Even if with modern smartphones and tablets there is less need to print on a sheet of paper, knowing that it is possible to print any document without having to transfer it every time to the PC is still convenient, especially in the office where there could definitely be the need to suddenly print a spreadsheet or document just received by email. When using an Android mobile phone we have several methods to add a printer connected to the PC or connected to the network, so that we can print on any occasion and with any printer model .
In this guide we have collected all the apps and methods to be able to print from an Android phone or tablet, for every circumstance and every printer, of any brand and model, available, both wifi and cable attached to a computer.
READ ALSO -> Print from iPad and iPhone on any printer
1) Plugin services
Starting from version 5.0 of Android it is possible to add directly to the operating system of the printing plugins, that is the real "drivers" that the system is able to exploit to connect to printers connected directly to the home modem via WiFi, network or shared from Windows (if they were USB only).
Using these plugins is simple; we choose the right one based on the printer in our possession and install it as if it were any app.
Below we have collected the plugins for the most famous printer manufacturers:
- Plugins for HP printers
- Plugins for Epson printers
- Plugins for Canon printers
- Plugins for Samsung printers
- Plugins for Brother printers
- Plugins for Lexmark printers
- Plugins for Xerox printers
Once one or more plugins are installed, make sure they are enabled in the system by clicking Settings -> Print (alternatively we can also find Printers or Print Plugins by manufacturer). To find a printer, simply open the plug-in from the same manufacturer as the printer, wait for the search until the printer connected to the modem or PC appears.
If the plugin supports it, we will also be able to check some information about the printer including ink level, paper loading and options reserved for companies.
To print simply open any file within the app, click the Share or Send button and choose the plugin from the available destinations. The only requirement is that the printer and smartphone are on the same home network (connected to the same modem).
2) Google Cloud Print
Google Cloud Print is the official Google application for printing from Android mobile devices, tablets or even Chromebook laptops.
Google Cloud Print bases its operation on the Google Chrome browser which is capable of projecting printers connected to the computer onto the Internet, making them accessible to all devices even when we are away from home.
By opening Google Chrome and adding the printer via one of the two buttons offered on the official page ( Add classic printers and Add Cloud printers ), we will be able to have the printer always available, ready to be used on Android.
As soon as you add the printer to Google Cloud Print, simply install the Cloud Print application for Android to print from your mobile phone or tablet using the printer connected to the computer which, of course, must be turned on.
In order for everything to work, you need to use the same Google account in both Chrome and Android phone and associate the printer with the account (see this page).
The important thing is that mobile phone and computer are connected to the internet, not necessarily on the same WiFi network.
So with CloudPrint you can print on your home or office printer even if you are elsewhere since it uses the Internet to access the printing features.
To print documents or web pages from other applications on Android you need to press the Share button present in all apps after opening a file and sending that file to the Cloud Print app.
In another article all the details and the guide to print via internet with Google Cloud Print .
Note that Cloud Print has other very useful advanced features such as sharing the printer with other Google accounts and giving other people the opportunity to print using our printer .
The Google Cloud Print module is also available on some modern printers, so you can add them to our Google account directly from the printer's control interface, without having to necessarily go through the PC.
3) Breezy
Breezy works in a very similar way to Cloud Print, it allows you to print using your PC printer, connected to your Android phone or tablet via an application, freely downloadable from here -> Breezy .
You must first install a program on your computer (so as to interface correctly with the printer on the network or with the USB printer) and then the app on Android to make the cloud-based online connection.
To print, simply send the files via the Share button directly to the Breezy app, which will make us choose the printer to use and the print settings.
Also in this case we can print anywhere, just the printer, the PC with the server program and the smartphone are connected to the Internet.
4) PrinterShare
If we are unable to use cloud printing services, perhaps because the printer in use is too old or difficult to configure, we can try using the PrinterShare app, available as a free trial from here -> PrinterShare .
Once you open this app we will be shown all the data that you can share (images, documents, files, emails, messages etc.); all we have to do is choose what to print, so as to immediately show the screen where you can add any printer via one of the supported technologies ( WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, Google Cloud Print and Remote Printer ).
Once the printer is selected, just check the preview and print settings and send the document print via the chosen connection system.
Currently one of the best systems for printing with very old or difficult to configure printers.
5) Print to PDF
If you do not have time to configure Cloud Print or if you do not have an internet connection, we can always print a document or a web page open on the Android mobile phone in PDF.
Virtual PDF printing with printers so useful on computers can also be had on an Android smartphone or tablet.
To print to PDF, you should use the Android sharing function via the usual Share button located at the top right of any app you are using.
The application that allows you to convert the web page or other files into a PDF is always Google Cloud Print which integrates with Google Drive.
Once we have found the file to be printed, click on the Share button, then touch the Cloud Print item and use the Save in Google Drive option.
Now just wait to go home to be able to immediately print the document left saved in PDF on the Google cloud.
READ ALSO: Scan PDF documents from iPhone and Android with the App Scanner
6) Official printer apps
Many modern printers use wireless connectivity, which allows them to connect to the network and print wirelessly from any device.
Other models have not only wireless but also NFC functionality, which allows you to send the print simply by bringing the phone closer to the printer sensor.
The older models instead support DirectPrint, therefore with the possibility of printing via a connected USB cable.
In order to make the most of these technologies, we recommend installing on your Android smartphone
free applications to manage printing processes (eye are different from plugins) ; specific apps for printers can be found in the following list:
- Epson iPrint
- HP Smart
- Samsung Mobile Print
- Lexmark Mobile Print
- Canon Print Service
We install the right app, so that we can benefit from advanced printing options, some small photo editing tools (for photos and images) and full support for all the connection technologies available today.
