How to Print from an Android Phone? 4 Hassle-free Methods

How to Print from an Android Phone? 4 Hassle-free Methods

How do I print from my Android phone? Android printing has come a long way in the past few years. Gone are the days when users had to transfer documents from their phones to their computers, connect their PC to printers, and then print documents or text messages. Today, printing from an Android phone is as easy as tapping a few buttons. This guide will give you a complete breakdown of how to print from an Android phone using the most popular Android printer apps and services.

The best part of this post is that we will share four different printing from Android methods—from photos, documents, and texts. This means you have a lot of ways to make sure your printer works well with your Android phone and connects to it. So whether you're looking to print out a document remotely or just want to save some time, read on!


Method #1 - How to Use Bluetooth Printer with Android

Although only a handful of printers support Bluetooth connectivity nowadays, it's a more straightforward way to print from Android than using Wi-Fi networks. The process is quite simple. If you have ever connected your wireless earbuds or speakers to your phone via Bluetooth, then you'll know how to print from an Android phone via Bluetooth.

How to Connect Bluetooth Printer to Android Phone

  1. To start Bluetooth printing from Android, turn on the Bluetooth Scanning option on your printer. Different brands have different ways of doing this, so make sure to check the instruction manual to know how to add printer to Android phone.
  2. Once the printer is scanning for devices, go to your Android phone's settings, then Connected Devices, and then click on Pair New Devices.
  3. If there is no option for pairing, then there will be a scanner searching for Bluetooth devices nearby to start printing from Android device.
  4. Let it do its searching, and your printer should show up in scanned devices under its default name. Tap on its name to connect printer to Android phone.

Note: Make sure to keep the mobile close to the printer, as Bluetooth doesn't have a very high range. Also, if you close the Bluetooth, either from the printer or the mobile, it will disconnect. So make sure not to do this mid-printing.

NFC Connection: Some printers also feature an NFC connection (Near Field Communication), which makes it even easier and faster to connect Android to Bluetooth. Look for an NFC mark on the front or side of your printer if it supports an NFC connection.

If you find it, turn on NFC on your phone and tap it on the printer where the NFC mark is. This should automatically connect Android phone to the printer via Bluetooth.


Method #2 - How to Print from Android Phone to Wireless Printer

This one is done in a number of ways, but we'll focus on two; Android Default Print Service and Printer's Mobile App

Add Printer to Android Via Wi-Fi - Default Print Service

Almost every major printer brand, such as Brother, HP, Dell, Canon, Epson, etc., can print with Android's default print function or has their own Android printer app. Most major printer brands have a wireless printer for Android phones. Follow the steps below on how to print from an Android phone using Wi-Fi.

  1. First and foremost, connect to the same Wi-Fi network as your Android phone. If you have multiple Wi-Fi connections, your device may automatically connect to the one with the best signal strength, while your printer may be connected to a different one. Ensure they are connected to the same network.
  2. Now go to your phone's settings menu, search Printing and select it from the suggestions.
  3. Next, select Default Printing Service (or System Printing Service on some devices) and turn it on. This will show you a list of compatible printers connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Android phone. Select the correct printer model.

What If It Doesn't Detect the Printer? Adding Printer to Android Using Printer's Mobile App:

Almost every major printer brand, such as Brother, HP, Dell, Canon, Epson, etc., can print with Android's default print function or has their own Android printer app. Most major printer brands have a wireless printer for Android phones. Follow the steps below on how to print from an Android phone using Wi-Fi.

  1. If you cannot find your printer or the phone doesn't detect it, then you can also click on the Add Service button in the same printing menu to connect Android to printer.
  2. This should take you to the Google Play store, where you can find apps for all of the major printer manufacturers. Select the one that made your printer and download it.
  3. Now you can open the printer settings again; it should show your printer's brand application. Click on it, turn it on, and let it scan for your printer. It should be able to detect it now.
  4. If this also doesn't work, then there are other 3rd-party printer applications from the Google Play Store, such as PrintShare Mobile Print, that might be able to help you.

Method #3 - How to Print From Android Phone via USB

This one is also one of the most popular ways to print from Android phones, but it is not as easy as printing via Bluetooth. This is because you will need to install an app and also buy an OTG device to connect printer to Android phone.

How to Connect Android Phone to Printer via USB

  1. Every printer comes with a USB cable with two ends. The first end that goes into the printer is square and called the USB B type. The second end that goes into the computer is the standard USB A type.
  2. Make sure the USB B end is connected to the printer, and for the USB A end, you need to buy OTG to connect it to your phone because phones don't have USB A ports.
  3. Now you need to see which USB type your phone has. Modern ones come with USB C, while older models come with USB mini A, USB mini B, and USB Micro A/B ports. select
  4. Once you've determined which port type your phone has, purchase an OTG device for it. This device will have one end with a USB A port where the printer cable will go in. While the other end will be the connector that goes into your phone, just like your phone's charger. So get an OTG device (it won't cost more than $1-2).
  5. After that, go to the Google Play store and download the NokoPrint app.
  6. Next, go to your phone's settings, then to additional settings, and scroll all the way down. You will see the OTG settings. Turn them on. If your phone doesn't have this option, then it may not need it. Move to the next step (or if this doesn't work, try the PrintShare Mobile Print app instead of NokoPrint)
  7. Once you connect the OTG device to your phone, you will get a pop-up from NokoPrint asking you to install printer drivers. Press OK, and you'll see another menu. Select your printer to install its driver.
  8. Once the drivers are installed, you can start printing right away.

Method #4 - How to Print from Android Using Google Cloud Alternative (Papercut Mobility)

Google shut down Cloud Print in December 2020, and with it, a convenient way to print anything from your printing devices went away. However, today's tech-driven world always has good alternatives, and PaperCut is that alternative to Google Cloud Print. Let's see how to connect your printer to start Android printing.

Add Printer to Android Via PaperCut

  1. Make sure your printer and Wi-Fi are on the same network.
  2. From the Google Play Store, download and install PaperCut Mobility Print, then create an account.
  3. After that, open the app and navigate to Android Settings. Select Mobility Print, and turn it on by tapping on the toggle button in the top right corner. Then exit the settings.

Printing From Android – Photos, Texts, Email

Okay, so till now we have discussed how you could connect the printer to Android phone using various methods, including Wi-Fi, USB, PaperCut, and Bluetooth printing from Android. Now, we will discuss the next step: printing out the content you have on your phone.

How to Print Photos from Android Phone?

If you want to print photos from Android, the process is simple. Follow these steps:

  1. Open your photos app and choose the photo(s) to print, or go to File Manager and pick the documents to print.
  2. Next, find the Print option in the Options menu of selected photos or documents.
  3. Tap on the Select Printer button.
  4. Select your printer (in the case of the PaperCut app, you'll see its icon next to the printer).
  5. Now adjust the settings like paper size, colors, and other options and tap on print to get the printing working.
  6. If you're using a third-party app, such as NokoPrint, you can use it to select the photos or documents you want to print and directly print them rather than going to the file manager.

How to Print Web Page on Android?

  1. If you want to print web pages from Android, go to your browser, go to the webpage you want to print, then click on browser settings.
  2. Next, tap on Share, tap on Print, and follow the same process of printing used for photos.

How to Print Text Messages from Android?

Now that you know how to print pictures from Android phone, we're left with how to print texts from Android, which can be quite useful, especially for submission in court for legal issues. So, there are two ways we can print text messages from Android.

  • Screenshots: It's easy but comes with a hassle depending on how many texts you want to print.
  • Super Backup app: It is convenient and quick but requires you to download a 3rd party app.

So let's discuss both:

Using Screenshots To Print Texts From Android:

  1. Open your SMS app.
  2. Go to the message(s) you want to print.
  3. Screenshot them.
  4. Go to Photos, and then the Screenshots folder.
  5. Select the screenshot text messages you want to print and then select share.
  6. Tap on Print, select a printer, and you're done.

Using the Super Backup app:

  1. Download an app called Super Backup and Restore from Google Play.
  2. Once installed, it may ask you to select a folder in your phone's directory where it will store backups, so select one.
  3. Next, tap on SMS, then on Backup Conversations, and it may ask for permission to access contacts and messages. If you don't allow this, you won't be able to proceed further.
  4. If you accept permission, go to Backup Conversations, select (check) all the messages you want to print, and tap on Back Up at the bottom of the screen.
  5. It will ask you to select the file name. You can rename it or leave it as is. Click OK.
  6. Now go back and click on View Backups. Now tap on the file you just created.
  7. It will open the messages you backed up. There will also be a print button in the top right corner. Tap on it, and then you can print the text normally like you print any document.

How to Print an Email from Android Phone?

It's quite simple actually. Here's how to print an email from Android phone:

  1. Go to your email account and open the email that you want to print.
  2. Next, tap on the three vertical dots (⋮) located at the top right corner and you'll see a drop-down menu.
  3. Now tap on print, change print settings to your preferences and tap on the Select Printer button.
  4. Select your printer and you're ready to print from Android.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to print from your Android phone through the internet. However, if you do not have an active internet connection or if the printer's Wi-Fi receiver does not work properly, there are other ways to print from your Android phone.

For example, by using a USB cable and connecting your smartphone to the printer or Bluetooth to print directly.

The gist is that there is a way for everyone to ensure their printing needs are met even if their computer is away or not working, thanks to smartphones and the tons of connectivity options we see in modern printers.

Printing from an Android phone can be easy peasy with our guide. If you have more questions about printing and our products, talk to us at our toll-free number: 1-833-465-6888 from Mondays to Fridays from 6am-4pm PT. Our customer service representatives are ready to help.