How Do You Connect a Samsung Tablet to a Printer?
Like any desktop or laptop computer, it’s possible to print content directly from a tablet, putting your documents, images, and other content to paper. Because most Samsung tablets are not hardwired, that is, they sync wirelessly with a network and other devices, there’s no way to plug them into a printer directly. For that reason, you’ll need to use a printer connected to your local network. You can do this by connecting it to a computer that’s already on your network, or it needs to support OTA printing via Wi-Fi.
Before you can print anything, you’ll need to set up the appropriate plugin on your Samsung tablet. Here’s how:
From the home screen, swipe down to open the quick tray and tap Settings (gear icon). Navigate to Connections > More Connection settings and tap the Printing option. Underneath the Print Services section, choose Download plugin. This will open the Google Play Store, where you’ll see a list of available printer plugins. Choose the one that matches your printer brand, such as HP, Lexmark, Canon, Brother, etc. In this example, we’ll use the HP plugin. On the next page, tap Install, just as you would to download and install an Android app. Wait for it to finish, and then tap the back button until you see the Printing menu again. You should now see the new printer plugin you installed; make sure it’s toggled on (blue).
How to Print from a Samsung Tablet
After you’ve installed the printing services plugin, the printing process is easy. With the app or browser open to the content you want to print, follow these steps:
Tap the Settings or More Options button for the app/browser (three vertical dots). Either select the Share option from the menu (if it’s there) or tap the Share button. Note: You may also a Print option in the settings menu or hidden within another sub-menu. In Google Docs, for example, Print is nested under the Share & Export option in the settings menu. Select your printer or printer plugin The system will prepare the content by creating a printable version, which usually takes a few seconds. Then, you’ll see the Print Options page. Here, you have the option to save the content as a PDF document or select a printer from the list of available devices. In the drop-down menu at the top, be sure to choose All Printers to open the Printer Select menu. You’ll arrive at the Samsung Printer Select page, where you can choose the printer you want to use. Select your printer after the list populates. Tap the yellow Print button (with a down arrow) to send the job to your designated printer.
What if I Don’t Have a Samsung Tablet?
If you don’t have a Samsung tablet, it’s still possible to print; you need to connect your Android tablet to a printer using an app. If you have an iPad, there’s a different process for printing from an iPad.
