In order to print something from their tablet or smartphone, many users synchronize the document with their computer to access their printer from there. Strange really, it's easier that you send the documents directly from your mobile device to the printer. There are different options depending on the operating system of your mobile device and the computer you have. There is a solution for every situation.
1 Printer apps
With a modern WiFi printer it is possible to print directly from a smartphone or tablet without any hassle. Your mobile device is of course connected to the same WiFi network as the printer. You need the help of an app. Network printer manufacturers provide their own printing apps for this. These apps are available for iOS and Android: Epson iPrint, Canon Easy-PhotoPrint, HP ePrint, Brother iPrint&Scan, Lexmark Mobile Printing and Samsung Mobile Print. There are printer brands whose apps only process photos and PDFs. Also read: More economical printing in Windows 10 in 3 steps.
Edit and manage
When you download and activate such a printer app within the same WiFi network as the printer, it will immediately recognize the printer. Most of those apps have capabilities to perform basic editing on photos, such as cropping and rotating. In addition, you determine the print quality and the number of copies in the app. It does take some getting used to to the user environment. With HP ePrint, for example, you must first indicate whether you want to print a photo, a web page, an email or a cloud document. To print something you always have to go through the user environment of the app.
2 AirPrint
If you have an iPhone or iPad and you work with a WiFi printer, you don't even need the printer manufacturer's app. After all, most WiFi printers can handle Apple's AirPrint technology. In addition, the app you want to print from must support AirPrint technology. Of course that is the case for all standard iOS apps such as: Photos, Maps, Safari and Mail. Fortunately, many third-party apps also support AirPrint. To print, tap the button To share and choose you Busyoff. You select the correct printer and indicate how many copies you want on paper.
3 AirPrint on Old Printers
You don't scrap a well-functioning but slightly older printer because it doesn't support AirPrint, do you? Place the Printopia tool on your Mac, you don't need to install anything on your iPhone or iPad. From then on you can use any printer as an AirPrint device. Printopia receives the signal from the mobile device and sends the information to the printer. Since the printer is connected to the Mac, the file will print immediately. You can first try the software for free, after that it costs $19.99.
4 Android plugin
Printing from an Android device is easy. Depending on the model of your Android device, mobile printing is even available by default. If not, all you need to do is download the print service plug-in from the Google Play Store. Depending on the brand, you can install the correct plug-in in the Play Store, such as Canon Print Service, Lexmark Print Service Plugin or the HP Print Service Plugin. Before installation, of course, check whether the plug-in is compatible with your printer. Then, in the Android operating system, go to Apps / Settings / Print and there you activate the just installed plugin. This will cause the newly added printer to appear on the screen.
5 Print Settings
Via the button with the three dots you get to the assignment Institutions where you configure the preferences. When the printer plug-in is installed, you can print directly from an app by tapping the three-dot button at the top right. Through the command Print you come to the name of the printer. Tap the arrow to get to the print settings. In the options you indicate how many copies you want of which pages. You can also adjust the paper size, quality and color setting in this way.
6 Google Cloud Print with Cloud Print
Google Cloud Print works with any printer. You use this service to send documents to the printer at home via a secure internet connection. To use Google Cloud Print, you must of course be logged in with your Google ID. It is easiest if you have a so-called cloud printer that connects independently to the internet. If your printer is on the list, click on the model at Set up. This will take you to the page to link the printer to Google Cloud Print via an identification code. If you use a cloud printer, your computer does not have to be turned on for a remote print.
7 Google Cloud Print without Cloud Print
If you don't have a real cloud printer, you have to take a detour via a recent version of Google Chrome. Open the browser and click the button with the three dashes at the top right to select the Institutions to open. At the very bottom click on the link Advancedinstitutionsto display. This is how you get to the section Google Cloud Print, where you put the button To manage used. In the section Classic printers click on Printersadd and after a few seconds, Google Chrome will find the printers in your system. Check the printers you want to use for cloud printing and click the button again Add printer(s). In this method, the computer to which the printer is connected must be turned on at all times.
