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2025-02-28
Printing from an Android phone has become an essential skill for many users, especially as more people use their devices for work and everyday tasks. While Androidâs built-in printing options arenât always seamless, itâs possible to print documents with just a few steps once you know where to find the right settings. Whether you’re working from a Google Doc or need to print a document stored locally, this guide will walk you through the process.
In this article, weâll show you how to add a printer to your Android phone and print wirelessly, from setting up the connection to managing print jobs on both Pixel and Samsung devices.
Setting Up Your Android for Printing
Printing from your Android phone requires a few key ingredients: a printer connected to your Wi-Fi network and your Android device also connected to the same network. Once those are in place, follow these steps to set up your printing service.
1. Unlock Your Phone and Connect to Wi-Fi
To begin, unlock your Android device and ensure both your phone and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network. This is crucial for ensuring they can communicate with one another.
2. Access Connected Devices
Navigate to the Settings app on your phone (via the Notification Shade or the App Drawer), and tap on Connected Devices. This is where you will manage the connection between your phone and other devices, like printers.
3. Locate the Printing Section
Scroll down within the Connected Devices page and select Connection Preferences. Then, tap Printing. If you are using a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can search for the term “Printing” directly in your settings for a quicker way to find the option.
4. Add a Printer Service
In the Printing section, youâll see an option to Add Service or Download Plugin. Tap on it, and select the appropriate service that corresponds with your printer model. If you donât see your printer listed, visit the Google Play Store and search for your printerâs brand (such as âBrother Printer Serviceâ).
5. Connect Your Printer
Once the service is installed, return to the Printing settings, and you should see the new service listed. Tap on the service, and it will begin searching for your printer. Once the printer is found, you’re all set to start printing.
6. Printing from Google Docs
To print a document from the Google Docs app:
– Open the document you want to print.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Share & Export.
- Choose Print, select your printer from the dropdown menu, configure the number of copies, and set your paper size. Tap Print to send the document to your printer.
Troubleshooting: Network Printer vs. Shared Printer
While the setup process works smoothly for most network-attached printers, itâs important to note that shared printersâthose connected to a computer and shared over the networkâcan cause issues. If your printer is shared via a computer, the Android print service may struggle to detect it. In such cases, the best workaround is to print as a PDF and transfer the file to a computer to print.
What Undercode Says:
Printing directly from Android is an excellent feature that allows for increased productivity and flexibility. However, the setup process can be tricky for those unfamiliar with network configurations, especially when dealing with printers that are shared through a PC or non-networkable devices. The key takeaway is that for a seamless experience, your printer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone, and it must be a networkable printer, not one shared via a computer.
This process has become more streamlined over the years, but issues can still arise. For example, even with a correct network setup, some printers (particularly those on Linux-based systems with Samba shares) might not show up on Android’s printing service. Itâs essential to ensure the printer is truly networked rather than shared from another device.
Furthermore, while Google Docs offers a smooth printing option, some users might still find themselves stuck with printers that arenât supported or have connection issues. This is where the alternative method of exporting documents as PDFs and printing from another device comes in handy.
Fact Checker Results:
- Network Connectivity: The importance of both devices being connected to the same network is confirmed as essential for successful printing.
- Printing Services: Androidâs reliance on specific printing services, such as those available via the Play Store for different printer brands, is accurate.
- Shared Printers: Shared printers may face difficulties, which is a common limitation noted by many users in forums and reviews.
References:
Reported By: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-print-from-an-android-phone/
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