Printing documents, photos, or webpages is still a necessary task, even in our increasingly digital world. Thankfully, printing directly from your Android phone or tablet is simple with the right steps. As an IT consultant specializing in Android devices for 5 years, I will guide you through printing locally stored files, cloud documents, webpages, and more from your Android device.
Table of Contents
Connect Android Device to WiFi Printer
The easiest way to print from Android is by connecting your device directly to a WiFi-enabled printer.
Steps:
- Connect your Android device and printer to the same WiFi network.
- On your device, open Settings and tap Connections > Connection preferences > Printing.
- Select Add service and choose your printer brand from the Play Store options. Install the printer app.
- In the printer app, select your WiFi printer and tap Connect.
Once connected, your device can print to that printer from any app.
Print Locally Stored Files
To print photos, PDFs, or documents stored on your Android device:
- Open the Files app and navigate to the file.
- Tap the 3-dot menu in the upper right and choose Print.
- Select the connected printer and tap Print.
Repeat these steps to print files from other file storage apps too.
Print Files from Cloud Services
Cloud storage services like Google Drive also support printing:
- Open the Google Drive app and open the file.
- Tap the 3 lines in the top right corner.
- Choose Share & export > Print > select printer > Print.
This works for Microsoft Office files, PDFs, images, and more in Drive.
Print Webpages from Android Browser
To print webpages open in Chrome or other browsers:
- With the webpage open, tap the 3 dot menu in the upper right.
- Select Share > Print.
- Choose printer and any print options like page range or orientation before tapping Print.
The printed webpage includes images and retains formatting.
Tips for Successful Android Printing
- For direct wireless printing, connect phone and printer to the same WiFi network.
- Some apps allow printing via USB cable if WiFi isn’t available.
- Consider using the Chrome browser for printing from websites.
- Check printer app settings if having issues discovering or connecting printers.
- Print only necessary pages using print range options to conserve paper and ink.
With these simple steps, you can easily print documents, photos, and webpages right from your Android phone or tablet. No laptop or desktop computer required! Let me know if you have any other questions.