My iPad can't find my wifi printer.

What kind of printer is it? To print from the iPad, it is preferred that you use an approved Airprint printer from this list:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4356

If you are not using a printer on this list, you won't be able to print using AirPrint.

Just had this problem. Both iPad and printer need to be using the same router or the iPad won't be able to find the printer. I tried different available WiFi networks in "settings" until I found the one that had the printer on it and it popped right up and worked fine. Note: I have two routers in my house because WiFi doesn't do a good job of going through a lot of walls to the far side of the house.

Simmer down. There are alternatives: First would be to get a new printer, one on the list that is compatible with Airprint. Another option is to use a universal printing app. There are several in the App Store which people have used successfully: Print n Share and Print Central come to mind. Third, Canon makes an app for use with their printers.... you might want to try that. Be aware, however, that the App may be designt to *primarily* print photos and not other documents such as Word docs or PDFs. You should check the app specs to be sure though.

Sell your iPad and forget about it!

Fasted60 wrote:

Tgara, Thanks, It is a new printer, and yes the canon app only does photos. What bothers me about the iPad is how much it is limited because od Apple restrictions. It's just an over sized iPhone (I like the iPhone) that can't make phone call and is to heavy and won't fit in my pocket. It great for face to face, but takes lozzy photoa (low res). I've taken photos with both and there is a big difference. The OS hangs, the screen locks into one possition, it's to heavy to hold for a long time, has a great display, but if I squize the frame to hard it does things I don't want it to do. . It's just a toy and it's way over priced.

There are others who share your concerns about the iPad being limited. And there are others for which those limitations are not significant factors. Neither is right or wrong, it's simply a matter of how you personally use the device. Everybody is different about these things, so I'm glad we have choices.

So, if the iPad isn't working as you want it to, sell it and get something else. Or just use your iPhone. Given your list of concerns, maybe an iPhone would be better for you than an iPad. But FYI, the iPhone still uses Airprint. Everything I mentioned above about Airprint on the iPad applies to Airprint on the iPhone.

You failed to read the tech specs, tried to use a piece of incompatible equipment, generally had no clue as to what you were doing but it's Apple's fault?

Ok.

Yeah, pretty sure this isn't Apple's fault. Like the above poster said, you failed to read tech specs and tried to do something that just isn't compatible. That's your fault and nobody elses.

In reality, an iPad is not a PC and Apple is calling our wold a post PC one for some stupid reason. In my world, an iPad can't replace my MacBook so I don't own one yet. Untill an iPad can do the same things that my MB can do, I won't waste the money on buying one.

Sure I only use my computers for internet and syncing with my iPhones and syncing with my iPhone isn't something that an iPad can do yet. Plus I can't download things from the internet and save them on the ipad, only photos.

As for printing, I just connect my printer via USB to my MB the few times a year I want to print something. Sure it's a limit in useage but air printing was something that has only existed a short time so it's something I really never got to use and soit's easy to live without.

Ed,

The lack of network printing capability is a fundamental flaw in all iterations of the iPhone/iPad. Sadly, we are expected to shell out for an AirPrint capable printer to do this basic task. As mentioned, there are workarounds. I use ePrint. FingerPrint is also very good Mac/PC utility for $10 that will allow your iPad to use all of your network printers. The downside is that you have to fire up a PC/Mac to print.

I have not tried to print anything as yet from the iPad 3rd gen., but did know this would be tricky to say the least. I do have an iMac that stays on 100% of the time and also a MBA that is typically in sleep mode during the day when not in-use. Everyone had told me I would just need to send what I wanted to print as an email. I also read that if you had a Mac you could share the printer in some fashion. I didn't know I needed to buy some software utility for the Mac to make this work however. Can you offer more detail?