iPad cannot connect to Airprint device, but iPhone does

This is weird. Until a few days ago, both my iPad (9th gen, iOS 16.5.1) and my iPhone SE (iOS 16.5.1) connected via Airprint to our networked Ricoh SP C360SFNw multifunction printer. Now the iPhone works fine, but the iPad can no longer connect to the printer. The only change has been my new Lexie Bose B2 hearing aids with Bluetooth. It looks to me like the iPad is giving them absolute connection priority. FWIW these install under Settings/Accessibility/Hearing Aids.


I hardly need to add that any advice will be greatly appreciated. 


Thanks,

Tony

Posted on Jul 7, 2023 9:26 PM

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Question marked as Best answer

Are you certain that you are printing via AirPrint - and are not, instead, using a companion Ricoh App to print to your multifunction printer? A companion App, if used, won’t be using AirPrint. Be mindful of Print Direct over WiFi and Bluetooth printing - as these are independent of AirPrint.


Starting at the beginning - in case something may have been missed:


Assuming that your printer supports AirPrint - and is set-up correctly - should you continue to experience difficulties your WiFi Router may be unexpectedly failing to pass Apple Bonjour traffic on you local network - or your WiFi Router or Network Switch may be dropping this (or other) device discovery protocol(s).


This can occur for a number of reasons. Ensure that your wired and wireless network segments are part of the same IP-subnet, are not defined as separate VLANs - or that one or other are defined as “guest” networks, or placed in a DMZ. You may find that your router has a setting that limits/restricts broadcast and network discovery traffic; by example, if your Router has an IGMP Snooping setting, try toggling this or similar settings. Your Router WiFi settings may also have privacy settings that isolate WiFi clients from each other; if present, ensure these settings are disabled.


The Apple Bonjour protocol uses mDNS (Multicast DNS) UDP port 5353.


You may find that restart of your network components will resolve the problem. You’ll need to restart your network devices in the correct order. Assuming that you WiFi Router provides DNS services for your network, restart devices in this order - allowing time for devices to fully boot/restart prior to restarting other devices:


  • WiFi Router
  • Upstream wired Network Switch(es)
  • WiFi Access Points / Network Extenders
  • Other fixed infrastructure devices - such as Printers
  • Client devices


Restarting your iPad, after restarting other devices in the correct sequence, is most simply achieved by a forced-restart of the iPad:


  • On an iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.




  • On an iPad with Face ID: Press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the top button. When the Apple logo appears, release the button.




If you continue to have difficulties, check to see if your iPad is using the new WiFi Private Address feature. This feature is intended to provide additional privacy and security when using “public” (untrusted) WiFi networks.

Settings > WiFi > [Your WiFi Network / SSID] - tap the “i” icon - Private Address


The Private Address feature is largely unnecessary for your home WiFi network; if enabled, Private Addressing can interfere with anticipated operation of other devices, such as AirPrint/Airplay. In such circumstances, you may need to disable this feature - and can be enabled or disabled for each individual network.


Use private Wi-Fi addresses in iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and watchOS 7 - Apple Support




Posted on Jul 8, 2023 9:22 AM

Similar questions

1 reply
Question marked as Helpful

Jul 8, 2023 8:01 AM in response to TonyLima

Hi,


In cases where one device/computer suddenly does not recognise an AirPrint printer, and if all Wi-Fi settings are OK, it is often worth testing a full power cycle sequence (do not forget the router):

Power off the Wi-Fi router, the printer, and all iPhones/iPads/Macs (as well as other computers or devices) connected to the router. Wait two to three minutes. Power on the router. Wait two to three minutes. Power on the printer. Wait a minute or two. Power on the iPhones/iPads/Macs (and other computers or devices).


About AirPrint - Apple Support

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

5 replies
Question marked as Helpful

Jul 8, 2023 8:01 AM in response to TonyLima

Hi,


In cases where one device/computer suddenly does not recognise an AirPrint printer, and if all Wi-Fi settings are OK, it is often worth testing a full power cycle sequence (do not forget the router):

Power off the Wi-Fi router, the printer, and all iPhones/iPads/Macs (as well as other computers or devices) connected to the router. Wait two to three minutes. Power on the router. Wait two to three minutes. Power on the printer. Wait a minute or two. Power on the iPhones/iPads/Macs (and other computers or devices).


About AirPrint - Apple Support

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

Question marked as Best answer

Jul 8, 2023 9:22 AM in response to TonyLima

Are you certain that you are printing via AirPrint - and are not, instead, using a companion Ricoh App to print to your multifunction printer? A companion App, if used, won’t be using AirPrint. Be mindful of Print Direct over WiFi and Bluetooth printing - as these are independent of AirPrint.


Starting at the beginning - in case something may have been missed:


Assuming that your printer supports AirPrint - and is set-up correctly - should you continue to experience difficulties your WiFi Router may be unexpectedly failing to pass Apple Bonjour traffic on you local network - or your WiFi Router or Network Switch may be dropping this (or other) device discovery protocol(s).


This can occur for a number of reasons. Ensure that your wired and wireless network segments are part of the same IP-subnet, are not defined as separate VLANs - or that one or other are defined as “guest” networks, or placed in a DMZ. You may find that your router has a setting that limits/restricts broadcast and network discovery traffic; by example, if your Router has an IGMP Snooping setting, try toggling this or similar settings. Your Router WiFi settings may also have privacy settings that isolate WiFi clients from each other; if present, ensure these settings are disabled.


The Apple Bonjour protocol uses mDNS (Multicast DNS) UDP port 5353.


You may find that restart of your network components will resolve the problem. You’ll need to restart your network devices in the correct order. Assuming that you WiFi Router provides DNS services for your network, restart devices in this order - allowing time for devices to fully boot/restart prior to restarting other devices:


  • WiFi Router
  • Upstream wired Network Switch(es)
  • WiFi Access Points / Network Extenders
  • Other fixed infrastructure devices - such as Printers
  • Client devices


Restarting your iPad, after restarting other devices in the correct sequence, is most simply achieved by a forced-restart of the iPad:


  • On an iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.




  • On an iPad with Face ID: Press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the top button. When the Apple logo appears, release the button.




If you continue to have difficulties, check to see if your iPad is using the new WiFi Private Address feature. This feature is intended to provide additional privacy and security when using “public” (untrusted) WiFi networks.

Settings > WiFi > [Your WiFi Network / SSID] - tap the “i” icon - Private Address


The Private Address feature is largely unnecessary for your home WiFi network; if enabled, Private Addressing can interfere with anticipated operation of other devices, such as AirPrint/Airplay. In such circumstances, you may need to disable this feature - and can be enabled or disabled for each individual network.


Use private Wi-Fi addresses in iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and watchOS 7 - Apple Support




Jul 9, 2023 10:10 AM in response to LotusPilot

This part did the job. Thanks again.


You may find that restart of your network components will resolve the problem. You’ll need to restart your network devices in the correct order. Assuming that you WiFi Router provides DNS services for your network, restart devices in this order - allowing time for devices to fully boot/restart prior to restarting other devices:


  • WiFi Router
  • Upstream wired Network Switch(es)
  • WiFi Access Points / Network Extenders
  • Other fixed infrastructure devices - such as Printers
  • Client devices


iPad cannot connect to Airprint device, but iPhone does

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