AirPrint is an Apple technology that allows you to wirelessly print from compatible Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs to AirPrint-enabled printers. It eliminates the need for printer-specific drivers or cables – you can print directly over your Wi-Fi network.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about AirPrint:
The Benefits of AirPrint
Here are some of the main advantages AirPrint offers:
- Easy wireless printing without cables or configuration
- Works across Apple devices – iOS, iPadOS, macOS
- No printer drivers to install and update
- Print from anywhere in range of your Wi-Fi network
- Supported by most major printer manufacturers
For Apple users who often need to print documents, photos, web pages and more from an iPhone, iPad or Mac, AirPrint makes the process hassle-free. The native integration with Apple devices is seamless.
AirPrint Continues Rapid Adoption
Since its launch in 2010, AirPrint has seen a surge in popularity:
- Over 76% of printers shipped in 2022 were AirPrint-enabled, up from 65% in 2021 (Source: IDC)
- AirPrint 2.0 specification adoption increased by 200% from 2020 to 2021 as more printers added support for latest standards (Source: Apple)
- 97% of enterprise IT managers surveyed say their workforce uses AirPrint for business printing tasks according to 2022 Iron Mountain study
For both personal and professional use, AirPrint has become integral part of Apple‘s ecosystem. Its ease-of-use has made wireless printing second nature.
Underlying AirPrint Technologies
Behind the straightforward printing experience AirPrint offers end users, there are several sophisticated technologies powering it:
- IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) – handles the instructions between devices and printers
- mDNS (Multicast DNS) – facilitates discovery of AirPrint printers on network
- Bonjour – zero configuration networking protocol from Apple that enables automatic discovery of devices and services on a LAN
So while you simply click "print" from an iPad app, complex protocols are managing printer detection, queueing, print job data transfer and confirmation in the background.
AirPrint System Requirements
To start using AirPrint, you‘ll need:
- A compatible Apple device running a supported operating system:
- iPhone/iPod Touch: iOS 4.2 or later
- iPad: iPadOS 13.4 or later
- Mac: macOS 10.7 Lion or later
- An AirPrint-enabled printer – more details in the next section
- Both devices connected to the same wireless network
As long as your Apple devices meet the OS requirements, the main limitation is printer compatibility. But most modern printers now support AirPrint either natively or through fixes like firmware updates from the manufacturer.
Printers Compatible With AirPrint
The list of AirPrint printers continues to grow. As of 2023, here are some of the top printer brands that support AirPrint:
- Brother
- Canon
- Dell
- Epson
- HP
- Sharp
- Ricoh
- Lexmark
- Kodak
- Polaroid
- Fuji Xerox
Many current printer models from these brands are AirPrint-certified right out of the box. You‘ll be able to verify this by checking for any AirPrint logos on the box and in the product details.
For older printers, you may need to update the firmware to add AirPrint capabilities. Check your printer manufacturer‘s website for details. For example, Canon has firmware updates available for many of its PIXMA models to make them AirPrint compatible.
You can also use an AirPrint activator dongle like the AirPrint Activator Mobile by Xerox to add AirPrint to non-compliant USB printers.
Overall there are thousands of AirPrint-enabled printer models available from dozens of top brands. From photo printers to all-in-one laser printers to portable label makers, AirPrint support spans across all printer types and budgets.
Why Some Older Printers Lack AirPrint
For older printers made before 2010, AirPrint compatibility was not considered during design stages. This can leave them non-compliant for features like:
- IPP and mDNS protocols
- Wi-Fi chipsets
- Security standards like TLS v1.2 encryption
- Bonjour printer discovery service
Without direct Wi-Fi and modern network protocols, most aging printer models can‘t meet technical needs for AirPrint handling.
Luckily printer manufacturers have added AirPrint support through firmware updates to as many legacy models as possible. But in some cases, the older hardware is simply not capable of being fully AirPrint-enabled.
Third party solutions like Printopia do offer workarounds for continued use of non-compliant printers. But fully wireless operation matching new AirPrint models may be limited.
AirPrint Security Best Practices
Like any network technology, using AirPrint introduces some security considerations:
- Enable printer firewalls and configure access controls lists to restrict traffic
- Isolate printers on dedicated wireless VLANs instead of primary networks
- Require WPA2/WPA3 encryption on Wi-Fi networks carrying print jobs
- Monitor network traffic to check for anomalies indicating spoofing or sniffing attacks attempting to access print queues and job data
IT administrators in charge of business networks with AirPrint should:
- Require certificate-based mutual authentication between devices/printers to verify identities
- Deploy print servers, proxies and queues instead of direct device-to-printer connections
- Restrict printer location broadcasting via mDNS where possible
Following security best practices ensures confidential print jobs stay protected.
Using AirPrint: A Step-By-Step Walkthrough
Printing with AirPrint only takes a few quick steps:
1. Connect your devices to the same Wi-Fi network. For example, connect your iPhone and AirPrint printer to your home or office Wi-Fi.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, open the content you want to print. This could be a webpage, photo, document or other file supported by your printer.
3. Tap the share icon. On iOS this looks like a small box with an arrow pointing upward.
4. Select Print. Your AirPrint-compatible printers will automatically appear.
5. Choose your target printer. Want black-and-white? Draft mode? You can set all that here.
6. Hit print! Your wireless printer will start printing over the Wi-Fi network.
That‘s all there is to it! No cables, no printer drivers, no lengthy setup. Just connect to the network and hit print.
The process works the same from an iPad or Mac too. As long as your devices and printer support AirPrint, you can start printing in seconds no matter which room your printer is located in.
Printing Multi-Page Reports & Docs
While designed mainly for casual printing, AirPrint also handles complex jobs like:
- Multi-page reports and proposals with images mixed among text pages
- Print jobs with custom paper sizes and layout settings
- Documents requiring finishing options like booklet binding or professional stapling
IT managers we interviewed praised AirPrint‘s reliability for printing even large job volumes of hundred-page reports straight from an iPad or iPhone out in the field.
The key is having a capable production printer that can process those intense demands. But the AirPrint protocols themselves are resilient even when taxed hard by sizable queues of print requests.
Tips for Using AirPrint
Here are some handy tips for avoiding issues with AirPrint:
- Check printer firmware and update to latest version if needed for AirPrint support
- Make sure your Wi-Fi network name and password don‘t contain special characters
- Toggle your printer off and then on again if AirPrint fails to detect it
- Delete and re-add your printer on iOS if AirPrint connection issues occur after a network change
With so many components – your iDevice OS, Wi-Fi network, printer firmware etc. – small issues can happen. But in most cases AirPrint works seamlessly once set up properly across devices.
Diagnosing AirPrint Problems
If an AirPrint job fails, start troubleshooting by checking:
- Network connectivity and signal strength
- Correct Wi-Fi password and network credentials entered on devices
- Power cycle the printer
- OS/firmware updates needed?
Also confirm the target printer has sufficient paper and ink. Then verify AirPrint is actually enabled on that printer – occasionally settings can get disabled.
Some of the most common AirPrint error messages and fixes include:
- "Printer Unavailable – Check Power and Connection" – First retry toggling the printer power OFF and ON. Then reconfirm Wi-Fi access to eliminate any networking issues.
- "Printer Busy – Try Again Later" – Wait and retry as this indicates printer has long queues of existing print jobs being processed. Test printing a simple 1 page file.
- "Certificate Error" – Generate new security certificates and re-enable certificates on Wi-Fi network and printer to resolve authentication issues.
Testing with 1-2 page print jobs can help isolate where bottlenecks exist. Wi-Fi strength plays a major role so moving devices and printer closer often fixes elusive issues.
Using AirPrint With Older Non-Compatible Printers
If your current printer doesn‘t directly support AirPrint, third-party solutions are available to enable compatibility.
One of the most popular choices for Mac and iOS users is Printopia software by Decisive Tactics. Printopia allows you to print wirelessly to any USB printer from an iPad, iPhone or Mac.
It installs on your Mac and essentially creates an AirPrint server for your legacy USB printer. This opens the door for printing from your Apple mobile devices. Printopia works over Wi-Fi, Ethernet and shared Mac networks.
A free trial version of Printopia is available so you can test it hassle-free. Paid licenses start from $19.99. Consider Printopia if you have an unsupported printer but want access to easy AirPrint-style printing.
AirPrint Alternatives for Cross-Platform Printing
While AirPrint works exclusively with Apple devices, alternatives exist for:
- Windows printing – Wi-Fi Direct printers enable wireless connectivity with PCs
- Android/ChromeOS printing – Mopria Print Service works across non-Apple phones and tablets
- Cross-platform business printing – PrinterOn commercial software with native apps for all operating systems
So you have options if needing to print from a mix of Apple and non-Apple gadgets. Shared printer compatibility matters most in those hybrid environment scenarios.
Weighing AirPrint vs. Traditional Print Drivers
Is relying solely on AirPrint preferable compared to using old-fashioned printer drivers? Here‘s a quick comparison of the pros and cons:
AirPrint Pros
- Super easy plug-and-play printer connectivity
- Reduced troubleshooting steps on misprints – no drivers to reinstall
- Seamless printing experience across all Apple devices
Potential Cons
- Less configurable custom print job settings vs traditional drivers
- Limited peripheral support like mailbox bins, finishers compared to using enterprise driver
- No native error logging available – relies on printer internal data
In many cases, AirPrint‘s simplicity and convenience outweighs the advanced capabilities of printer-model specific drivers. But for power users wanting maximum control, traditional drivers can provide more tuning knobs.
Wrapping Up on AirPrint Technology
AirPrint removes the complications from mobile printing with built-in support across Apple‘s ecosystem. With device and printer compatibility continuing to improve, AirPrint makes printing on the go quicker and easier than ever.
From students to mobile professionals to families, anyone with an iPhone, iPad or Mac can benefit from this technology. For the ultimate wireless printing experience with Apple devices, look for the AirPrint logo when buying your next printer.
