How to Print Something from Your Phone Wirelessly?

By Kamil AnwarUpdated on September 19, 2024

Kamil is a certified Systems Analyst

Even in our digital age, some documents still require physical copies, and printing from your phone is a convenient way to handle this.
For Android, you can print wirelessly using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth by selecting the print option directly from your document. iPhone users can use AirPrint for compatible printers or the manufacturer's app if AirPrint isn't available.
While printers have improved, they still face issues like expensive ink and maintenance. If you need one, budget-friendly options include the Brother MFC-J1010DW, the versatile HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e, or the high-capacity Canon Megatank GX4020.

Many of us prefer to keep important documents on our phones for security and quick access. If you need to print a document from your phone and don’t know how, don’t worry. We will guide you through the process. Printing documents from a phone is not something you do every day, so it’s understandable if it feels unfamiliar.

You can wirelessly print using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your Android phone, or you can use the printer manufacturer’s app. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are generally sufficient for printing tasks.

Printing via Android Wirelessly

To print from your Android phone, follow these steps:

Ensure both your printer and your phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or pair them via Bluetooth.
Open the document you want to print. It should be a valid file format such as .docx, PDF, or an image file.
Open the document to be printed.
Tap the 3 vertical dots in the top-right corner and select the Print option.
Open the 3-dot menu and select “Print.”
You should be taken to a preview of the file to be printed. Tap the top bar that says “Save as PDF.”
Tap on “Save as PDF.”
Select the “All printers…” option. If your printer is listed, choose it.
Select “All printers…” or your specific printer if listed.
If you selected “All printers…“, your phone will search for nearby printers. Select your printer when it appears.
Choose your printer when it appears in the scan.
Adjust your print settings as needed and print the file.

Printing via iPhone Wirelessly

Printing wirelessly from an iPhone offers two main options:

Using Apple’s built-in AirPrint feature
Using the printer manufacturer’s app

Most of the time, AirPrint will be sufficient. However, some older printers or certain models might be incompatible with AirPrint, making the manufacturer’s app necessary.

↪ Printing via AirPrint

To print using AirPrint, follow these steps:

Open the document that needs to be printed on your iPhone.
Open the document for printing.
Tap the Share icon at the bottom center.
The Share icon is a square with an arrow emerging from it.
Scroll down to find the Print option.
Select “Print.”
Configure the print settings as needed on the next screen.
Set the printing settings according to your requirements.
Tap the Printer option to select your printer.
Tap “Printer.”
Your iPhone will search for compatible AirPrint printers in the vicinity. Select your printer when it appears and print your document.
Select your printer when it appears in the scan.

The images for this section were taken from HOWTECH‘s YouTube channel.

↪ Printing via the Manufacturer’s App

For printers incompatible with AirPrint, the manufacturer’s app provides an alternative. These apps allow you not only to print documents wirelessly but also to configure printer settings. To print using the manufacturer’s app, follow these steps. We will use the HP Smart app as an example:

Download the HP Smart app from the App Store.
Download the HP Smart app from the App Store.
Create an HP account and log in to the app.
Connect your printer to the app by following the on-screen instructions.
Once connected, scroll down and select Print Documents.
Select “Print Documents.”
Import your documents from cloud storage by linking your accounts or choose a local file. Select your preferred option.
Choose where to import your files from.
Select the file to be printed.
Select the file to be printed.
A preview of the printed output will appear. Drag the gray line upwards.
Drag the grey line upwards.
Configure the print settings as needed.
Configure your print settings.
Scroll down and tap Print.
Your file will be printed
If the print operation is successful, a confirmation message will appear where the Print button was.
A confirmation message will appear if the print is successful.