How to print from your iPhone to a USB-only printer
iPhones print over Wi-Fi, not USB, so a USB-only printer needs a bridge to the network before an iPhone can reach it. Here are the practical options.
Ways to reach a USB-only printer
- Plug the printer into a Wi-Fi router that has a USB port and printer-sharing (many routers can share a USB printer to the network).
- Connect the printer to a computer that stays on and share it on the network, so it appears to AirPrint.
- Use a small print server (a hardware adapter) that gives the USB printer a network connection.
- If the printer has an Ethernet port, connect it to your router with a cable instead of USB.
Once the printer is on your network by any of these methods, open Printer App, pick it from the list, and print as usual.
FAQ
- Can I connect my iPhone to a printer with a USB cable?
- No — iOS printing works over Wi-Fi, and there's no supported way to print over a USB cable from an iPhone. Put the printer on your network instead.
Print, scan & sign from your iPhone
Printer App is a free, ad-free way to print over AirPrint, scan to PDF, sign documents, and run OCR — all on your device.
Download on the App Store