Some users have said that they are not able to print documents, messages, or photos because AirPrint is not working. Users have said that when they attempt to print anything, the print screen does not show the AirPrint connected printer; thus users are unable to select their printers. Some said they see a “No AirPrint Printers Found” or “No Printer Selected” error when they want to print something. In this article, I’ll explain how to fix the problem when your iPhone can’t find your printer.
What Is AirPrint?
AirPrint is an Apple technology that allows you to wirelessly print documents or photos from your iPhone, iPad or Mac to AirPrint-compatible printers over Wi-Fi. You can print websites, images, documents, and more. To use AirPrint, you don’t need to install an app, additional drivers, or other software.
Many printers today support AirPrint, but it’s worth checking if your printer is AirPrint-enabled.
Then, to add an AirPrint printer to your iPhone, all you need to do is open the document or picture you want to print and tap the Share icon at the bottom-left corner of your screen.
Then, scroll down in the iOS Share Sheet and tap on Print. Now, tap on Printer to view a list of AirPrint-enabled printers. Just choose a printer, and you’ll be able to print immediately.
Your iPhone will recognize AirPrint-enabled printers automatically. However, your printer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone for this to work.
Even though the AirPrint technology works smoothly, printing problems may occur. This article explains what you can do if your iPhone can’t find your printer.
Why Can’t My iPhone Find My Printer?
If your iPhone is not finding your printer, there’s probably a connectivity issue that’s preventing your iPhone from detecting your printer. However, we can’t completely rule out the possibility a hardware issue.
There are three components that work together to print something from your iPhone:
- Your iPhone.
- Your AirPrint-enabled printer or print server.
- Your Wi-Fi router.
An issue with any one of these components can prevent your iPhone from finding and connecting to your printer.
Follow the steps below to figure why your iPhone can’t find your printer.
How To Fix An iPhone That Isn’t finding printer
Restart Your Wi-Fi router, iPhone, and Printer
Many small software problems can be resolved by simply restarting your Wi-Fi router, iPhone, and printer. Before you get too deep into troubleshooting, try turning your device off and back on, then attempt to reconnect your printer again. In my experience, this fixes AirPrint issues more often than not. If you’re unsure of how to do this, I’ve got you covered:
Restart Your Wi-Fi Router
Unplug the power cord from the power source.
Wait 30–60 seconds, then plug the power cord back into the power source.
Restart Your iPhone
Open Settings and tap General. Scroll all the way down and tap Shut Down. Swipe the power icon from left to right to turn off your iPhone.
Wait 30–60 seconds, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen. Your iPhone will turn back on shortly after.
You can also restart your iPhone using its buttons. If your iPhone has a Home button, press and hold the power button until "slide to power off" appears on the screen. Then, swipe the power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone.
If your iPhone doesn’t have a Home button, press and hold the side button and either volume button until "slide to power off" appears. Then, swipe the power icon from left to right to turn off your iPhone.
Wait 30–60 seconds, then press and hold the power button (iPhones with a Home button) or side button (iPhones without a Home button) until the Apple logo appears on the display. Ensure that it is connected to Wi-Fi.
Restart your printer
Press the power button on your printer, or disconnect it from power. Wait 30–60 seconds, then press the power button. If you disconnected the power cord, reconnect it. Then, wait for your printer to connect to Wi-Fi as well.
Turn Off Your VPN (If You Use One)
If you use a VPN, it may interfere with AirPrint technology. A VPN may be causing your problem. If the steps above do not fix your problem, turn off your VPN and then try again.
Open Settings and tap General > VPN & Device Management > VPN. Turn off the switch next to Status to turn off your iPhone VPN. You’ll know your VPN is off when it says Not Connected.
If your iPhone finds your printer after turning off your VPN, you’ll know your VPN is the cause of the problem.
Turn Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Off And Back On
Your iPhone may just be experiencing a minor software or connectivity glitch. Turning Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off and back on gives your iPhone a fresh chance to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth devices.
Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On
Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi. Then, tap the switch at the top of the screen next to Wi-Fi to turn it off. Tap the switch again to turn it back on.
Turn Bluetooth Off And Back On
Open Settings and tap Bluetooth. Turn off the switch next to Bluetooth at the top of the screen. Wait a few seconds, then tap the switch again to turn it on.
Update Your iPhone (And Printer If Possible)
If you’re using an outdated version of iPhone’s or printer’s software), it could lead to wireless connectivity issues. New software updates may include bug fixes that may resolve your problem.
Update your iPhone
Open Settings and tap General > Software Update to check if a new iOS update is available. Tap Update Now if an iOS update is available.
Update your printer
To update your printer, please check the manufacturer’s website to see if a firmware update is available and if there is, find out how you can update. You can also check your printer’s manual.
Forget Your Printer As Bluetooth device
When you forget your printer as a Bluetooth device, it’s as if the printer was never connected to your iPhone. Next time you pair the printer with your iPhone, it will be like they are connecting for the very first time. To forget your printer as a Bluetooth device:
Open Settings and tap Bluetooth. Tap the blue "i" next to the the printer you want to forget. Tap Forget This Device. When prompted again, tap Forget Device.
You’ll know the printer has been forgotten when it no longer appears under My Devices in Settings -> Bluetooth.
Once you’ve forgotten the printer, it will appear under Other Devices in the Bluetooth menu. Tap on the name of your printer to pair it to your iPhone! If it pairs to your iPhone and starts working again, then your problem is solved. If you’re still having problems, we’ll move onto software resets.
Reset Your iPhone’s Network Settings
The last troubleshooting step when your iPhone is not finding printer is to reset its network settings. This will restore all of your iPhone’s Wi-Fi, Cellular, VPN, and APN settings to factory defaults. After resetting the network settings, you’ll have to reenter your Wi-Fi password and reconnect your Bluetooth devices.
To reset network settings, open Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. Then, tap Reset Network Settings. You’ll be prompted to tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm your decision. Your iPhone will turn off, perform the reset, and turn back on.
Contact Your Printer Manufacturer
If your iPhone still isn’t finding your printer, there’s most likely a problem with the hardware of your printer or iPhone. We recommend contacting your printer manufacturer before going to the Apple Store. If you go to the Apple Store first, they’ll probably just tell you to talk to your printer manufacturer.
Visit The Apple Store
If you’ve contacted your printer manufacturer and there’s nothing wrong with your printer, it’s time to reach out to Apple. There may be something wrong with the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi hardware settings on your iPhone. Apple provides live chat, phone, and mail-in support options. If you plan to visit your local Apple Store, schedule an appointment first!
Printer: Found!
You’ve fixed the problem and your iPhone is finding printer again! Make sure to share this article on social media to teach your friends and family what to do when their iPhone can’t find printer. Have any other questions about your iPhone? Leave them in the comments section down below!