AirPrint relies on your iPhone or iPad and printer being on the exact same WiFi network with Bonjour discovery enabled.

Quick Answer

Confirm both devices are on the same WiFi network, restart the printer, and check that your router allows Bonjour/mDNS traffic.

On This Page
  1. Common Reasons This Happens
  2. Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting
  3. 1. Confirm Same Network
  4. 2. Restart the Printer
  5. 3. Disable AP Isolation
  6. 4. Restart Your iPhone's WiFi
  7. 5. Update Printer Firmware
  8. What If It's Still Not Fixed?
  9. Frequently Asked Questions

Common Reasons airprint not finding my printer

Different WiFi networks

AirPrint requires the iPhone/iPad and printer to be on the exact same local network.

Bonjour/mDNS blocked by the router

Some routers block the multicast traffic AirPrint uses to discover printers, especially with guest network isolation.

The printer doesn't support AirPrint

Older printer models may not be AirPrint compatible at all.

Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting

Before you start:
  • Confirm AirPrint compatibility for your exact printer model.
  • Check that your iPhone and printer show the same WiFi network name.

1. Confirm Same Network

1

Check the WiFi network name on both your iPhone and the printer's display.

2. Restart the Printer

2

Power cycling refreshes the AirPrint broadcast your iPhone listens for.

3. Disable AP Isolation

3

If your router has a client/AP isolation setting, turn it off so devices can discover each other.

4. Restart Your iPhone's WiFi

4

Toggle WiFi off and on to force your iPhone to rescan for local devices.

5. Update Printer Firmware

5

Older firmware can have AirPrint compatibility bugs that updates resolve.

What If It's Still Not Fixed?

If you've worked through every step above and the problem continues, it's worth checking a nearby cause rather than repeating the same steps. The guides below cover the most common related issues.

Still stuck? Try describing the problem in your own words using the search bar — different symptoms of the same root cause are often covered on a related page.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — AirPrint support depends on the printer's own firmware, so it's worth confirming compatibility for your exact model.

People Also Ask

  • Enable network discovery, confirm the print spooler service is running, and add the printer manually by IP address if automatic search fails. Read the full guide →
  • Try a different USB cable and port, and check Device Manager for a warning icon that points to a driver issue. Read the full guide →
  • Restart the printer and router, remove and re-add the printer in your system settings, and make sure "Use Printer Offline" is switched off. Read the full guide →
  • Confirm the printer and computer share the same network, enable network discovery, and restart both devices before searching again. Read the full guide →

Related Guides

Why Is My Printer Not Printing From My Phone? Why Is My Printer Not Connecting to WiFi?