HT203159: USB printer troubleshooting for AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule
Learn about USB printer troubleshooting for AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time CapsuleQ: I can print on a printer via USB on my Time Capsule from my IMac but not from my Iphone or Ipad. When will / has Apple sorted out ... I can print on a printer via USB on my Time Capsule from my IMac but not from my Iphone or Ipad. When will / has Apple sorted out this shortcoming? more
-
All replies
-
Helpful answers
-
Apr 27, 2012 12:06 PM in response to tothecorby Bob Timmons,If you want to be able to print with your iPad and iPhone, an application like Printopia installed on your Mac might allow this.
There is a free trial, so you will know in a matter of minutes whether this will work for you or not.
Printopia - AirPrint to Any Printer - Print from iPad - Print from iPhone ...
When will / has Apple sorted out this shortcoming?
No one one a user to user forum would be able to tell you what Apple's plans might be.
In any event, it is up to the printer manufacturers to provide the drivers to allow printing. Apple simply passes them along. You might want to ask your printer manufacturer if they plan to offer AirPrint compatiblity for your product.
-
Apr 30, 2012 7:14 AM in response to Bob Timmonsby tothecor,Thank you for your suggestion for resolving the issue through an IMac application. The solution I was hoping for was to address a deficiency or misled expectation in the Time Capsule not in via an IMac or printer and was a proven solution rather than a possible one.
The Time Capsule manual says that it provides “two high speed Wi-Fi Networks supporting Iphone and Ipad”. It goes on to say “With your Time Capsule you can: Connect a supported USB Printer. Compatable computers on the Airport network both wireless and wired, can print to it.” Users need to be told if the Iphone, Ipod and Ipad are not Airport network compatable computers if this is the case.
I do not expect other users to tell me what Apples plans though some do - see below. You may feel that my enquiry on a user forum may be naive but I am unaware of any other Apple forum which does address customers issues. One would not wish to be judgmental if a business places greater value and transparency on the share price rather than the customer satisfaction index but would warn that one can not be ignored without jeopardising the other. It would be irresponsible if product managers did not frequently and regularly monitor customer and user forums to ensure that customer satisfaction is prioritised and expectations met, even if this is at odds with a short term profit centred corporate culture. No doubt users could help in prioritising issues if invited.
Clearly Apple could afford to provide a moderator on these forums and resolve some of the issues with proven solutions to problems which have been raised in significant numbers over an unacceptable time period by these customers - below.
Will the iPad only print to a wireless printer, or will it print to a printer connected to the Airport Express through a USB connection?
Pages app on my iPad will print to a wireless printer, but I don't have a wireless printer. I need to update my wireless router to an Airport Express and did not want to get a new printer too. I am hoping that I can print from my iPad to the printer connected to the airport Express. Currently I cannot print to the printer connected to my iMac unless I use another 3rd party app and I cannot directly print from Pages (or Numbers)
- Asked by Jeff T from Howell
- Jan 11, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
Any Windows or Mac *computer* on your network should be able to print to any USB printer that is connected to an Airport Extreme (or Airport Express or Time Capsule).
The "AirPrint" feature in iOS 4.2 (for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad) works only with AirPrint-enabled printers, of which there are currently only a few (all from HP). iOS devices can't currently print to a generic network-attached printer in the way that PCs and Macs long have.
Apple is reportedly* working on iOS enhancements that will allow iOS devices to print to any network-attached printer, but the timeframe for delivery has not been announced. There are some third-party apps that claim to provide similar functionality.- Answered by Kenneth D from Ottawa
- Jan 26, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
*Some "Best Answer" users seem to know what Apple is "Reportedly Working on"
Will the iPad only print to a wireless printer, or will it print to a printer connected to the Airport Express through a USB connection?
Pages app on my iPad will print to a wireless printer, but I don't have a wireless printer. I need to update my wireless router to an Airport Express and did not want to get a new printer too. I am hoping that I can print from my iPad to the printer connected to the airport Express. Currently I cannot print to the printer connected to my iMac unless I use another 3rd party app and I cannot directly print from Pages (or Numbers)- Asked by Jeff T from Howell
- Jan 11, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
print from iphone via airport express
Can i print from my iphone4 and/or itouch3 through my airport express that is connected to my printer via usb?
- Asked by Scott D from Batavia
- 08-Jan-2011
- Flag as inappropriate
- Share this
Answer2 Answers from the Community
Best Answer
Hi
After studying a lot of answers to this similar question, I've found the answer, that is NO. iPhone and iPad can't directly send docs or jpg ... to print via AirPort express, but there is a way to do that, using AirPrint Activator 2 app which works completely well on my iMac.
I hope this answer helps those are looking for the right solution.- Answered by Farid H from Boise
- 14-Oct-2011
- Flag as inappropriate
Was this useful? 11 of 17 people found this useful- Ok to the guy who just said "yes yes yes you can" did you need a separate app? what did you do exactly to print with you iphone 4?
- Answered by Andrew M from Gresham
- 16-Nov-2011
- Flag as inappropriate
can you print from an ipad to non wireless printer connected to an airport extreme base station.
- Asked by Peter H
- Jan 24, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
USB Printers
My printer does not have a wireless feature, but if I connect it to the Airport Extreme Base Station, would the printer still work?
Would the connection to the printer be wireless, and do I still have to install the printer's software CD?- Asked by Joey B
- Jul 24, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Can a non-wireless capable computer print to a USB-connected printer through ethernet?
I have a desktop computer that is not capable of wireless internet. I also have two laptops in the house, and would like to print wirelessly. The printer is connected directly to the desktop. If I purchased the airport extreme and connected the printer to it instead, while having an ethernet cable between the desktop and the AP extreme, would the desktop be able to print without changing anything?- Asked by Kathleen P from Niwot
- Jul 29, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Can the iPad, using airprint, print wirelessly through airport extreme to network printers?
- Asked by Dan L from Brackettville
- May 10, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
how do you print from iphone 4 if the printer is connected to time capsule
- Asked by Daniel D from Garden Grove
- Jan 15, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
Can I connect a wireless printer to the airport extreme network and have all computers use it
I am thinking of buying airport extreme but want to make sure my Kodak wireless printer can be connted wirelessly and can be used by all computers and iPads- Asked by Connie M from Winnipeg
- Mar 20, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate
Will my ipad and Mini Mac be able to print if a usb printer (windows) is plugged in to AirPort Extreme Base Station
- Asked by John D
- Jan 25, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Apr 30, 2012 8:04 AM in response to tothecorby Bob Timmons,★HelpfulOn a user-to-user forum, it is extremely unlikely that Apple will ever see your post.
Even if they might, they will not respond here.....according to the Terms of Use Agreement for this support forum....which I am sure that you read.
Unfortunately.....users who have not read the Terms of Use Agreement for this area....can mistakenly believe that they are contacting Apple....when they are not.
If you want to provide feedback to Apple, you can do so here:
Apple - Time Capsule - Feedback
If you need to contact Apple for support, you can do so here:
If you have another product question about the Time Capsule, one of the volunteers here will try to help you.