Fix iPad Printing Problems

With an AirPrint-enabled printer, printing from your iPad should be as easy as tapping the Share button, choosing Print, and selecting your printer. However, this process doesn’t always work perfectly.

If you can’t print or the iPad can’t find your printer, try a few troubleshooting steps that resolve the most common problems.

If the Printer Isn’t Showing Up in the List on Your iPad

Try these troubleshooting steps in order if your printer isn’t available.

1. Ensure your printer is turned on. Some printers automatically power off, so check its status first.

2. Verify that you are connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. AirPrint works over Wi-Fi and it must be the same Wi-Fi network as your printer. Ensure both the iPad and printer are on the same network with the same frequency.

   Most homes have one Wi-Fi network, but some routers broadcast on both a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz network. Large homes might use a Wi-Fi extender that broadcasts a different network. 

3. Refresh the iPad’s Wi-Fi connection. This procedure forces the iPad to look for the printer again. Leave it off for a moment and then turn it back on. After the iPad reconnects to the network, try printing again.

4. Reboot the iPad. It’s surprising how many random problems rebooting the iPad will solve.

   Some iPads require holding the top/power button and one of the volume buttons.

5. Restart the printer. The issue may be with the printer rather than the iPad. Turn off the printer and then power it back on. Wait for the printer to reconnect to the Wi-Fi network before trying to print again. 

   Most AirPrint printers have a Wi-Fi light or icon indicating a proper connection. 

6. Ensure it’s an AirPrint printer. If it’s new, the packaging should indicate AirPrint compatibility. Some older printers require a specific app to print from the iPad, so check the owner’s manual.

If the Printer Appears in the List

If your printer’s available on your iPad but you can’t send a print job, use these steps to troubleshoot your printer.

1. Check ink levels and paper. You might receive an error message if the printer is out of ink. Even if you don’t, rule out these issues by ensuring the printer has enough ink and paper. 

2. Reboot the printer. Numerous issues could be on the printer’s side, and rebooting it can solve them. Turn off the printer, leave it off for a few seconds, and then turn it back on. After it reboots, try printing again. 

3. Run diagnostics on the printer. Many printers offer basic diagnostics, checking for ink levels, paper jams, and other common issues. 

4. Reboot the iPad. The problem shouldn’t be with the iPad if the printer is showing up on it, but reboot the iPad anyway. Hold down the top button (and a volume button if necessary) to turn it off, and then hold down the top/power button again to restart it.

5. Reboot the router. The problem might not be with the printer. If you checked everything on the printer, it could be the router causing the trouble. Turn the router off and wait at least one minute before booting it back up again to see if that fixes the glitch.

6. Contact the printer’s manufacturer. If you’ve tried all basic troubleshooting steps, including rebooting the iPad, printer, and router, reach out to the printer’s manufacturer for more specific help.

Causes of iPad AirPrint Issues

The most common problem occurs when the iPad cannot find or recognize your printer. The root cause of this problem is that the iPad and printer are not communicating with each other correctly.

Some printers, especially early AirPrint models, can be finicky and need special attention occasionally. 

If your iPad can see the printer and send print jobs, it’s likely not an iPad issue. Your iPad should detect standard problems like the printer being out of paper or ink, but this depends on the printer communicating back.