Why Can’t My iPad detect My Printer? Troubleshooting Guide

iPad detect My Printer
Printer wifi setup
by Chris Woakes

Having printing issues with your iPad? You adjust the settings, press print, and… quiet; it’s a typical annoyance. Your iPad just cannot find your printer. Should this ring a bell, you are in the correct location. This simple tutorial will take you through common reasons and practical remedies to reconnect and print your iPad. Let’s get started!

Common Reasons and Solutions

1. Check If Your Printer Is AirPrint Compatible

There is a feature called AirPrint to connect iPad with printers. Not all printers support AirPrint, and if your printer is not AirPrint-compatible, your iPad will not detect it.

  • Look at the printer box or manual.
  • Search the model on the manufacturer’s website.
  • Visit Apple’s AirPrint support page to find a list of compatible printers.

Solution:
If your printer does not support AirPrint, you can:

  • Use the printer’s app to connect the iPad.
  • Also, use third-party apps like Print Central or Printer Pro.
  • Consider getting an AirPrint-compatible printer for easier setup.

Make Sure Both Devices Are on the Same Wi-Fi Network

To print the form on the iPad, it is must to connect both the printer and device to the same network. This is one of the most common reasons for printer setup problems.

  • On your iPad, go to Settings > Wi-Fi. Note the network name.
  • On your printer, check the Wi-Fi settings or use the printer screen to find the network.
  • If they are on different networks, reconnect both to the same one.

Restart Your Devices

Sometimes, a simple restart fixes the issue. Try this:

  • Simply turn off the iPad and turn it on again.
  • Power off the printer and turn it back on after 30 seconds.
  • Reconnect to Wi-Fi after restart.

This clears temporary glitches and helps the iPad find your printer.

Update Your Software

Outdated software may cause detection problems.

  • On your iPad, go to Software Update into the Settings.
  • Check for any update available and install them.
  • Check the printer’s user manual to update the printer’s firmware.

Keep both the iPad and the printer updated helps avoid bugs during the printer setup process.

Check for Paper or Ink Issues

Some printers won’t show up on your iPad if they are in error mode. This happens if:

  • The printer is out of paper.
  • There is a paper jam.
  • Ink or toner is low.

Fix these problems and restart the printer.

Reset Network Settings

If your iPad still doesn’t detect the printer, resetting network settings may help.

Warning: This will remove saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords.

  • Open Settings and select Transfer or Reset iPad
  • Here use the Reset button to reset Network Settings.
  • After the reset, reconnect to Wi-Fi and try the printer setup again.

Try Printing from Another App

Sometimes the issue is not your printer or iPad, but the app you are using.

  • Open a different app, like Safari or Mail.
  • Tap the Share icon.
  • Tap Print.

If it works from another app, the original app may not support printing.

Use Printer Setup Apps

Many printer brands have their own apps for setup and printing. These can often detect your printer even if AirPrint does not.

Popular printer apps include:

  • HP Smart
  • Canon PRINT
  • Brother iPrint&Scan
  • Epson iPrint

Download the correct app from the App Store, and follow the instructions to connect.

Try a Manual Printer Setup

If automatic detection fails, you may need to set up your printer manually.

Steps may include:

  • Entering the printer’s IP address in the app.
  • Using a USB connection (with an adapter).
  • Setting up a print server on your network.

This is more technical but sometimes necessary.

Conclusion

After reading the above troubleshooting tips, you understood how easy to solve if your iPad is not connected to the router. Following the above-given steps and resolve your connectivity problems between the iPad and the printer.

FAQs

Can I connect Any Device to Printer?

Yes you can connect any device to the printer using Ethernet cable or WiFi network.

  • Using USB cable connects the cable to the both devices.
  • To WiFi setup, connect printer and device to the same WiFi network.

Can I print from my phone?

Yes, by connecting your mobile device to a printer. You can easily print from your mobile device. You need to use the printer’s app like HP Smart and Canon PRINT.

Why I can’t connect my printer and mobile device?

If your printer is not showing up on your mobile device, then it means your printer and device are not on the same WiFi network. Update drivers and restart your printer