up, you connect it with your device and you print whatever you need. The Brother MFC-J1205W printer is a good choice for families.
It can print high-quality black and color documents, and it’s cost-effective to maintain because it doesn’t use ink or toner too quickly.
When it comes to photos, it can produce detailed pictures with reasonably accurate colors, although it might not give you the brightest, most vibrant colors. You can connect to it through Wi-Fi or USB, and it works with Apple AirPrint, so it’s easy for everyone in your household to use.
It costs $129.99 and it even has a scanner, but I would recommend using your iPad Pro to scan documents, it will have a better quality.
How To Find Out If Your Printer Has AirPrint
Those printers that show compatibility with Apple AirPrint technology are what we call Apple AirPrint-compatible printers.
It’s a useful feature that many printers support now, but if you are unsure about your printer and want to check whether it’s compatible or not, then you’ll have to do it manually by checking AirPrint devices on Apple Support.
I recommend you visit this site and do the control + F search function, then search for the printer. If you can find the printer on the list then it’s compatible with AirPrint.
Is There Any Method to Connect an iPad to a Printer via USB?
No, you cannot connect an iPad to a printer using USB or any wires. Even with OTG cables. If you want to connect to the printer directly, you’ll need to install a printer driver using a printer app designed for that specific printer model, in other words, it’s almost impossible to get those drivers on your iPad.
Please, let me know if this article was helpful or not, and if not, please, leave a comment below with your problem as detailed as possible and I will try to help you.
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I'm a writer and editor in iPads & Android Tablets, Windows Tablet section. I'm passionate about technology, especially about tablets. I'm on a mission to assist people in discovering their ideal tablets. In addition, I'm dedicated to producing helpful how-to guides and sharing top-notch tips and tricks. In my early carrier I founded and became and editor at worldoftablet and have been a guest author at many other tech blogs. In wolfoftablet I'm focusing on iPads, Tablets, Apple Pencil, Apps, Reviews, Buyers Guides and Tablet Accessories. In free time I like to play games on my PS5 or iOS.
