You have an Android phone and a printer, and you want them to work together. Unlike connecting Bluetooth headphones, printer setup on Android involves Wi-Fi networks, a system setting most people never touch, and sometimes a manufacturer app. None of it is difficult — it just follows a different path than iPhone printing.
This guide walks through exactly how to connect a printer to an Android phone, from enabling the print service to verifying the connection, plus fixes for the problems that come up most often. Once you are connected, head to our print from Android guide for the actual print steps from any app.
How Android Printer Connection Works
Before touching any settings, understand what “connected” means on Android — because it is not the same as on iPhone.
Your Android phone does not maintain a permanent bond with your printer. There is no Bluetooth pairing screen and no device entry in Settings that says “Connected.” Instead, Android runs a background print service that scans your Wi-Fi network for compatible printers whenever an app requests printing. You pick a printer from the list, the job goes through, and the connection ends until the next print.
Android uses the Android Print Framework, not AirPrint. AirPrint is Apple’s protocol and does not exist on Android phones. Google’s Default Print Service handles printer discovery for most network printers using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) and related standards. Some printer brands also offer their own print service plugins — HP Print Service Plugin, Samsung Mobile Print, and others — that register additional printers with the system.
The practical requirement is the same as on iPhone: both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and the printer must be awake and online. If either condition fails, your phone shows an empty printer list.
If someone in your household prints from an iPhone, their setup is covered in our connect printer to iPhone guide. iPhone printing uses AirPrint, which is simpler once the printer supports it. Android users need the extra step of enabling the print service, but the end result — wireless printing from your phone — is the same.
What You Need Before You Start
Gather these before attempting to connect:
A Wi-Fi printer. Your printer must connect to your wireless router. USB-only printers plugged into a desktop computer will not work with your Android phone unless that computer shares the printer over the network — a workaround, not a direct connection.
Android 8.0 or later. Printing works on older versions, but current Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and OnePlus devices running Android 12 through 15 offer the most reliable experience.
The same Wi-Fi network. Your phone and printer must join the same router. Guest networks, mobile hotspots, and VPN connections break printer discovery.
Your printer manufacturer’s app (often helpful). While Google’s Default Print Service discovers many printers automatically, some brands — especially older models — need their companion app for initial Wi-Fi setup or to appear in the print dialog. HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel, Brother iPrint&Scan, and Samsung Mobile Print are the common ones.
Your Wi-Fi password. If your printer is new and not yet on the network, you will need to connect it to Wi-Fi first — either through the printer’s control panel or through a manufacturer app.
Step 1: Connect Your Printer to Wi-Fi
Your printer must join your home network before your Android phone can find it. Skip this step if your printer is already connected and printing from other devices.
Using the printer’s control panel: Navigate to Network Settings or Wireless Setup on the printer’s display. Select your Wi-Fi network, enter the password, and wait for a confirmation message. Many printers print a network configuration page showing the assigned IP address — useful for troubleshooting.
Using a manufacturer app: Download HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel, or the app for your brand. Open the app, tap Add Printer, and follow the guided Wi-Fi setup. The app communicates with the printer over a temporary direct connection, transfers your Wi-Fi credentials, and connects the printer to your router. This is often faster than typing a password on a small printer screen.
Using WPS: If your router has a WPS button, press it and then press WPS on your printer within two minutes. The devices connect automatically. WPS is convenient but less secure than manual password entry.
After setup, print a test page from the printer’s menu to confirm it is online.
Step 2: Enable Printing on Your Android Phone
This is the step most Android users miss — and the reason their phone cannot find any printers.
On stock Android (Pixel, Motorola, Nokia):
- Open Settings.
- Tap Connected devices → Connection preferences → Printing. On some devices the path is Settings → Connected devices → Printing.
- Enable Default Print Service.
- Tap the three-dot menu and confirm Download printer information is turned on.
- Wait a few seconds. Nearby network printers should appear in the list.
On Samsung Galaxy phones:
- Open Settings → Connected devices → More connection settings → Printing.
- Enable Default Print Service.
- If you own a Samsung printer, also install and enable Samsung Mobile Print for advanced features.
On OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, and other brands:
Search Settings for “Printing” or “Print” and enable the default print service. Some phones bundle a manufacturer-specific print plugin — enable that too if available.
Once enabled, the print service runs in the background. You do not repeat this for every document — it is a one-time configuration.
Step 3: Install a Manufacturer App (If Needed)
Google’s Default Print Service discovers many printers, but not all. If your printer does not appear after Step 2, install the app for your printer brand:
- HP — HP Smart
- Canon — Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY
- Epson — Epson Smart Panel
- Brother — Brother iPrint&Scan
- Samsung — Samsung Mobile Print
Open the app, add your printer, and complete any Wi-Fi setup prompts. Many manufacturer apps also register a print service plugin with Android, which makes the printer visible in the system print dialog even when the Default Print Service alone cannot find it.
You do not need to print from the manufacturer app every time — once the printer is registered, any app on your phone can send jobs through the system Print dialog.
Step 4: Connect Your Phone to the Same Wi-Fi Network
Open Settings → Wi-Fi on your Android phone and connect to the same network your printer uses. This sounds obvious, but it is the single most common connection failure.
Watch for these traps:
Guest networks isolate devices from each other. Your phone and printer may both be “on Wi-Fi” but on different network segments that cannot communicate.
Mesh Wi-Fi band splitting — some routers use different names for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Most printers connect on 2.4 GHz. If your phone is on the 5 GHz band of a split network, discovery may fail. Connect both to the same band or use a unified network name.
VPN apps route traffic away from your local network, hiding local printers. Disable any active VPN before testing.
Mobile data fallback — if Wi-Fi is weak, Android may prefer cellular data. Confirm Wi-Fi is active and connected to the correct network.
Step 5: Verify the Connection
Test whether your Android phone sees the printer.
Open any app with content to print — Chrome, Google Photos, Gmail, or Google Drive all work. Open a document or web page, tap the three-dot menu, and select Print. Alternatively, tap Share and look for a Print option.
The print preview screen should show your printer in the dropdown at the top. Select it, adjust copies and page range if needed, and tap the print icon to send a test page.
If the printer appears in the list, the connection is working. You do not need to do anything else — print from any app going forward.
If the list is empty, continue to the troubleshooting section below.
Connection Methods Compared
Android supports several ways to connect a phone to a printer. Here is how they differ.
Wi-Fi through Default Print Service (recommended). Enable the print service in Settings, put both devices on the same network, and print from any app. Works with most modern network printers without additional software. This is the method you should try first.
Wi-Fi through a manufacturer app. Required for some older or budget printers that the Default Print Service does not discover. The app handles setup and registers the printer with Android. Once registered, you can print from any app — not just the manufacturer app.
Wi-Fi Direct. Some printers support a direct Wi-Fi connection to your phone without a router. Your phone connects to the printer’s own Wi-Fi network. Useful when you cannot put the printer on your home network, but inconvenient because your phone loses internet access during printing.
USB OTG (limited). A USB-C to USB-B cable can connect some Android phones directly to some printers. Both devices must support USB printing, and you need the correct cable. This is a niche fallback, not a standard setup path.
Bluetooth (rare for documents). A few portable photo printers use Bluetooth, but standard home and office document printers rely on Wi-Fi. Bluetooth is not the default connection method for Android document printing.
For a broader look at connection options across iPhone and Android, see our connect printer to phone guide.
Troubleshooting Android Printer Connection
When your phone cannot find the printer, work through these fixes in order.
Confirm the print service is enabled. Return to Settings → Printing and verify Default Print Service is on. This is the number-one fix — many people skip Step 2 entirely.
Restart both devices. Power-cycle the printer and restart your phone. Network discovery sometimes needs a fresh start after router changes or firmware updates.
Check the printer’s network status. Print a network configuration page from the printer menu. Verify it shows a valid IP address and “Connected” status. If the printer lost Wi-Fi — common after router password changes — reconnect it before troubleshooting your phone.
Disable guest network isolation. Log into your router settings and check whether AP isolation or guest network client isolation is enabled. These settings prevent devices on the same network from seeing each other.
Install the manufacturer app. If Default Print Service alone does not find your printer, install the brand-specific app, add the printer there, and retry the system print dialog.
Add the printer manually by IP address. In Settings → Printing → Default Print Service, tap the three-dot menu and select Add printer → Add printer by IP address. Enter the IP address from the printer’s network configuration page. This bypasses automatic discovery.
Update the print service. Open the Play Store, search for “Default Print Service” or your manufacturer’s print plugin, and update to the latest version.
Forget and reconnect Wi-Fi on your phone. Sometimes Android’s network stack needs a reset. Forget your Wi-Fi network in Settings, reconnect, and retry printing.
If you recently changed routers or Wi-Fi passwords, every device including the printer needs to reconnect. This is the same issue that breaks AirPrint on iPhone — the printer is offline on the network even though it appears powered on.
Android vs. iPhone: Connection Differences
If your household has both Android and iPhone users, the printer connects once to Wi-Fi and serves both — but the phone-side setup differs.
iPhone uses AirPrint built into iOS. Connect the printer to Wi-Fi, connect your iPhone to the same network, and the printer appears automatically in the Share → Print dialog. No settings to enable, no print service to configure.
Android requires enabling Default Print Service in Settings and may need a manufacturer app for some models. The extra step is one-time, but it is not optional.
iPhone apps like Smart Printer (not affiliated with printer brands) add document management and scanning on top of AirPrint. Smart Printer is iOS-only — Android users should rely on the methods in this guide plus manufacturer apps where needed.
Both platforms require the same foundation: a Wi-Fi printer on the same network as your phone. For the complete Android printing workflow after connection, see print from Android. For iPhone-specific connection steps, see connect printer to iPhone.
The Bottom Line
Connecting a printer to an Android phone comes down to three things: the printer on Wi-Fi, the print service enabled in Settings, and both devices on the same network. Enable Default Print Service first, install a manufacturer app if discovery fails, and verify the connection with a test print from Chrome or Google Drive.
Android printing lacks the seamless plug-and-play feel of iPhone AirPrint, but once configured it works reliably from any app. The setup investment is front-loaded — after the first successful connection, printing from your phone is as simple as tapping Share and Print.
If your printer supports AirPrint in addition to Android print services, both your Android phone and any iPhones in the household can use the same device. Check our AirPrint compatible printers guide to confirm whether your model supports iPhone printing too — a useful data point if you are deciding whether to replace an older printer that refuses to connect to either platform.