Introduction
In this digital age of life’s fast pace, it is not even possible to accomplish the most simple of tasks without a smartphone. Whether it’s a working professional on the go who needs to get a quick print, or a student printing up an assignment, a direct connection of your smartphone to a printer is necessary-but do you know how?
In the coming tutorial, let’s walk step by step with some of the most effective means of connecting a smartphone to a printer easily and efficiently.
1. Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi Direct
For that kind of option, I would give you guidance on Wi-Fi since it happens to be one of the best manners of connecting your smartphone to the printer. Virtually all newer printers have some Wi-Fi support built directly into them so that they simply sync up themselves to your telephone.
Steps to Connect via Wi-Fi:
- Your printer and your smartphone must be on the same Wi-Fi
- Install the app that the manufacturer has created for its printers, either HP Smart, Canon Print, or Epson iPrint.
- Launch the app and connect the device to your preferred printer; afterward you may set it up according to its guidelines.
- Connect your preferred file and print either da ocument or photo.
If your printer supports Wi-Fi Direct, there is no requirement for a shared Wi-Fi network. Just enable the Wi-Fi Direct on your printer, connect your smartphone to the printer’s Wi-Fi, and print instantly
2. Bluetooth Printing
Bluetooth is the next best option if your printer does not have Wi-Fi. You can connect your smartphone to your printer through Bluetooth, no matter whether you are using an Android or an iOS device. If you’re only printing on older models, then you can also use Bluetooth printing.
Connecting by Bluetooth
- Bluetooth on your smartphone and on your printer
- Connect your smartphone to the printer; it is usually shown in the instructions of the manual of the printer.
- You can print through an application for printing or the print function on your phone.
This Bluetooth printing is very convenient, especially for fast jobs and small files.
3. USB OTG Cable
A USB OTG cable is among the most hassle-free ways to connect a smartphone to a printer without Wi-Fi. The best thing is that it would be perfect for printers that have not been equipped with high-end features.
Steps in Connecting Using a USB OTG:
Make sure your smartphone can support USB OTG. Well, most smartphones do.
- Connect your smartphone using a USB OTG cable and insert it into the USB port of the printer.
- Download a printing app like PrintHand or PrinterShare that governs the process.
- Print through the following instructions from an application about how to print the document or the picture.
4. Cloud Printing
It is a pretty effective and versatile means to connect the smartphone with another printer ia a different place. However, though Google Cloud Print is deactivated nowadays, still services available through some of the specific manufacturers have a pretty easy procedure.
Steps to Use Cloud Printing
- Register your printer in a cloud printing service
- Install a related cloud printing application on your smartphone.
- Upload your document to the cloud service and send it to your printer.
Your printer will process the request and deliver your printout.
Cloud printing lets you print from anywhere if your printer is connected to the internet.
5. Printing through AirPrint (for iOS Devices)
If you have an iPhone or iPad, then AirPrint will be your best bet to connect your mobile phone to a printer without too many hassles. This is because the feature comes with Apple devices, letting you print wirelessly without the need to install any extra software.
How to Print on the go with AirPrint
- Make sure your printer can be AirPrint-enabled and that it can somehow reach into the same Wi-Fi network that your iOS device has.
- Open the document, photo, or email you want to print.
- Tap the “Share” icon and select “Print.”
- Select your printer from the list, customize your preference, and then tap “Print.”
AirPrint is one of the most commonly used of all print services because it is not difficult to implement and is rather simple.
6. Android Printing Framework
This framework can further be used natively on Android-based smartphones to connect the mobile phone to the printing device. There is support for various types of printer brands. Easy to carry out mobile printing on Android-based smartphones
How to Android Print
- Functional requirements for the printers. From an Android-based smartphone, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Printing.
- Switch on your printing service, which may be in the form of a default print service, or use the special printer application
- Open up the document to be printed. Touch “Share” then “Print.”
Troubleshooting
Maintain updated firmware printer on your cell phone
Install the printing application from your smartphone so you may receive updates
Using only quality paper and ink assures you of the maximum print quality
Conclusion
The next options are the ones that have made printing from your smartphone easier than ever. You can pick any one of them for whatever suits your convenience and can work along well with your printer. It is all about Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB OTG, or cloud printing for linking a smartphone to a printer—quite something that endows you with the capacity to complete that just as effortlessly as in no time.
For more tips and tutorials about troubleshooting, refer to Printer Not Working and revamp your printing life now!