IOS device printing to USB printer

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IOS device printing to USB printer

Can an IOS device (iPad) print wirelessly to a USB (non-wireless) printer attached to the USB port of an Airport Exteme in the same WiFi network?

Posted on Jan 28, 2019 9:46 AM

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Answer 1

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Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,818 points

Jan 28, 2019 10:23 AM in response to Richard8655

Can an IOS device (iPad) print wirelessly to a USB (non-wireless) printer attached to the USB port of an Airport Exteme in the same WiFi network?

No, unless you install some additional software.

Good chance things will work......if you install an App like Printopia on your Mac. Here we assume that you have a Mac in addition to the iPad.

There is a free trial, so you will know in a few minutes whether or not this will work for you.

Printopia - Print from your iPad or iPhone - Decisive Tactics, Inc.https://www.decisivetactics.com/products/printopia/

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Answer 2

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,818 points

Jan 28, 2019 10:56 AM in response to Richard8655

any Apple-based (non-third party) method of IOS wireless printing to a USB (non-wirelsss) printer attached to an Extreme?

No.

what was the point of Apple providing the USB port in the Extreme that they advertised as a USB printer connection option?

Can't speak for Apple, but a guess would be that a number of users wanted to print via wireless from Mac desktops, laptops and/or PCs on a WiFi network to a printer that did not have wireless capability. Remember that the AirPort Extreme printing function was designed over 10 years ago.

As far as iOS, Apple is very serious about the "Air" in AirPrint. They expect you to purchase an AirPrint compatible WiFi printer for use with iOS devices.

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Answer 3

Richard8655 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 28, 2019 10:40 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks much. I do run HandyPrint on my iPad (similar to Printopia) and it does work too. I had to reconnect my USB printer back to my desktop Mac (Mac Mini) as the Extreme had problems and would occasionally freeze with the USB printer connected directly to it. But HandyPrint (like Printopia) on my iPad now also prints wirelessly to the Mac-attached USB printer.

The reason I'm asking this question is if there is any Apple-based (non-third party) method of IOS wireless printing to a USB (non-wirelsss) printer attached to an Extreme? Otherwise I wonder what was the point of Apple providing the USB port in the Extreme that they advertised as a USB printer connection option? My guess was only for wirelessly printing from Mac OS desktops in the same network, not any IOS devices.

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Answer 4

Richard8655 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 28, 2019 11:13 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Yes, this is what I conclude too. The Extreme (as a relatively old router) was not designed to enable wireless printing from IOS devices to USB attached printers. That wireless USB print function was intended for OSX devices (Mac desktops and laptops). So with that in mind, connecting my older USB (non-wireless) printer to the Extreme's USB port offers no real advantage. Especially since Printopia and HandyPrint can find the printer when its connected directly to my desktop Mac.

Yes, the key these days from Apple's point of view is Airplay. But HandyPrint allows to not always be ruled by Apple's expectations.

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IOS device printing to USB printer

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