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I have an iPad 9th generation. How can I print using a usb cable to my printer

How to connect my ipad(9th generation) to my printer by USB cable?

iPad, iPadOS 16

Posted on Jan 24, 2023 6:49 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 24, 2023 6:59 AM

iOS/iPadOS doesn’t natively support direct connection to a USB Printer. Instead, these devices use a network connection to supported printers typically over WiFi - or if explicitly supported by the printer, a wired ethernet connection.


See:


Apple AirPrint is a driverless connection protocol. A high proportion of modern printers intended for Home, SoHo and Business environments now support AirPrint. Check your printer model against this list:

About AirPrint - Apple Support


If your printer is not compatible with AirPrint, there are alternatives…


Some printer manufacturers have a suitable companion App that provides Print capabilities for mobile devices, often using a web-based print service. Others can print directly if the App supports other network printing protocols. By example, many HP Printers use the HP Smart App - available in the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hp-smart/id469284907


You might also consider connecting a non-AirPrint printer to a PC or Mac computer - and install a “helper application” that allows the computer to emulate AirPrint capabilities; one such option is Readdle Printer Pro, for which suitable software for PC is available. A link to the PC software is included from this page:

https://readdle.com/printerpro


A further alternative is to consider installing a dedicated Print Server Appliance on your network - and connect your printer to this. One example is the Lantronix xPrintServer.


The remaining solution is to simply replace your printer with one that is AirPrint capable.



4 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 24, 2023 6:59 AM in response to Glengoland

iOS/iPadOS doesn’t natively support direct connection to a USB Printer. Instead, these devices use a network connection to supported printers typically over WiFi - or if explicitly supported by the printer, a wired ethernet connection.


See:


Apple AirPrint is a driverless connection protocol. A high proportion of modern printers intended for Home, SoHo and Business environments now support AirPrint. Check your printer model against this list:

About AirPrint - Apple Support


If your printer is not compatible with AirPrint, there are alternatives…


Some printer manufacturers have a suitable companion App that provides Print capabilities for mobile devices, often using a web-based print service. Others can print directly if the App supports other network printing protocols. By example, many HP Printers use the HP Smart App - available in the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hp-smart/id469284907


You might also consider connecting a non-AirPrint printer to a PC or Mac computer - and install a “helper application” that allows the computer to emulate AirPrint capabilities; one such option is Readdle Printer Pro, for which suitable software for PC is available. A link to the PC software is included from this page:

https://readdle.com/printerpro


A further alternative is to consider installing a dedicated Print Server Appliance on your network - and connect your printer to this. One example is the Lantronix xPrintServer.


The remaining solution is to simply replace your printer with one that is AirPrint capable.



Jan 24, 2023 7:02 AM in response to Glengoland

Not a feature of iPadOS. iPads print to printers that have AirPrint capability.

This link will provide more information:

Use AirPrint to print from your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


Some printers have their own apps which will allow you to

print if connected to network or Mac/PC.


If you post the manufacturer and model identifier of your

printer, someone may offer a better solution.


I have an iPad 9th generation. How can I print using a usb cable to my printer

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