Printing from Safari on Your iPad: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you need to print something from Safari on your iPad? Fear not, navigating the digital-to-paper world on your beloved tablet is simpler than you might think. Here’s the lowdown: you can print directly from Safari on your iPad using AirPrint, Apple’s wireless printing technology, provided you have an AirPrint-compatible printer on the same Wi-Fi network. If your printer doesn’t support AirPrint, you’ll need to explore alternative methods like using a third-party printing app or printing via a computer.

Using AirPrint to Print Directly from Safari

AirPrint is the quickest and most convenient way to print from your iPad, especially if you have a compatible printer. Here’s how to leverage this magic:

1. Ensure Your Printer is AirPrint Compatible: Check your printer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to confirm AirPrint compatibility. It’s usually clearly advertised.
2. Connect Your Printer and iPad to the Same Wi-Fi Network: This is crucial! They need to be on the same network to “talk” to each other.
3. Open Safari and Navigate to the Page You Want to Print: Find the website or document that needs the hard-copy treatment.
4. Tap the Share Icon: This is the square with an upward-pointing arrow, usually located at the top or bottom of the Safari window.
5. Scroll Down and Select “Print”: In the share sheet, scroll down until you see the “Print” option and tap it.
6. Select Your Printer: A “Printer Options” window will appear. Tap “Select Printer” to choose your AirPrint-enabled printer. If your printer isn’t listed, double-check that it’s on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
7. Adjust Print Settings (Optional): You can specify the number of copies, the page range to print, and whether to print in color or black and white.
8. Tap “Print”: Once you’ve configured the settings to your liking, hit the “Print” button in the upper-right corner. Your iPad will send the print job wirelessly to your printer, and voila!

Printing Without AirPrint: Alternative Methods

What if you don’t have an AirPrint printer? Don’t despair! There are still ways to get those documents from Safari onto paper.

Using Third-Party Printing Apps

Several apps available on the App Store allow you to print to a wider range of printers, even those that aren’t AirPrint-enabled. Some popular options include:

• Printer Pro by Readdle: A robust printing app with extensive printer support.
• Print n Share: Another feature-rich app that offers printing capabilities and file management.
• HP Smart (for HP Printers): If you have an HP printer, the HP Smart app provides a seamless printing experience.
• Epson iPrint (for Epson Printers): Similarly, Epson printers benefit from the dedicated Epson iPrint app.

These apps generally work by installing a print driver on your iPad that allows it to communicate with your printer. You might need to install a companion application on your computer to facilitate communication.

Printing via a Computer

This is a slightly more roundabout method, but it’s reliable.

1. Share the Web Page: Use the Share icon in Safari to send the web page to your email, save it as a PDF to your iCloud Drive, or use AirDrop to transfer it to your Mac or PC.
2. Print from Your Computer: Open the email attachment, PDF file, or the Airdropped web page on your computer and use your computer’s printing function to print.

This method relies on your computer’s printing capabilities and is particularly useful if your printer is connected to your computer via USB.

Saving as a PDF and Printing

You can save the web page as a PDF file, then either print it directly from the iPad if you have a compatible printer and PDF viewer, or transfer the PDF to a computer for printing.

1. Use the Print Function: As if you were going to print, tap the Share icon in Safari, then select Print.
2. Pinch Out to Save as PDF: On the print preview screen, pinch outwards on the first page of the print preview. This will save the preview as a PDF file.
3. Choose a Save Location: Select where you want to save the PDF (iCloud Drive, Files app, etc.)
4. Print from a PDF Viewer: Open the PDF in a PDF viewer app (like Adobe Acrobat Reader) and use its print function if supported, or transfer to computer as described above.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions people have about printing from Safari on their iPad:

1. Why can’t my iPad find my AirPrint printer?

Ensure your printer is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPad. Also, make sure your printer is AirPrint compatible. Sometimes simply restarting both your printer and iPad can resolve connectivity issues. Check your router settings to ensure that devices on the Wi-Fi network are allowed to communicate with each other.

2. My printer is AirPrint compatible, but it’s still not working. What should I do?

Try the following troubleshooting steps:

• Restart your printer: Turn it off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
• Restart your iPad: A simple reboot can often fix temporary glitches.
• Check your Wi-Fi connection: Make sure both your printer and iPad are connected to the same network and that your Wi-Fi is working properly.
• Update your printer’s firmware: Outdated firmware can sometimes cause compatibility issues. Check your printer manufacturer’s website for updates.
• Reset the network settings on your printer: Consult your printer’s manual for instructions on how to do this.

3. Can I print to a Bluetooth printer from my iPad?

Unfortunately, AirPrint doesn’t support Bluetooth printing. You’ll need to use a Wi-Fi-enabled printer or explore third-party apps that might offer Bluetooth printing support. Be aware that Bluetooth printing from iOS devices can be unreliable.

4. How do I print a specific page or range of pages from Safari?

In the “Printer Options” window, you can specify the page range you want to print. Tap the “Range” option and enter the starting and ending page numbers (e.g., “1-3” to print pages 1 through 3).

5. Can I print in black and white to save ink?

Yes! In the “Printer Options” window, look for a “Color” or “Grayscale” setting. Select “Grayscale” to print in black and white.

6. Is there a way to preview what I’m printing before I actually print it?

Yes, the “Printer Options” window provides a preview of the page(s) you’re about to print. This allows you to check the layout and ensure everything looks as expected before committing to the print job.

7. How do I cancel a print job in progress?

If you need to cancel a print job, quickly double-press the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom of the screen if your iPad doesn’t have a Home button) to access the App Switcher. Look for the “Print Center” app icon (it looks like a printer). Tap on the icon, select the print job you want to cancel, and tap the “Cancel Print” button.

8. Are there any free printing apps for iPad?

While some printing apps offer free versions, they often have limitations, such as watermarks or limited features. The HP Smart and Epson iPrint apps are generally free for users of HP and Epson printers, respectively.

9. Can I print directly from iCloud Drive on my iPad?

Yes. Open the Files app, navigate to your iCloud Drive, select the document you want to print, tap the Share icon, and then select “Print.”

10. I’m getting an “AirPrint Not Available” error message. What does this mean?

This error typically indicates that your iPad can’t communicate with your AirPrint printer. Double-check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, that the printer is powered on, and that it’s AirPrint compatible. Restarting both devices can also help.

11. Can I print from my iPad to a printer connected to a Google Cloud Print account?

Google Cloud Print is no longer supported. You’ll need to use AirPrint or a third-party printing app that offers compatibility with your printer.

12. Can I print a web page as a PDF without printing it to paper?

Yes! This is a very useful trick. As described in the “Saving as a PDF and Printing” section, you can use the print dialog to save the webpage as a PDF file. This is great for archiving web pages or sharing them electronically. Tap the Share icon in Safari, select Print, and then pinch outward on the print preview to save the page as a PDF.