It is much more practical to be able to control the printer from a smartphone or tablet instead of having to switch on the computer every time. All you need is an Android device and a network-compatible printer. The latter is the case with the vast majority of newer models.
The right app
In order to be able to operate the printer from your Android device, you need a dedicated app . Many printer manufacturers provide their own app for their devices. These manufacturer apps are easy to find on the Google Play Store if you simply search for the manufacturer's name. There you will find " Brother iPrint & Scan ", " Epson Print" "and similar apps from other well-known manufacturers. The features vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, which is why it can be worth paying attention to the manufacturer when buying a printer. There are also some universal apps that, however, require or pay more effort to set up As a rule, however, you should be well served with the manufacturer's apps.
Facility
The setup of the apps is very similar and simple. Just let the app guide you. First, your Android smartphone or tablet needs to search the network for the printer . Usually you will be presented with a list of devices from which to choose yours. Sometimes you can also make advanced settings, which you can take a look at. The printer can then be used . There are times when your Android cannot find the printer. To solve this problem, make sure that the printer is connected to the router via WiFi and not via a cable. This is to ensure that your mobile device and the printer are on the same network ..
How to use the printer apps
So when you want to print a document, it's very easy to do. We'll show you how to do it in our instructions. Please note that not every printer app can handle every file format. Some apps do not allow certain document types.
1st step:
Open any document in any app. Here, for example, we have selected the heise start page in the Chrome browser. Open the menu via the three dots in the upper right corner. Note : With other apps, the corresponding menu can also be placed in a different position. So you may have to look for the share or print button . 2nd step:
Open the " Share " menu. Some apps also offer a separate option for printing. If this is the case, you should select the " Print " option, as the document is then often optimized for the printing process. 3rd step:
Your printer app should now appear in the menu below. Select the appropriate manufacturer app. You will then be redirected to the app, where you can make further settings and finally print the document.
