Apple AirPrint Download and Setup Guide
Driverless printing built into iPhone, iPad and Mac
Representative photo — Vagaro
AirPrint is Apple's driverless printing system, built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac. When a compatible printer is on the same network, it simply appears in the print dialog with its paper sizes and duplex options, with no driver, app or setup. It covers the great majority of printers sold in the last decade, and it is usually the simplest way to print from an Apple device. Its limits are worth knowing: it does not scan, it does not expose manufacturer-specific features, and it needs the printer and device on the same network.
Version and licence: Built into iOS, iPadOS and macOS. There is nothing to download or install. AirPrint works only over a network, so the printer must be on the same Wi-Fi or wired network as the device, and the printer must support AirPrint.
Download Apple AirPrint
Regional pages: United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · India
What it does
- No driver, app or setup required for a compatible printer
- Automatic discovery of printers on the same network
- Paper size, duplex, colour and page range options in the standard print dialog
- Works from any app with a share or print option
- Supported by the great majority of network printers sold in the last decade
- Built into iOS, iPadOS and macOS with nothing to install
How to install it
Step 1
Connect the printer to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Step 2
Confirm the printer supports AirPrint by checking its specification or its network settings page.
Step 3
On an iPhone or iPad, open the document or photo and tap the share button, then Print.
Step 4
Tap Printer and choose your printer from the list that appears.
Step 5
Set the number of copies, paper size and double-sided option, then tap Print.
Step 6
On a Mac, open Print from the File menu and pick the printer; add it in System Settings, Printers and Scanners if it is not listed.
Step 7
If nothing appears, check the phone and printer are on the same network and band, and that any VPN is off.
Which printers it supports
Most network printers sold in the last decade support AirPrint, including current models from HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Lexmark, Xerox, Ricoh, Kyocera and many others. Apple publishes a compatibility list, and printers supporting IPP Everywhere usually work too.
When Apple AirPrint will not work
The device and printer must be on the same network and, on many home routers, the same band. Turn off any VPN, disable guest network isolation, and confirm the printer has an IP address by printing a network status page.
Check the printer panel for a paper or ink error, and clear the queue on the printer. Restart the printer, since its AirPrint service can stop responding while the printer stays otherwise online.
AirPrint exposes only what the printer advertises. If the printer supports duplex but does not offer it, update the printer firmware, which often fixes incomplete AirPrint capability reporting.
AirPrint does not scan. Use the manufacturer's app, such as HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel or Brother Mobile Connect, or use the built-in document scanner in the Notes and Files apps for camera-based scanning.
Some printers gained AirPrint through a firmware update, so check for one. Otherwise, sharing the printer from a Mac makes it available to iOS devices on the same network.
Printers that use Apple AirPrint
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install AirPrint?
No. It is built into iOS, iPadOS and macOS, and compatible printers simply appear in the print dialog.
Can AirPrint scan?
No. It is printing only. Scanning needs the manufacturer's app or the Mac's built-in scanning support.
Does it work over USB?
No. AirPrint is a network protocol, so the printer must be on the same network as the device.
Why can I not see options my printer supports?
AirPrint shows what the printer advertises. A firmware update often fixes missing options.
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