What Is AirPrint? How It Works and How to Tell If Your Printer Has It

Quick answer: AirPrint is Apple's built-in, driverless printing technology that lets an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Vision Pro print to a compatible printer without installing any driver or app. The printer announces itself on your local network, you tap Print, and the job is sent directly to it. Your Apple device and the printer just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Updated October 16, 2026 · By Lauren Elward, Castle Ink

Key Takeaways

• AirPrint is built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac and into most popular printers. It costs nothing and there is nothing to download.
• It works over your local network, not the internet. Your device and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network (or the printer's own Wi-Fi Direct network).
• The fastest test: open a photo, tap Share > Print > Printer. If your printer appears, it supports AirPrint.
• No AirPrint? Use the printer maker's free app (HP, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel, Brother Mobile Connect), Wi-Fi Direct, email-to-print, or share the printer from a Mac.
• AirPrint doesn't care what ink you use. Remanufactured and compatible cartridges print through AirPrint exactly like original ones.

What Is AirPrint?

AirPrint is Apple's wireless printing system that lets Apple devices print full-quality documents and photos to a compatible printer without drivers or extra software. Apple describes it as a way to print "without downloading or installing drivers," with easy printer discovery and automatic paper selection.

When people ask "what does AirPrint mean," the short version is driverless printing for Apple devices. Instead of you installing a printer-specific program, the printer itself tells your iPhone, iPad or Mac what it can do (paper sizes, color, two-sided printing, trays) and your device builds the print job in a format the printer already understands.

• Who can send: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, according to Apple's About AirPrint page.
• Who can receive: any printer that has AirPrint built in, from almost every major brand: HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Xerox, Lexmark and more. The printer does not have to be made by Apple.
• Where it lives on your device: there is no AirPrint app or setting to turn on. It's the Print option inside apps like Safari, Mail, Photos, Files and Notes.

If you've read our guide what is a printer driver and do you still need one, AirPrint is the Apple side of the driverless printing shift that also includes Mopria on Android and IPP Everywhere. If your printer doesn't support AirPrint, here's how to install a printer driver on a Mac or PC instead.

How Does AirPrint Work?

AirPrint works in two stages: the printer advertises itself on the local network using Apple's Bonjour discovery (multicast DNS), and your device then sends the job to it over the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) as a PDF or Apple raster file. Because both ends speak the same standard languages, no driver is needed in between.

Here's what happens in the second or two after you tap Print:

1. Discovery. The printer continuously announces itself with Bonjour, Apple's implementation of multicast DNS (mDNS) and DNS Service Discovery. Your iPhone listens for printers that advertise IPP and Apple's Universal Raster Format (URF). Apple's own AirPrint deployment guide notes that AirPrint devices only browse for IPP printers that support URF.
2. Capabilities. Your device asks the printer what it supports: paper sizes, color or black and white, duplex, trays and finishing options. That's why the print options you see change from printer to printer.
3. Job creation. Your device renders the page in a format the printer accepts. AirPrint printers must accept Apple Raster (URF); many also take PDF, which is preferred where supported, and some accept JPEG, according to Xerox's AirPrint white paper and Wikipedia's AirPrint entry.
4. Delivery. The job travels over IPP, which normally uses TCP port 631, and can be encrypted with TLS. The printer's own firmware then turns it into dots of ink or toner on paper.

Discovery is the step that fails most often. Multicast traffic usually stays inside one network segment, so anything that splits your network (a guest network, a separate VLAN, a VPN) can hide the printer even when everything is "connected."

When Did AirPrint Come Out?

Apple launched AirPrint with iOS 4.2 on November 22, 2010, which was the first time iPhones and iPads could print without a third-party app. Apple's iOS 4.2 announcement called it "a next-generation Wi-Fi print architecture" and named HP Photosmart, LaserJet Pro and Officejet models as the first printers to support it.

• 2010: AirPrint arrives in iOS 4.2. Wikipedia notes just 12 compatible printers at launch, all HP.
• 2011: Mac support followed with Mac OS X Lion, and Linux print servers running CUPS 1.4.6 or later gained automatic AirPrint support.
• 2020: roughly 6,000 printer models from about two dozen manufacturers were compatible, per Wikipedia.
• Today: Apple says AirPrint is "built into most popular printer models," and macOS uses it as its default way to connect to compatible printers.

What Is an AirPrint Printer?

An AirPrint printer is any printer whose firmware includes Apple's AirPrint support, so iPhones, iPads and Macs can find it and print to it with no driver. "AirPrint-enabled," "AirPrint-compatible" and "AirPrint-certified" all mean the same thing in practice.

Most network-connected inkjets and lasers sold in the last decade qualify, including HP DeskJet, ENVY, OfficeJet and LaserJet models, Canon PIXMA and imageCLASS, Epson EcoTank, Expression and WorkForce, and Brother inkjets and lasers. Two details matter:

• It must be on a network. AirPrint for iPhone and iPad needs a printer connected by Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Apple notes that USB-only printers support driverless printing or scanning only from a Mac over USB.
• Brand isn't the test, the model is. Some older or very cheap models from the same brand skip AirPrint, so always check the exact model number.

Shopping for a new one? Our guide to the best wireless printer in 2026 covers what to look for, and AirPrint support is near the top of the list for any Apple household.

How Do I Know If My Printer Has AirPrint?

The quickest way is to try it: open a photo on your iPhone, tap Share > Print > Printer, and see whether your printer is listed. You can also check the printer's box or spec sheet for "AirPrint," or search Apple's official list of AirPrint printers by brand and model.

1. Run the iPhone test. Make sure the printer is on and connected to the same Wi-Fi as your phone. Open a photo or a webpage, tap the Share button, scroll down and tap Print, then tap Printer. If the printer's name appears under the printer list, it has AirPrint. If you see "No AirPrint Printers Found," the printer either lacks AirPrint or isn't visible on your network yet.
2. Check the box, manual or spec sheet. Look under mobile printing or connectivity for "AirPrint" or "Apple AirPrint." Manufacturer product pages list it the same way.
3. Search Apple's list. Apple maintains an AirPrint-enabled printer search (linked from About AirPrint) where you can look up a printer by brand, model or category. Manufacturers supply the data and Apple updates it regularly. If your model isn't listed, Apple suggests checking with the manufacturer.

Not sure of your exact model or whether it's on the network? Print a network configuration page from the printer's control panel; it shows the model, network name and IP address. Our guide on how to find your printer's IP address walks through it for HP, Canon, Epson and Brother.

Is AirPrint the Same as Wireless Printing?

No. Wireless printing just means a printer can connect without a cable; AirPrint is one specific, driverless way for Apple devices to use that connection. A wireless printer can lack AirPrint, and an AirPrint printer can even be wired to your router with Ethernet.

Most current printers support several of these at once, which is why a single printer can be AirPrint-compatible for your iPhone, Mopria-certified for your partner's Android phone and still install with a full driver on a Windows PC. For Android and Chromebook specifics, see how to print from your phone (Android and iPhone) and how to print from a Chromebook. Bluetooth printers are covered in Bluetooth printers explained.

Does AirPrint Require Wi-Fi?

AirPrint requires a shared local network, not an internet connection. For an iPhone or iPad that means the same Wi-Fi network as the printer, or the printer's own Wi-Fi Direct network; the printer itself can be connected to the router by Wi-Fi or Ethernet. A Mac can also use AirPrint over a USB cable.

• No internet needed. AirPrint talks directly across your home or office network. HP even notes that its direct-connect mode works while your phone is temporarily disconnected from the internet.
• Same network, really the same. A guest network, a separate "IoT" network, or a business VLAN usually blocks the Bonjour announcements AirPrint depends on. PaperCut's AirPrint guide explains that mDNS is local to one subnet unless the network is configured to pass it along.
• Client or AP isolation. Some routers, mesh systems and hotel networks stop devices from seeing each other. If your printer shows "connected" but never appears, check for an isolation or guest-mode setting in your router app.
• VPNs and cellular. A VPN can route your phone's traffic away from the local network. Turn it off briefly while printing.
• 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz. Many printers connect only on 2.4 GHz. That's fine when your router puts both bands under one network name, but a separate 5 GHz-only network can leave your phone and printer on different networks.

If your printer isn't on Wi-Fi yet, follow how to connect a printer to Wi-Fi. Some printers ask for a WPS PIN during setup; here's where to find your printer's WPS PIN.

How Do I Set Up and Use AirPrint on an iPhone or iPad?

There's nothing to set up on the iPhone or iPad itself. Connect the printer to your Wi-Fi, connect your device to the same network, then in any app tap Share (or the … Actions button), tap Print, choose the printer, and tap Print.

1. Connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network using its control panel or setup app.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Wi-Fi and confirm you're on the same network.
3. Open what you want to print and tap the Share button or the Actions button.
4. Scroll down and tap Print. If there's no Print option, that app doesn't support printing.
5. Tap Printer (it says "No Printer Selected" the first time) and pick your AirPrint printer.
6. Set copies, page range, color and two-sided options, then tap Print.

These are the steps in Apple's AirPrint guide for iPhone and iPad. Where is AirPrint on an iPad? It isn't a separate app or toggle; it's the Print option in the Share menu. For iPad-specific tips, brand-by-brand notes and the print queue, see our full guide on how to print from an iPad. Printing something specific? We have walkthroughs for text messages, emails, webpages and PDFs.

How Does AirPrint Work on a Mac?

On a Mac, AirPrint is the default way macOS connects to compatible printers, over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB. Choose File > Print, pick the printer from the Printer menu, and print; if it isn't listed, add it in System Settings > Printers & Scanners with no driver download.

• Network printers: open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax, select the printer and click Add. macOS chooses AirPrint automatically when the printer supports it, per Apple's Mac User Guide.
• By IP address: click the IP tab, enter the address, and set Protocol to AirPrint. This helps when Bonjour discovery is blocked.
• USB: AirPrint over USB is a Mac-only feature. Plug in an AirPrint-capable USB printer and macOS can print, and often scan, without a driver.
• Scanning: many AirPrint all-in-ones also support Apple's driverless scanning (often called AirScan; the protocol is eSCL), so the scanner shows up in Printers & Scanners and Image Capture. See how to scan from your printer.

Full Mac instructions, including fixes when a printer won't show up, are in how to add a printer to a Mac.

How Do I Enable AirPrint on My Printer?

On most AirPrint printers it's already on by default; the printer just needs to be connected to your network. If it was turned off, open the printer's web settings page (type its IP address into a browser) and make sure AirPrint, Bonjour and IPP are enabled. If the printer has no AirPrint option anywhere, it doesn't support AirPrint.

How to enable AirPrint on an HP printer

1. Print a network configuration page or check the control panel to get the printer's IP address.
2. Type that address into a browser on the same network to open the HP Embedded Web Server (EWS). (In the HP app you can also reach it from the printer's advanced settings.) If prompted for a login, see default printer passwords.
3. Open the Network tab. Look for AirPrint and make sure its status is on, and check that Bonjour is enabled (on many models it's under Network > Advanced Settings or listed directly in the left menu). Leave IPP printing enabled.
4. Apply the change, restart the printer, and try the iPhone test again.

Exact labels vary by HP model and firmware. HP's AirPrint explainer notes that newer wireless HP printers are set up to work with AirPrint as soon as they're on your network, and that the printer must not require a PIN or password for other devices to find it.

How to enable AirPrint on an Epson printer

1. Find the printer's IP address on its control panel or network status sheet.
2. Enter the IP address in a browser to open Web Config.
3. Go to Network > AirPrint Setup.
4. Turn on Enable AirPrint. You can also set the Bonjour Service Name (how the printer appears on your iPhone) and Bonjour Location.

These steps are from Epson's Web Config AirPrint setup page. Epson's FAQ adds that AirPrint is on by default on its inkjets and that a greyed-out Enable AirPrint button is normal; it only becomes clickable if AirPrint was switched off, for example by disabling IPP or Bonjour.

Canon and Brother printers

Canon and Brother AirPrint models also ship with AirPrint enabled. If yours disappeared, open the printer's web page (Canon's Remote UI or Brother's Web Based Management), and check that Bonjour/mDNS, IPP and AirPrint are enabled under the network or protocol settings. Some Canon office models add AirPrint Security Settings, where you can require TLS encryption or a password.

A firmware update can also fix discovery bugs. Before updating, read what printer firmware updates change, since some updates also affect which cartridges the printer accepts.

How Do I Print From an iPhone or iPad Without AirPrint?

Install your printer manufacturer's free app (HP, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel or Brother Mobile Connect), which prints over Wi-Fi without needing AirPrint. Other options are joining the printer's Wi-Fi Direct network, emailing the file to the printer's email-print address, or sharing the printer through a Mac with an AirPrint enabler like Printopia.

1. Use the printer maker's app. These apps talk to the printer directly and also add scanning, ink levels and setup tools. Many older wireless printers that predate AirPrint are supported.
2. Use Wi-Fi Direct. Many printers broadcast their own network, often named "DIRECT-xx-…". On your iPhone open Settings > Wi-Fi, join that network (the password is printed on the printer's network page or shown on its screen), then print from the maker's app, or with AirPrint if the printer supports it. Open your document first, since your phone has no internet while it's joined.
3. Email it to the printer. Epson's Email Print gives registered printers their own email address; attach up to 10 files totaling 20 MB. HP ePrint works the same way on supported HP printers registered to an HP account, though it doesn't work on USB-only connections and isn't offered on many newer models, which use the HP app's remote printing instead.
4. Share it from a Mac. An AirPrint enabler on a Mac, such as Ecamm's Printopia (macOS 10.9 or later, free 7-day trial), makes any printer your Mac can use appear in your iPhone's printer list. The Mac has to be on and awake.
5. Go through a computer. Save the file to iCloud Drive, AirDrop it, or email it to yourself, then print from a Mac or Windows PC that has the printer installed.

What about Mopria on iPhone? Mopria is the driverless standard built into Android and Windows. iPhones and iPads use AirPrint instead, so there's no Mopria print service to turn on in iOS. And plugging a USB printer straight into an iPhone or iPad generally won't work, because iPadOS and iOS don't include USB printer drivers; Apple only supports AirPrint over a network for those devices.

How to connect an iPad to a printer without AirPrint: the same five options apply. Our iPad printing guide has the iPad-specific steps.

Can I Make an Older Printer AirPrint Compatible?

Yes, indirectly. You can't add AirPrint to a printer's firmware yourself, but you can put a computer or print server in front of it that re-shares the printer to your network as an AirPrint device. A Mac running Printopia is the simplest home option; a Linux box running CUPS is the free, tinkerer's option.

• Mac + AirPrint enabler. Printopia shares up to five printers from a Mac to iPhones and iPads and can also "print" to a folder or Dropbox as a PDF. handyPrint is another long-running Mac option. Mac users report that these enablers are more dependable for iPhone printing than Apple's own Printer Sharing.
• Apple's built-in Printer Sharing. On a Mac, go to System Settings > General > Sharing, click the info button next to Printer Sharing, turn it on and pick the printer. Apple documents this for sharing a USB printer with other computers; results for iPhone and iPad vary, so treat it as worth a try rather than a guarantee. See Apple's printer sharing steps.
• Linux or Raspberry Pi with CUPS. CUPS 1.4.6 and later advertise shared printers to AirPrint devices automatically on most distributions.
• Windows PC. Third-party tools (Wikipedia mentions Collobos Presto) can re-share Windows printers as AirPrint printers.
• Print server. Apple says some print servers have AirPrint built in; check Apple's AirPrint search for current models.
• Firmware. Occasionally a manufacturer adds or fixes AirPrint in a firmware update. It's worth checking the support page for your model, but don't count on it for an old printer.

If your printer is USB-only and more than a few years old, replacing it is often cheaper than keeping a computer running as a print server. For travel-size options with Wi-Fi and AirPrint, see best portable printers.

What Are AirPrint's Limitations?

AirPrint covers everyday printing well, but it exposes only a basic set of options and leaves out maintenance tools. For printhead cleaning, detailed ink levels, custom paper profiles or some advanced finishing features, you'll still want the manufacturer's app or full driver.

• Basic print options. You'll typically see printer, copies, page range, color or black and white, two-sided, paper size and type. Xerox notes that AirPrint exposes only a subset of a printer's full feature set.
• Limited supply info. iOS doesn't show ink levels in the print dialog. On a Mac, Printers & Scanners > Options & Supplies > Supply Levels often shows basic levels; the maker's app shows more detail.
• No maintenance. Nozzle checks, head cleaning and alignment happen on the printer's control panel or in the maker's app.
• Same-network discovery. Out of the box, iPhones can't add an AirPrint printer by typing its IP address. Businesses get around that with configuration profiles from device management, or with wide-area Bonjour records in DNS.
• No user tracking. AirPrint itself doesn't do print quotas, logins or release-at-printer; offices add print management software for that.

Is AirPrint Secure?

AirPrint is as secure as the network it runs on: jobs travel only across your local network, and AirPrint printers support encrypted IPP over TLS (IPPS). On a home network with a strong Wi-Fi password, the main risk is anyone already on your Wi-Fi being able to print.

• Encryption: Apple's device management settings include a Use TLS option for AirPrint printers, and Epson notes that its IPP connections require secure communication when AirPrint is enabled.
• Office controls: some business printers, such as Canon imageRUNNER models, let administrators require TLS and a username and password for AirPrint jobs.
• Home tips: keep the printer off guest networks you share with visitors, change the printer's default admin password, and install firmware security updates.

What Does "No AirPrint Printers Found" Mean?

It means your iPhone or iPad couldn't see any AirPrint printer on the network it's connected to. Usually the device and printer are on different networks (often a guest network), the printer is asleep or offline, AirPrint or Bonjour is turned off, or the printer simply doesn't support AirPrint.

Restart the router, printer and phone in that order, confirm both are on the same Wi-Fi, and turn off any VPN. For the full checklist, including Private Wi-Fi Address and Mac print-queue fixes, see AirPrint not working? How to fix it on iPhone, iPad and Mac. If the printer keeps dropping off the network, why your printer keeps going offline covers the permanent fixes, like reserving its IP address.

Does AirPrint Work With Remanufactured or Compatible Ink?

Yes. AirPrint only handles getting the job from your device to the printer; it never checks what cartridges are installed. Whether a cartridge is accepted is decided by the printer's own firmware, so a printer that accepts remanufactured ink or compatible toner will print AirPrint jobs with it exactly as it would from a computer.

If a cartridge is ever rejected, that's a printer firmware matter, not an AirPrint one. Our guide to firmware updates and third-party ink explains how to keep control of updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep Your Printer Stocked

AirPrint makes printing from your iPhone or Mac effortless, right up until a cartridge runs dry. Castle Ink has been helping people keep their printers running since 2005, with remanufactured ink cartridges and compatible toner that work with AirPrint exactly like the originals:

• HP ink cartridges for DeskJet, ENVY and OfficeJet printers
• Canon ink cartridges for PIXMA and MAXIFY printers
• Epson ink cartridges for Expression and WorkForce printers
• Brother toner cartridges for HL and MFC laser printers

Not sure which cartridge you need? Use Find Ink by Printer to look up your exact model.

Sources

• Apple Support: About AirPrint
• Apple Support: Use AirPrint to print from your iPhone or iPad
• Apple: Search for AirPrint-enabled printers
• Apple Mac User Guide: Add a printer to your printer list
• Apple Mac User Guide: Share your printer with others
• Apple Platform Deployment: AirPrint device management settings
• Apple Newsroom: Apple's iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch (2010)
• Wikipedia: AirPrint
• Wikipedia: Mopria Alliance
• Printer Working Group: IPP Everywhere
• Xerox: Enabling Apple AirPrint with Your Xerox AltaLink Multifunction Printer (PDF)
• HP: What Is an AirPrint Printer?
• HP: What Is HP ePrint?
• Epson: Setting Up AirPrint (Web Config)
• Epson: Apple AirPrint FAQ
• Epson Connect: Email Print
• Canon: Encrypting Communication of Print Data for Apple Devices with TLS
• Apple App Store: HP, Canon PRINT and Brother Mobile Connect listings; Epson: Smart Panel app
• Ecamm: Printopia
• PaperCut: The Complete Guide to AirPrint