Printing from your iPhone should be as simple as pressing a button, but if your printer doesn't support AirPrint, you've probably discovered it's anything but simple. This guide covers every method to print from your iPhone to any printer—including those "unsupported" models gathering dust because they can't talk to your Apple devices.
Understanding the Problem
Apple's AirPrint technology is elegant when it works: your iPhone automatically discovers compatible printers on your network and sends print jobs wirelessly. The catch? Your printer needs to support AirPrint natively, and many excellent printers—especially older models or budget-friendly options—simply don't.
When you tap "Print" on your iPhone and see "No AirPrint Printers Found," you have several options. Let's explore them from simplest to most technical.
Method 1: PrintCast (Recommended)
If you have a Mac on the same network as your iPhone, PrintCast is the most seamless solution. It turns your Mac into an AirPrint bridge, making any printer your Mac can see appear as an AirPrint printer to your iOS devices.
How PrintCast Works
- Your Mac already knows how to print to your printer (via USB, network, or even Bluetooth)
- PrintCast broadcasts that printer using AirPrint protocols
- Your iPhone discovers it like any native AirPrint printer
- Print jobs flow through your Mac to the printer
Setup
- Download PrintCast from the Mac App Store
- Launch the app—it appears in your menu bar
- Click the PrintCast icon and toggle on the printers you want to share
- On your iPhone, your printers now appear in the print dialog
The entire process takes under a minute, and your printers work exactly like native AirPrint devices—including features like color selection, duplex printing, and paper size options.
Why PrintCast?
- No configuration needed: If your Mac can print to it, your iPhone can too
- Runs locally: No cloud services, no accounts, no data collection
- Smart capability detection: Automatically advertises the right features
- Starts at login: Set it and forget it
Method 2: Manufacturer Apps
Many printer manufacturers offer their own iOS apps that can print without AirPrint. The quality varies significantly.
HP Smart
HP's app works well for recent HP printers and can handle most document types. It requires creating an HP account.
Canon PRINT
Canon's solution for their inkjets and some laser printers. Setup can be finicky depending on your printer model.
Epson iPrint
Works with Epson printers but often requires the printer and phone to be on the same WiFi network with no isolation.
Brother iPrint&Scan
Solid app for Brother printers with decent feature support.
The Downsides
- Each manufacturer has their own app with different interfaces
- Many require creating accounts
- Feature support varies wildly by printer model
- Some apps are poorly maintained or haven't been updated for recent iOS versions
- You're locked into that manufacturer's ecosystem
Method 3: Third-Party Print Apps
Several third-party apps claim to enable printing to any printer. Results are mixed.
Printer Pro by Readdle
One of the better options, though it requires a companion app on your Mac or PC. Costs money and can be complex to set up.
Print n Share
Another paid option with Mac/PC helper software required.
The Reality
These apps essentially do what PrintCast does but with more complexity and cost. If you have a Mac, PrintCast is simpler. If you only have a Windows PC, these might be worth exploring.
Method 4: Email-to-Print
Some printers support receiving print jobs via email. This is clunky but works in a pinch.
Setup (varies by manufacturer)
- Register your printer with the manufacturer's cloud service
- Get an email address assigned to your printer
- Send documents as attachments to that email
- Wait for them to print
Limitations
- Slow—jobs can take minutes to arrive
- Requires your printer to have internet access
- Privacy concerns with documents going through manufacturer servers
- Limited formatting control
- Not all document types supported
Method 5: Google Cloud Print (Discontinued)
If you're reading older guides, they might mention Google Cloud Print. Google discontinued this service in December 2020. Any information suggesting this as an option is outdated.
Method 6: USB OTG Adapters (Limited)
Some users try connecting printers directly via USB using Lightning or USB-C adapters. This rarely works—iOS doesn't include drivers for most printers, and even when it does, support is extremely limited.
Method 7: Shared Windows Printers
If you have a Windows PC instead of a Mac, you can share printers and use third-party apps that communicate with Windows' print spooler. This is more complex than the Mac approach and often unreliable.
Comparing Your Options
| Method | Setup Time | Reliability | Cost | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PrintCast | Minutes | Excellent | $16.99 one-time | Local only |
| Manufacturer Apps | Varies | Good-Fair | Free | Cloud-based |
| Third-Party Apps | 30+ min | Fair | $15-30 | Varies |
| Email-to-Print | 15+ min | Fair | Free | Poor |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
"No AirPrint Printers Found"
If you've set up PrintCast or another solution but still see this:
- Ensure your iPhone and Mac/printer are on the same network
- Check that your router isn't blocking mDNS/Bonjour traffic
- Disable any VPN on your iPhone
- Restart the PrintCast app or your printer
Prints Start But Never Finish
This usually indicates a communication issue between your Mac and printer:
- Try printing a test page directly from your Mac
- Check printer cables and network connections
- Restart both the printer and the PrintCast app
Poor Print Quality
This isn't an AirPrint issue—check:
- Ink or toner levels
- Print quality settings in the iOS print dialog
- Whether you're printing at the right paper size
The Bottom Line
For most users with a Mac, PrintCast offers the best experience: fast setup, reliable printing, and no ongoing hassle. It turns the "No AirPrint Printers Found" problem into a non-issue.
If you don't have a Mac, manufacturer apps are your next best bet, though they come with more friction and privacy trade-offs.
The key insight is that AirPrint compatibility isn't really about your printer—it's about having the right bridge between your iPhone and whatever printer you own. With the right solution, any printer can become an AirPrint printer.