It’s an unavoidable fact of life. At some point, despite your best efforts to avoid printers like the plague, you will need to print something. If your primary device is aniPad, the technical hurdles involved may seem insurmountable. Thankfully, printing from an Apple tablet isn’t as convoluted as it used to be, and this guide will detail all the options iPad users have if they need a hard copy of a document.
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How to print from an iPad
Option 1: AirPrint
If you ever need to print from an iOS device, your best bet is a printer that supports AirPrint, an Apple technology that allows iPhones, iPads and Macs to create full-quality printouts without the need for specialized drivers.
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In 2023, most printers support the standard out of the box. If you’re unsure if your printer does, Apple maintains a comprehensive list of AirPrint devices on itswebsite.
Once you’re ready to print, here’s what to do:
You can follow the progress of a print job from the App Switcher. An app called Printer Center will appear in the interface. To stop an in-progress job, select Print Center and tapCancel Printing.
Note: not all apps support AirPrint.
Option 2: Standalone manufacturer app
If your printer doesn’t support AirPrint, you have a couple of other options.
Most printer manufacturers offer their own standalone iOS app that allow users to print directly from their iPhone or iPad. It’s outside the scope of this guide to provide instruction on how to use each and everyone of these programs, but below is a list of the most popular options, with links to the App Store.
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Option 3: Printopia
If the manufacturer of your printer doesn’t offer a standalone app, another option is to use a program likePrintopia. It requires a Mac to use, but you don’t need to install any other software on your iPad. The latest version supports iOS 17, and as the developer notes, “If your Mac can still print to it your iPad or iPhone can too.” A free seven-day trial of Printopia is available, with the full version priced at $20. It’s also easy to use. Once you have it installed on your Mac, you can add up to five printers for your iPad to access.
