How to Print From Android Phone: Complete Guide
Android makes wireless printing easier than ever. Here's everything you need to know about printing from your Android phone — whether you have a Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, or any other Android device.
Method 1: Built-in Android Print Function
Modern Android phones (Android 9 and later) have printing built directly into the operating system. Open the document, photo, or webpage you want to print → tap the three-dot menu or Share → select Print. Android will search for printers on your WiFi network automatically. Select your printer, choose settings (copies, paper size, colour), and tap the Print button. If your printer doesn't appear, tap the dropdown at the top and select Add Printer or check that your printer is on the same WiFi network.
Method 2: Samsung Print Service Plugin
Samsung Android phones have the Samsung Print Service Plugin pre-installed, which adds support for hundreds of printer models beyond the default Android support. Go to Settings → Connections → More connection settings → Printing → Samsung Print Service Plugin → ensure it's enabled. This plugin supports most HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Samsung printers directly without additional apps.
Method 3: Manufacturer Print Apps
HP Smart (Android): Download from Google Play Store. Automatically finds HP printers on your network. Print documents, photos, PDFs, and web content. Also supports scanning directly from your phone's camera. Canon PRINT: For Canon printers. Print photos directly from Google Photos or your gallery with Canon's colour optimisation. Epson Smart Panel: Full Epson printer control from Android including maintenance functions and EcoTank ink level monitoring. Brother Mobile Connect: For Brother printers with mobile scan capability.
Method 4: Google Cloud Print Alternative — Printhand
Since Google discontinued Cloud Print in 2021, Printhand Mobile Print Premium ($4.99) is the best alternative for printing to non-WiFi-Direct printers from Android. It supports over 3,000 printer models and enables printing via WiFi, Bluetooth, and USB OTG cable.
How to Print PDFs From Android
Open the PDF in any PDF viewer (Google Drive, Adobe Acrobat, etc.) → tap the three-dot menu → Print → select printer → Print. Most PDF apps have built-in print functions. Alternatively, open the PDF in Chrome browser → tap the three-dot menu → Share → Print.
How to Print Photos From Android
Open Google Photos → select the photo → tap the three-dot menu → Print → choose your printer. For best results, select photo paper in the print settings and choose the highest quality option. Most modern Android phones can print directly to photo printers via WiFi Direct without being on the same WiFi network.
Troubleshooting Android Printing
Printer not found: ensure both devices are on the same WiFi network — your phone may be on 5GHz while the printer is on 2.4GHz. Try forgetting your current WiFi network and reconnecting to the 2.4GHz band. Print job stuck: go to Settings → Apps → Print Spooler → Clear Cache and Clear Data. This resets the Android print system and resolves most stuck job issues.