Have a perfectly good USB printer but can't print to it from your iPhone? You're not alone. Many reliable printers—especially laser printers—only have USB connections, which means no direct AirPrint support. But with the right setup, you can make any USB printer work with AirPrint.
Why USB Printers Don't Support AirPrint
AirPrint requires network connectivity. When you print from an iPhone, it discovers printers using Bonjour (Apple's network discovery protocol) and sends print jobs over WiFi. USB printers can't participate in this—they only communicate through the USB cable.
This leaves millions of excellent printers without iPhone compatibility:
- Laser printers — Many affordable mono lasers are USB-only
- Older inkjets — Printers from before WiFi was standard
- Label printers — Most label and receipt printers
- Specialty printers — Photo printers, portable printers
- Office workhorses — Reliable printers that outlast their technology era
The good news? You can bridge USB to AirPrint using your Mac.
The Solution: Use Your Mac as a Bridge
Your Mac can act as a bridge between your USB printer and your iPhone. Here's how it works:
- USB printer connects to your Mac
- Mac shares the printer over the network
- iPhone discovers and prints to the shared printer
There are two ways to do this: macOS Printer Sharing and PrintCast.
Method 1: macOS Printer Sharing
macOS has built-in printer sharing that can sometimes work with AirPrint.
Setup
- Connect your USB printer to your Mac
- Install drivers if prompted (or download from manufacturer)
- Print a test page from your Mac to verify it works
- Enable Printer Sharing:
- Open System Settings → General → Sharing
- Turn on Printer Sharing
- Check the box next to your USB printer
Testing
- On your iPhone, open any app with content to print
- Tap Share → Print
- Tap Select Printer
- Look for your printer in the list
Limitations of macOS Printer Sharing
Unfortunately, macOS Printer Sharing doesn't always work with AirPrint:
- Driver compatibility — Many USB printer drivers don't support AirPrint passthrough
- "No AirPrint Printers Found" — Common issue even when sharing is enabled
- Limited features — May not expose all printer capabilities
- Inconsistent — Works with some printers, not others
If your USB printer doesn't appear on your iPhone after enabling sharing, you need PrintCast.
Method 2: PrintCast (Recommended)
PrintCast is specifically designed to make any Mac-connected printer work with AirPrint—including USB printers.
Why PrintCast Works Better
- Purpose-built for AirPrint — Not relying on macOS's limited implementation
- Works with any USB printer — If your Mac can print to it, so can your iPhone
- Full driver features — Access to all print settings through Mac drivers
- Reliable discovery — Consistent Bonjour advertisement
- Simple setup — Working in under 2 minutes
Setup
- Connect your USB printer to your Mac via USB cable
- Verify it works — Print a test page from your Mac
- Download PrintCast from the Mac App Store
- Launch PrintCast — It appears in your menu bar
- Toggle ON your USB printer
- Print from iPhone — Your printer appears like native AirPrint
That's it. Your USB printer now works with AirPrint.
PrintCast Features for USB Printers
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Full driver support | All your printer's features available |
| Automatic startup | PrintCast launches at login |
| Sleep prevention | Mac stays awake during print jobs |
| Multiple printers | Share several USB printers at once |
| Custom naming | Name printers for easy identification |
Pricing
PrintCast is a one-time purchase of $16.99—no subscriptions, no recurring fees.
Method 3: USB Print Server (Hardware)
If you don't have a Mac that's always on, a USB print server can network-enable your USB printer.
What Is a USB Print Server?
A USB print server is a small device that:
- Connects to your USB printer
- Connects to your WiFi network
- Makes the printer available over the network
Popular Options
TP-Link TL-PS110U (~$40)
- Single USB port
- Ethernet connection (needs router nearby)
- Works with most USB printers
IOGEAR GPSU21 (~$50)
- Single USB port
- Supports various printer protocols
- Compact design
Silex DS-510 (~$150)
- Enterprise-grade
- WiFi and Ethernet
- Better compatibility
Setup (General)
- Connect print server to your USB printer
- Connect print server to your network (Ethernet or WiFi)
- Configure via web interface (usually 192.168.x.x)
- Add printer on your Mac using IP address
- Enable Printer Sharing on Mac
- Print from iPhone
Limitations
- No direct AirPrint — Most print servers don't support AirPrint natively
- Still needs Mac — You'll likely need a Mac to bridge to AirPrint
- Complex setup — More configuration than PrintCast
- Compatibility issues — Not all printers work with all print servers
- Additional hardware — Another device to buy and maintain
When Print Servers Make Sense
- Your Mac isn't near the printer
- You want the printer in a different room
- Multiple computers need to share the printer (not just iPhone)
- You don't have a Mac but have a Windows PC
Method 4: Raspberry Pi Print Server
For the technically inclined, a Raspberry Pi can act as a print server with AirPrint support.
Requirements
- Raspberry Pi (any model, Pi Zero W works great)
- Power supply
- SD card with Raspberry Pi OS
- USB cable to printer
Basic Setup
- Install Raspberry Pi OS
- Install CUPS:
sudo apt install cups - Install Avahi (for AirPrint):
sudo apt install avahi-daemon - Configure CUPS via web interface (http://raspberrypi.local:631)
- Add your USB printer
- Enable sharing
Limitations
- Requires Linux knowledge
- More complex setup and maintenance
- May need troubleshooting for specific printers
- No official support
When This Makes Sense
- You enjoy DIY projects
- You already have a Raspberry Pi
- You want a low-power always-on solution
- You're comfortable with Linux
Comparing Your Options
| Method | Cost | Complexity | Reliability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| macOS Sharing | Free | Low | Variable | Testing first |
| PrintCast | $16.99 one-time | Very Low | High | Most users |
| USB Print Server | $40-150 | Medium | Medium | Printer far from Mac |
| Raspberry Pi | $35+ | High | Medium | DIY enthusiasts |
USB Printer Troubleshooting
Printer Not Recognized by Mac
- Try different USB port — Some ports have issues
- Try different cable — USB cables can fail
- Check System Information:
- Apple menu → About This Mac → System Report
- Look under USB for your printer
- Install manufacturer drivers — Download from printer maker's website
- Restart Mac with printer connected
Printer Works on Mac but Not iPhone
- Verify Printer Sharing is ON — System Settings → Sharing
- Check same WiFi network — iPhone and Mac must be on same network
- Try PrintCast — macOS sharing often doesn't work with AirPrint
- Restart printer and Mac — Clear any stuck states
- Check firewall — Ensure it's not blocking printer sharing
Print Jobs Stuck or Failing
- Check USB connection — Cables can work loose
- Clear print queue:
- System Settings → Printers & Scanners
- Select printer → Open Print Queue
- Cancel stuck jobs
- Reset printing system:
- Right-click in Printers & Scanners
- Select "Reset printing system"
- Re-add printer
- Update drivers — Get latest from manufacturer
Slow Printing Over USB
USB printers are typically fast, but if printing is slow:
- Check USB version — USB 2.0 vs 3.0 ports
- Reduce print quality — Draft mode is faster
- Check for driver updates
- Verify cable quality — Cheap cables can limit speed
Best USB Printers for This Setup
If you're buying a USB printer knowing you'll use it with AirPrint via Mac:
Monochrome Laser (Best Value)
Brother HL-L2350DW (~$150)
- Has WiFi but also USB
- Fast and reliable
- Works great with PrintCast
HP LaserJet M110we (~$130)
- Compact
- USB and WiFi
- Good for light use
Color Laser
Brother HL-L3220CDW (~$300)
- USB and WiFi
- Great color quality
- Fast printing
Inkjet (Photo Quality)
Canon PIXMA iP8720 (~$250)
- 13" wide format
- Excellent photo quality
- USB connectivity
Label Printers
DYMO LabelWriter 450 (~$100)
- Popular label printer
- USB only
- Works with PrintCast via Mac
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a USB hub?
Yes, USB printers generally work through hubs. Use a powered hub if you have connection issues.
Does the Mac need to stay on?
Yes—for any Mac-based solution, the Mac must be on and awake for printing to work. PrintCast includes sleep prevention to keep your Mac awake during print jobs.
What if I only have a Windows PC?
You'll need a different solution:
- Some USB print servers support AirPrint directly (rare)
- Windows printer sharing sometimes works with AirPrint
- Consider a network-enabled printer instead
Can I use a USB-C to USB-A adapter?
Yes, USB printers work fine through adapters. Use a quality adapter for reliability.
Will this work with any USB printer?
If your Mac can print to it, PrintCast can share it via AirPrint. The only exception is printers that require proprietary software that doesn't integrate with macOS printing.
Summary
Making a USB printer work with AirPrint is straightforward with the right approach:
- Try macOS Printer Sharing first — It's free and sometimes works
- Use PrintCast — The reliable solution that works with any USB printer
- Consider hardware — Print servers or Raspberry Pi for special situations
For most people, PrintCast is the answer. It turns any USB printer into an AirPrint printer in minutes, with full access to your printer's features through its Mac driver.
Don't let a USB-only connection stop you from printing from your iPhone. Your trusty USB printer has plenty of life left—now your iPhone can use it too.