How do you setup a printer on an ipad

How to add printer to iPad or iPhone or how to print from iPad to wireless printer is a frequently asked question by Apple device users. This is because, more and more people are now using their iPad or iPhone to store important documents and gather information from web-pages which they can print to a network printer. I have in this post given a step by step guide on how to connect iPad to printer to print from iPad without taking help of PC. These steps to connect iPad to printer are also applicable when printing from iPhone.

iPad uses a handy software feature called AirPrint for printing from iPad. AirPrint printer can print any documents or safari pages from your iPad or iPhone with touch of a button. Most new printers come with this software feature built in. Before I go to show how to add printer to iPad wireless using AirPrint let me first explain what is ‘AirPrint’.

What is AirPrint?

In order to save the hassle of transferring documents from Apple devices to your computer and then printing them out, Apple has introduced a handy software feature called AirPrint to connect iPad to printer. AirPrint is an Apple technology which helps easy printing of full-quality photos and documents from your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch without having to install additional software (drivers).

It is a feature which is built into Apple’s mac OS and iOS operating systems for printing via a WiFi network either directly to AirPrint-compatible printers, or to non-compatible shared printers by way of a computer running Microsoft Windows, Linux, or mac OS. To use an AirPrint printer with your WiFi network, the printer is to be connected to the same network as your iOS device or Mac. After you add a printer to iPad, you can directly take prints of the emails, photos, documents and web-pages straight from your device as long as the printer is compatible with the AirPrint. If your network printer is not AirPrint-compatible, you may still be able to print. You can print from iPad to network printer without AirPrint using a third party printing app for your wireless printer.

How to add printer to iPad using AirPrint

Using AirPrint technology Apple Adds Wireless Printing to iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. It is the most common and powerful way to connect iPad to printer as the program is integrated into the iOS devices. This software feature is incorporated in all the iOS devices such as iPad, iPhone (3 GS or later) and iPod Touch (3rd generation or later), which helps to add printer to iPad or other iOS devices to print over a WiFi network. Once an AirPrint enabled printer is connected to the network, wireless printing from iPad becomes very simple. Now let’s see how to setup printer on iPad using AirPrint?

Here’re the steps to follow on how to connect printer to iPad using AirPrint:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of iOS on your iPad. You can check the version of iOS on your iPad by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If a software update is available install it;

2. When you add wireless printer to iPad make sure to know the name of the network on which the printer is connected and the password and follow the standard WiFi safety procedures;

3. Ensure that you have an AirPrint enabled printer before adding a printer to iPad. AirPrint is built into most of the popular printer models nowadays. To check if your wireless printer is supported, you can view the AirPrint printer list on Apple’s website. Apple adds new printers to this list regularly. If your printer isn’t on the above AirPrint printer list, consult the printer manufacturer’s website for more information on whether AirPrint is supported and how to update your firmware to the latest version for using your printer for iPad;

4. Before you add a printer to iPad ensure that your iOS device and the printer are connected to the same WiFi network and that you are within range. Your iPad won’t recognize the printer if it is not connected on the same network. Each printer has a specific way to connect it to the network. Follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions to add printer to iPad wireless (Note: AirPrint does not support public wireless networks, such as public mobile hotspots, Bluetooth, or cellular data connections, either 3 G or 4 G);

5. After turning on your printer, wait a few moments before printing from iPad or iPhone. Some printers might take a minute or two after powering up before joining your network (make sure that the wireless feature on your printer is ‘on’;

6. After you connect iPad to printer correctly, navigate to the item/document you want to print from (Mail, Pages, Photos etc.);

7. AirPrint is not a stand-alone program. You can only use AirPrint with iOS core apps, such as Safari, Mail, Pages, and Photos, which allows you to print items like emails, photos, documents and Web-pages directly from your iPad; Power up your printer and open a standard iPad app, such as Mail.

8. Open a standard iPad app, such as Mail that you want to print from. Tap the share icon button located on the top bar of the app screen that looks like a rectangle with an arrow coming out. In the pop-up, scroll down and tap the ‘Print’ icon from the options that appear to load the ‘Printer Options’ screen;

9. Tap ‘Select Printer’ on the Printer Options screen to see a list of available printers on the network. When you are printing from iPad for the first time, you’ll need to hit this ‘select printer’ to choose an AirPrint-enabled printer. Afterwards your iPad or iPhone would scan for the local AirPrint printer. If you have more than one AirPrint compatible printer on the network, choose the one that you wish to print from;

10. Select the numbers of copies you want to print (use the + or – buttons in the Copy field to adjust the number of copies).

11. Tap the ‘Print’ button in the upper-right corner of the screen to print the desired item;

The procedure described above to carry out iPad printer setup using AirPrint is also applicable for printing from iPhone or iPod Touch.

However, if you don’t have an AirPrint compatible printer, or if you want to use a printer that doesn’t have AirPrint software, all is not lost. There are a range of options for printing from iPad without AirPrint in your home or office, using third-party apps. I have explained below how to print from iPad without AirPrint?

It is certainly easy to carry out printing from iPad using a printer which is AirPrint compatible. But, let’s see how to connect iPad to printer without AirPrint.

If your network printer for iPad is not AirPrint-compatible, you need not get upset. You still can print from your iPad or iPhone to network printer without AirPrint by downloading certain third party app from the Apple store. There are several third-party apps to choose from, which  in effect can make the printer look like AirPrint-compatible to your iOS. If you use one of these third-party apps to add printer to iPad, instead of your iOS device talking directly with the printer, it goes through the client software on your computer first.

‘PrintCentral’ is one such app that I personally prefer. ‘PrintCentral’ is an excellent printing and file sharing app for the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch. It has a file browser and e-mail reader that allows you to access anything on your iOS device. This third-party app will allow you to print direct to a network printer across your WiFi network. You can also install a helper application on your Mac or PC, called ‘WePrint’, which is a free client software that lets ‘PrintCentral’ work with any other printers connected to your Mac/PC via Bluetooth, USB or WiFi.

Here’s how to print from iPad using PrintCentral.

How to connect iPad to printer using PrintCentral

Steps to follow on how to connect printer to iPad using PrintCentral:

(For printing from iPad, regardless of the steps followed to add wireless printer to iPad, the printer and your iPad will need to be on the same network.)

 1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions specific to your printer to connect it to the same network as your iOS device to print wireless;

2. Download and install ‘PrintCentral’ from app store to your iPad;

3. Download the free ‘WePrint‘ application to your computer (both Mac and Windows Versions are available);

4. Plug-in the connector cable into your iPad and USB port of your PC;

5. Open ‘WePrint’ and you can see the address of your server;

6. Open ‘PrintCentral’ on iPad;

7. Tap on the Files or Documents button;

8. Tap the “Getting Started – Test Print file.txt” to display its contents;

9. Tap the Print icon in the top-right corner of the screen, and the Print dialog screen will appear;

10. Tap the ‘Choose’ button and enter the server address you found in ‘WePrint’, into the dialog that appears. PrintCentral connects and displays all of your printers;

11. Tap the printer you want to use. If this is your first print you will see a test section that will enable you to test and find the correct protocol for your printer. Tap the Print button in the Print dialog to print the test document. When you see the results tap on Yes or No;

12. When you find it working alright, go back to the Print screen and use the ‘Menu’ button to open a document in PrintCentral and start printing the desired item by tapping on the “Print” button;

13. Finally, a more easy way to add a printer to iPad wireless has been made possible by using dedicated apps from printer makers such as Print Portal, HP Envy and Epson iPrint. These apps works much the same way as AirPrint i.e. the apps communicate directly with the printer and you can print from iPad or iPhone with ease.

Finally, the procedures described in the post to connect iPad to wireless printer using AirPrint or a third-party apps, are not limited to iPad only. The steps are also applicable for how to add printer to iPhone. You can print from iPhone 3 GS or later versions or a third-generation or later iPod Touch by following the above steps.

Frequently asked questions

Now that I have explained in detail the steps to add printer to iPad to make it easy to print from iPad to network printer, let me also answer some of the related questions often asked by the iOS device users:

How do I get my iPad to recognize my wireless printer?

Ensure that both the iPad and printer are on the same network. Refresh your WiFi connection to force your iPad to find the printer again. To do this, open iPad settings > tap WiFi in the list > tap the green switch. This will turn off WiFi. Turn on WiFi back again after a moment. Now your iPad should recognize your printer.

Does all iPad support AirPrint?

All iPad models support AirPrint. Apple’s AirPrint software has been built into iOS operating systems versions 4.2 and above for printing via a WiFi network

How to print from iPhone without AirPrint?

Here’s how to print from iPhone without AirPrint using a third party app:

1.   Download and install one of your preferred third party printing apps on your device;

2.   Launch the application and follow the instructions to connect;

3.   Connect to WiFi (both your printer and iPhone must be connected to the same WiFi network);

4.   Select the printer and add to your iOS device;

5.   Choose the number of copies and Print;

How do I add a printer to my iPhone with AirPrint

1. Open the document you want to print;

2. Tap the “Share” button, which looks like a rectangle with an arrow coming out;

3. In the pop-up, scroll down and tap the ‘Print’ icon from the options that appear to load the ‘Printer Options’ screen;

4. Tap ‘Select Printer’ on the Printer Options screen to find and select the name of the printer you want to use;

5. Tap the ‘Print’ button in the upper-right corner of the screen to print the desired item;

Can I connect iPad to printer with a USB cable?

Yes, you can. However, for this you are to buy USB adapter for your iOS device as iPad models are not equipped with USB ports. Most of the third-party apps you want to print from (such as mail apps) have a printing option within the app. Just look for the app’s share icon (box with up arrow) or settings, to print your document to an AirPrint enabled printer.

Can iPad print via Bluetooth?

You can print directly to a Bluetooth-enabled printer from your iPad via Bluetooth for which you’ll need a third-party app that enables Bluetooth pairing. iPad doesn’t include an app for printing using Bluetooth technology. It is a viable option for those who do not have a wireless network available.

You may also like to read: Find the difference between iPad and Tablet

Conclusion

On going through the procedures described above on how to add printer to iPad using AirPrint or without it, it must be clear now that to print from iPad to network printer, is not at all a big thing. Once you connect printer to iPad properly following the steps mentioned above, printing from iPad or iPhone can be done with ease without even touching your computer.

Another point needs to be mentioned in this guide on how to add a printer to iPad using AirPrint, that AirPrint works with WiFi or wired network connections only. AirPrint devices connected to the USB port of an Apple AirPort Base Station or AirPort Time Capsule, or to your computer using Bluetooth connection, can’t use AirPrint.

Lastly, as mentioned earlier, the steps described here on how to connect iPad to printer are not limited to just iPad only. AirPrint printer is versatile and capable of printing from any Apple’s iOS devices that is on the network such as iPad, iPhone (3 GS or later) and iPod Touch (3rd generation or later).

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