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AirPrint Information and FAQ

All, I figured I'd start one of my famous FAQ threads here to help head off some of the problems. So with that being said, lets get started.

Q: What is AirPrint?
A: AirPrint enables printing from a supported iOS 4.2 device to supported AirPrint enabled printers. Today several HP models support AirPrint.

Apple AirPrint Information and Printer list:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4356

Apple AirPrint Support Page:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/airprint.html

HP AirPrint Information and Printer list:
http://www.hp.com/go/airprint

HP AirPrint Support Page:
http://www.hp.com/sbso/printing/mac/hp-airprint.html

Q: I don't have one of the supported printers, is there any other way for me to get AirPrint to work?
A: Yes, there are several third party AirPrint Sharing Solutions for the Mac (although I am not personally endorsing any of them):

FingerPrint
http://www.collobos.com/

Printopia for Mac
http://www.ecamm.com/mac/printopia/

If you have a problem with a specific printer while using one of these applications, please direct the question to vendor that wrote the app.

Q: Does AirPrint work directly with any Printer?
A: No. At this time, only select models from HP work with Airprint.

Q: Can I share a printer from my Mac and print to it?
A: See the above question for the 3rd party products that enable AirPrint Sharing.

Q: Can I connect a USB printer to my AirPort BaseStation (Express, Extreme, TimeCapsule)?
A: This is not supported. See above.

Q: Can I use AirPrint with my older HP printers?
A: This is not supported by HP. See above.

Q: I have one of the supported printers that is supposed to work now, but I'm not seeing it. What's wrong?
A: Make sure you have updated to the latest firmware available. You can check in:

Tools->Web->Automatic Updates->Check for Product Updates.

Note that you may need to enable eWeb Services to see the updates.

Q: I have on of the printers that will be supported in the future (ie one of the Officejets), when will it be supported?
A: While at the moment the latest official answer is December 27th. I hope to be able to update this soon with an earlier date, but it will still be sometime in December.

Q: I have an iPhone 3G or a second gen iPod touch. I have iOS 4.2, but I am not seeing AirPrint, can you help?
A: AirPrint only shows up on iOS devices that support multitasking. While these devices have iOS 4.2 available for them, they do not support multitasking and hence do not support AirPrint.

Q: I still can't figure this out, what am I doing wrong?
A: Hopefully HP will have a support doc posted later today with pictures to help you work through the steps. I'll post a separate link to that document once its ready.

I will build on this list in this thread over time if you have questions that aren't answered here.

And while most of you from the Mac forums know this, I need to make it clear here as well: Although I am an HP employee, I am speaking for myself and not for HP.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Nov 23, 2010 12:41 PM

150 replies

pjl123

Level 5

6,208 points

Dec 24, 2010 4:29 PM in response to HP Mac Architect

Andrew, excuse the dumb question. Is a 6500 the same ( as respects wireless printing) as the 6500 A which is on the magic list?

Thanks.

Dec 24, 2010 4:33 PM in response to pjl123

The Officejet 6500 and the Officejet 6500A are not the same animals. The 6500 is last years model, the 6500A (E710 Series) is this years model. The older one does not support ePrint nor AirPrint.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

Tori1

Level 1

7 points

Dec 24, 2010 6:57 PM in response to HP Mac Architect

For less than the cost of new ink the Hp d110a works perfect. Check the web you can pick one up for less than $60. Works great with my iPad & iPhone 4. Very easy setup.

Dec 25, 2010 4:39 AM in response to HP Mac Architect

Hi, I'm on my second hp b110a printer, this time I bought it direct from apple uk store. Firstly the only way I can print from my mac book and iMac wirelessly is by adding it through it's ip address, is the correct. Secondly both m iPhones and iPads can't AirPrint, the printer did a software update yesterday, it's connected via a belkin surf+ router, It connects to the apps and prints them off, I can email it to print but still AirPrint, where am I going wrong, please help.

Dec 25, 2010 10:01 AM in response to Richard2008

Richard2008,

Based on what you are describing, you Router is the cause of the problem. If you have to add the printers to your MacBook and iMac via IP, then your Router is blocking Bonjour packets. And without Bonjour packets, your iPad can not find the Printer. Check the Belkin settings page for multicast settings and whatever it is, switch it. Also make sure it is running the latest firmware from Belkin. If your Mac's can see the Printer then the iPad should as well, and visa versa.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

rbii

Level 2

345 points

Dec 25, 2010 10:49 AM in response to Richard2008

There are several threads concerning problems with the Belkin Surf+ handling Bonjour (multicast DNS) packets.

http://discussions.info.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2434044
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12267911&#12267911
http://ask.metafilter.com/158628/Belkin-play-router-Bonjour
http://www.cnet.com.au/belkin-n-wireless-router_comments-p2-339293145.htm

For many it appears that upgrading their router firmware helped. You can find the Belkin support pages with the firmware update here:

http://en-us-support.belkin.com/app/product/list/q/routers

I hope this helps.

Dec 25, 2010 12:57 PM in response to HP Mac Architect

Thanks Andrew, both my iMac and my mac book say the network is out of range, weird.....I've updated to the latest firmware and that hasnt made any difference. I'm going to look at the settings just now. Thanks again

Dec 25, 2010 1:19 PM in response to HP Mac Architect

Hi Andrew, I've had a look at all the router settings and to be honest I'm not sure what I'm looking for, I can't see anywhere it says directly multicast, also I've checked the firmware and it tells me I have the latest firmware.

Dec 25, 2010 1:50 PM in response to HP Mac Architect

Ok, update from the last ten minutes. I've just plugged my old router back in, waited for it to boot up and guess what, air print kicked in straight off. So my next question Andrew, what is the best router I could buy that has MIMO technology, that won't break my bank balance but will give me a great all round download speed etc. The reason i bought the belkin surf+ is because it gives me the download speeds I'm meant to get, with this basic router in I get half the speed a lot of the time and the range ain't that great from the likes of my garden, what would you recommend please. Thanks again

Dec 26, 2010 5:53 PM in response to Richard2008

You know that's a great question. In the past I've always used Airports (currently the old model Extreme) for my base station. I don't know if the new simultaneous dual band is the fastest out there or not, but I'll do a little digging and see what I'd recommend at the moment.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

Dec 27, 2010 2:39 PM in response to HP Mac Architect

Richard,

If you have a Mac and an iOS device or two (which definitely describes the two of us), from what I can find after digging for a day or two, the best of the current routers is the Apple Airport Extreme with Simultaneous Dual-Band. There are other options, but a lot of the "top" contenders out there seem to have (or had) some issues with Bonjour, or iPad connectivity, or some other Apple technology. The Airports seem to work flawlessly in these environments, and Apple regularly updates them (including a firmware update just this month). Again, there are cheaper options, as well as more expensive ones as well, but unless I was willing to spend quite a bit more, I think I'd probably pick up a new Airport if I was going to buy another one right now. And if I were going to spend more, then the TimeCapsules would have to be a contender as well.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

Dec 28, 2010 12:16 AM in response to HP Mac Architect

Thanks Andrew, my only issue is with the airport router, from what I've read about it it's designed for cable, my router is a router and a modem all in one, have a read that right? Can I buy an airport router without need a separate modem?

Dec 28, 2010 1:08 AM in response to Richard2008

@Richard2008:

No - there is no AirPort Base with an integrated DSL-Modem. I am sad for that as well, but nevertheless took the Airport Extreme Simultaneous Dual Band.

Message was edited by: Christoph Lichtenberg

Dec 28, 2010 4:41 AM in response to HP Mac Architect

http://www.grouplogic.com/Knowledge/PDFUpload/Info/WanBonjour_1.pdf

I've followed this document and from a hard wired PC I can see printers when running the command dns-sd -B printer.tcp however from an ipad or iphone with 4.2.1 they both say no printers found.

Am I missing something?

Dec 28, 2010 4:43 AM in response to Farhanible

Were you ever able to get this working Farhanible? I am in the same situation as you are.

AirPrint Information and FAQ