Voice-controlled technology is part of our everyday life. Amazon Alexa is the most popular voice assistant among these. Imagine being able to print documents by just talking to Alexa and not having to go back to the computer or phone to start the print job. Yes, you can connect your printer to Alexa for voice-controlled printing. And it’s easier than you think!
In this post, we’ll go through a step-by-step guide on how to connect your printer to Alexa and start printing with voice commands. We also provide some troubleshooting tips for free.
Print and troubleshoot in more detail on our comprehensive Alexa and printer connection guide at Printer Not Working.
Why Connect Your Printer to Alexa?
Before we talk about setting it up, you must be wondering why you would attach your printer to Alexa. For me, here are just a few reasons why that’s beneficial for daily productivity.
- Convenience: You do not need to go over to your printer and push every button anymore. You can send it print from the convenience of your chair by talking it into doing so through your Alexa device.
- Hands-Free Operation: Whether you are attending a meeting or doing something else, Alexa can print for you hands-free, so you never have to stop what you’re doing.
- Smart Home Integration: If you have other Alexa-enabled devices in your home or office, integrating your printer into your smart ecosystem will make many of your daily tasks easier.
How to Connect Printer to Alexa
Alexa connects your printer with very few steps. This is how you can do it:
1. Verify Your Printer is Alexa-Friendly
Not all printers have Alexa compatibility. Make sure you check if your printer model supports Alexa integration before starting. Most of the popular brands, such as HP, Canon, and Epson, offer models compatible with Alexa. You will also need to have a Wi-Fi enabled printer because Alexa needs to communicate with it through your home network.
2. Install and Configure the Alexa App
If you haven’t downloaded it yet, download the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet from the App Store or Google Play. Open the app and sign in to your Amazon account.
3. Enable the Printer Skill on Alexa
In the Alexa app, go to the “Skills & Games” section by tapping on the menu icon. Search for the skill associated with your printer brand, such as “HP Smart” or “Epson Connect.” Select the skill and click “Enable.” You may be prompted to sign in to your printer’s account (for example, HP Smart or Canon Inkjet Cloud).
4. Link Your Printer to Alexa
Once you enable the skill, you will have to connect your printer with Alexa. You need to log in to the cloud account of your printer as guided by the on-screen instructions. Once it gets successfully connected, your printer will appear under the “Devices” tab of the Alexa app.
5. Test the Connection
To confirm whether Alexa has successfully connected to your printer, you can say, “Alexa, print a test page” or “Alexa, print a document.” Your printer will immediately start printing.
6. Voice Commands for Printing
Once the connection is established, you can print different documents by giving simple voice commands. Some examples are as follows:
“Alexa, print my to-do list.”
“Alexa, print a recipe.”
“Alexa, print my boarding pass.”
Make sure the type of document you are attempting to print is supported by your printer (some printers may only be able to handle specific types of prints such as photos or PDFs).
Tips for Troubleshooting Alexa and Printer Connection
Should you run into a problem while trying to connect the printer to Alexa, don’t worry; here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check Your Wi-Fi Connection: Both of your Alexa devices and the printer must be connected through the same Wi-Fi connection.
- Restart Devices: If connectivity is not working, start by restarting your printer, Alexa device, and router. This will sometimes solve even minor connectivity issues.
- Update the Firmware on the Printer: Ensure that your printer’s firmware is updated. Sometimes, failing to update software will cause you a problem in successfully integrating your printer with Alexa.
- Un-disable and re-enable the skill: If this does not work, disable and enable the printer skill in your Alexa app.