How to set up a printer on iPad

Sometimes you want a physical copy of something you’re viewing on your iPad®, whether it’s a picture, a webpage, or a document. Fortunately, it's very easy to learn how to print from an iPad. 

At Asurion, our experts are here to help you get the most out of your tech, from exploring new features to repairing and protecting your devices. 

Setting up an AirPrint-enabled printer

AirPrint allows you to print directly from your Apple devices without cables or special software. Many printer manufacturers now make AirPrint-enabled printers, so there’s a good chance your home printer has this feature. 

If it does, follow the steps below to print from an iPad to an AirPrint printer. 

1. Connect the printer to your home Wi-Fi network. Depending on your printer model, you will likely need to select something like Network or Wireless in your printer settings menu to find your Wi-Fi network and enter the password. 
2. From your iPad Home screen, locate and tap Settings. 
3. Tap Wi-Fi, then select the same Wi-Fi network you connected your printer to. If you have multiple subnets, like Network and Network-5G, make sure both the iPad and printer are on the same one. 
4. Open the item you want to print on your iPad. This might be a photo in the photo app, an email attachment, a receipt, or shipping label. 
5. Tap the Share button, which looks like a box with an upward arrow coming out of it. 
6. Locate and tap Print. 
7. Tap Printer and select your printer’s name from the list. 
8. Adjust the printer settings, such as the paper size and color options, to your liking and review the print preview to make sure you’re happy with how it looks. 
9. When you’re ready, hit Print.

If you want to print something to a wireless printer from your iPhone, you follow these same steps. 

Configuring a non-AirPrint printer

If your printer doesn’t support AirPrint, don’t worry. You can still print things out from your tablet without AirPrint printers—you just have to take a few different steps. 

Follow these steps to print from an iPad to a printer without AirPrint. 

1. Check whether your printer supports Bluetooth® printing. If so, turn on the printer’s Bluetooth and follow the pairing instructions.
2. Open the Settings app on your iPad and go to Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth and select your printer’s name to pair your devices. 
3. Download an app that lets you print to a Bluetooth-enabled printer. You can use a free app from your printer’s manufacturer or try a third-party Bluetooth printing app
4. Follow the instructions in the app to print documents or photos from your iPad. 

If AirPrint and Bluetooth wireless printing don’t work for you, you can still try a wired connection for your print job. Here’s how to print from an iPad to a printer using a USB connection.

1. Download an iPad app that enables printing to a USB printer. Your printer manufacturer may offer an app, so check your printer manual for details. Or, contact tech support for help finding the right app for your needs. 
2. Follow the app’s instructions for setting up the connection. 
3. Once you're ready to print, plug your iPad into a USB cable and connect the other end to your printer. 
4. Follow the app’s instructions for printing using this USB connection. 

Troubleshooting common issues

It’s normal to run into a roadblock or two while trying to print from your iPad. One of the most common issues is when the iPad doesn’t detect the printer. If that happens, try these steps:

1. Make sure your printer is on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPad. 
2. If you’re using a VPN on your iPad, try turning it off. 
3. Check that your printer software is updated, and also update to the most recent iPadOS®. 
4. Restart both devices and wait for them to reconnect to the Wi-Fi. 
5. Restart your Wi-Fi router and reconnect both your iPad and printer to the Wi-Fi. 

If you’re experiencing printing delays, try moving your iPad closer to the printer. You can also temporarily disconnect other devices from the Wi-Fi to reduce your network traffic or reduce the print job size by printing fewer pages or switching to black and white to see if that improves the print speed. If none of these steps work, contact tech repair to address the issue with your printer or iPad.