Modern technologies are designed to make life easier for their users in many ways. One of these features is remote printing of files without getting up from your seat. It is suitable for all mobile devices based on Android. In the article, we will look at ways to connect a printer to a tablet and print a photo.
USB cable
The easiest way to connect to a printer is with a USB cable. Almost all models of modern peripheral devices have this cable input, which makes the use of equipment much simplified. However, before operation, it is worth clarifying some features in order to connect the printer to the tablet via USB:
- First, you need to make sure you have an OTG cable from USB to micro USB, and you need it in order to connect both devices. The standard adapters that come with the kit do not always work.
- Secondly, the mobile device must support OTG mode. This is an extension created specifically for the USB port, which makes it possible to take full advantage of it. Tablet computers with OTGable to support separate keyboard, mouse, joystick, gamepad, webcam.
If you need to organize a system with several components, you will need a USB-HUB. This is a device for connecting two or more peripheral gadgets. In this case, the tablet must be connected to the network, since such a load leads to a rapid discharge of the battery.
Many users cannot independently determine whether the tablet supports this mode. If a technical manual has been preserved from the device, information about OTG support should be indicated there. If there is none, you can search for it on various forums.
To work via Android, drivers are required without fail, it is not at all easy to look for them on your own, installing the Printer Share application will help here. This is software with drivers for a variety of devices, which allows you to quickly connect printers.
Wi-Fi
One of the most convenient ways to print photos or documents from your tablet to a printer is using Wi-Fi. All tablets have a connection function through this module. But in this case, the problem may arise with the printer, since Wi-Fi is only available in modern models.
After making sure that data can be transferred via Wi-Fi, go to the Printer Share utility from the tablet and specify the Wi-Fi printer as the source. It is important that the wireless module is activated on two devices. In some cases, you need to sync when connecting.
Bluetooth
Printing via Bluetooth is very similar to the previous method, but it is used much more often, since such a function is more common in printers. To work, you will also need the Printer Share application or any other equivalent. Next, you need to make sure that bluetooth is active on the printer and tablet, and proceed with the following steps:
- Launch the Printer Share utility and press the Select button.
- In the window that opens, find and select the line Bluetooth printer.
- The tablet then searches for available devices and lists them, you must select your printer, and then the connection will begin.
- After that, in the "Menu" tab, select a file for printing.
Management is maximally simplified. If a good connection is established, the whole process is reduced to successive pressing of several buttons.
Google Cloud Print
Google developers have organized a service for printing files remotely called Google Cloud Print. It allows you to activate a printer at home or at work using a mobile device, provided it is connected to a computer. Below is a step-by-step instruction on how to connect the printer to the tablet and print:
- The Google Chrome browser is installed on the computer.
- The Google Cloud Print utility is downloaded to the tablet, and it is necessary to have an account registered with Google.
- Nextyou need to open a browser and go to the menu located in the upper right corner of the page.
- In the window that opens, select the "Settings" line, and then click "Show advanced settings" at the bottom.
- Find the line "Google Cloud Print" and click the "Add printers" button, select your device from the suggested results.
- After that, the Cloud Print program is launched on the tablet and synchronization is performed.
- It remains to select the desired document and click the "Share" button, select Cloud Print from the proposed options and print.
ePrint
You can connect a printer to your tablet using the ePrint program. This is a special service that allows you to print files remotely via email. To implement it, the printer must have an e-mail address. It is enough to send files from your device for printing to the specified address. To do this, follow these steps:
- On the printer control panel, select the "Settings" section.
- Use the keys to mark the item "Reports".
- And then "Configuration Report".
- Fix hardware version number and IP address.
- Go to the official website of the printer developer and download the software in the "Download software and drivers" section, and you will need to enter the data recorded above. After downloading the installer, it is launched on the computer.
- Go to the web menu by IP address and click the Enable button in the HP Web Service section.
- When the printer printsinformation page, on it they find his identification number.
- Add @hpeprint.com. to it to get the device's email address.
This instruction is required because the HP ePrint Center site is no longer active.
Other applications
There are many different applications of this kind for the Android OS, the most popular of them are:
- Canon Easy Photo Print. Canon has developed an application for Android. As the name implies, it is specialized in printing photos of various formats.
- Brother iPrint Scan. Affordable and convenient application for "Android" with the function of scanning and saving the results on the device. A maximum of 50 pages can be printed at a time.
- Epson Connect. The company's developers offer an application with the most necessary functions. On the device, you can save, scan and send files via email.
- Dell Mobile Print. The main advantage of this program is the ability to print documents by connecting to a local network.
Connecting a printer to a tablet and printing directly from an Android device is very convenient and saves time. But be aware that not all printers are wireless.
