If we considered Windows 10 as the operating system of a tablet, we would discover that it is the only one that makes printing from its applications easy. If we instead consider Windows 8 or Windows 10 on a desktop or laptop, it turns out that there is a whole new way of printing from the applications of the Start screen .
If you are using Windows 8, you can print from almost any Metro or Mdern application that has text, using the traditional printer or the wifi printer.
Windows 8 also has a new printer driver system that allows you to configure automatically and without having to install additional software, like any printer model.
How to print from applications in Windows 10 and 8
In the applications of the Start screen there is no menu with the key to print as it does for traditional programs open on the desktop.
To print in an application it is necessary to use the right sidebar that appears by moving the mouse cursor to the top right.
First of all open an app to view the content you want to print, for example a web page in the "Metro" or "Modern" version of Internet Explorer, an email in the Mail app or a PDF document in the Reader app.
Then open the right sidebar (press the Windows + C keys), and press on the Devices key (which can be opened directly by pressing the Windows + K keys)
You will then be presented with a list of printers connected to your computer, including virtual printers for creating PDF or XPS.
If the application you are using does not support printing, you will not be able to view the printers in the device list.
Select the printer to use to access the print settings and finally find the key to print from the application in Windows 8.
You can also go to Other Settings to view and customize advanced printer settings and change, for example, the orientation of the document, the type of paper you are using or the quality.
You can choose the number of copies to print, whether to print in color or black and white, double-sided printing and other things.
The Devices menu, when opened on the desktop, does not support printing.
You can easily add network printers from a desktop control panel to a computer running Windows 8, in the same way you would in Windows 7 and other previous versions of Windows.
You may also notice that, by connecting a new printer, the relative management program will be automatically downloaded from the Microsoft App store.
All added printers will be displayed both on the desktop and on the Devices menu when opened for an application.
Printing PDF files is not yet enabled in Windows even with Windows 8 although the possibility remains to print a document in an XPS file.
This remains convenient to use in case you want to postpone printing on paper or to create a file that can no longer be edited.
In another article, the best virtual printers for creating pdfs from documents and web pages are listed (I recommend installing at least one, DoPDF).
After installing a PDF printer, it will appear in the list of installed printers, as if it were a normal printer.
This is important because you allow to print normally with your printer even using a tablet such as Microsoft Surface.
