On Android, you tap Print in an app and the printer list is empty, shows Select a printer, or the job sits on Printing in the notification shade forever. Android prints through print services, built-in or downloadable components that find printers on your network, and if the right one is off or outdated the printer never appears. Settings menus differ between phone makers, so where a path doesn't match your phone, use the search bar at the top of Settings.
What you might be seeing
- Select a printer shows no printers
- All printers finds nothing or keeps searching
- A print notification stuck on Printing or showing an error
- Some apps have no print option at all
Common causes
- Print service turned off
- The Default Print Service or Mopria Print Service may be disabled, so nothing searches for printers.
- Phone switching to mobile data
- Some phones quietly move to mobile data when Wi-Fi seems weak, which cuts off the printer.
- Different network
- The phone is on a guest or other network that can't reach the printer.
- Stuck print spooler
- Android's own Print Spooler app can hold onto a failed job and block new ones.
- App without print support
- Not every app includes a print option, so some files must be opened elsewhere.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order and test a print after each one. Most people are done within the first few steps.
Join the printer's Wi-Fi network
Open the Wi-Fi settings and check that the phone is on the same network as the printer, not a guest network. Many phones switch to mobile data automatically when Wi-Fi seems weak or has no internet, which cuts them off from the printer. Look in the Wi-Fi or connection settings for an option to switch to mobile data automatically and turn it off while you print.
Turn on the Default Print Service
Search Settings for Printing. On many phones it's under Connected devices › Connection preferences › Printing; on others it's under Connections › More connection settings › Printing or a similar menu. Open it, tap Default Print Service and make sure it's switched on. This built-in service finds most modern network printers without installing anything.
Add the Mopria Print Service
If the Default Print Service doesn't find your printer, install the Mopria Print Service from the Play Store. It's built on an industry standard supported by a very wide range of printers, and it adds options such as paper type and two-sided printing. Once installed, return to the Printing settings and switch it on. Keep it updated through the Play Store.
Pick the printer in the print preview
Open a document or photo, tap the menu or Share button and choose Print. At the top of the preview, tap Select a printer or the printer name, then All printers, and wait up to 30 seconds while the services search. When your printer appears, select it, check the paper size and number of copies, and tap the round print button.
Clear the Android print spooler
If jobs get stuck, open Settings › Apps, use the filter or menu to show system apps, and find Print Spooler. Tap Force stop, then Storage and Clear cache; if jobs still hang, use Clear storage or Clear data as well. This removes waiting print jobs without touching your files. Restart the phone and try a short print.
Add the printer by IP address
When automatic search fails but the printer is on the network, add it by hand. In the Printing settings, open Default Print Service, tap the three-dot menu, choose Add printer, then Add printer by IP address, and enter the address from the printer's network report. On some phones the same option is offered in the Mopria settings instead.
Try Wi-Fi Direct or the manufacturer's plugin
If you can't share a network with the printer, Wi-Fi Direct may help. In the Default Print Service settings, check that Wi-Fi Direct printing is on, enable Wi-Fi Direct on the printer and pick it in the print preview. Alternatively, the manufacturer's official print plugin or app from the Play Store adds model-specific options and search methods.
How to keep it from happening again
- Keep print services updated through the Play Store
- Place the printer where its Wi-Fi signal is strong
- Set a DHCP reservation for the printer so its address never changes
- Cancel failed jobs from the notification instead of leaving them
Common questions
Do I need the manufacturer's app to print from Android?
Usually not. The Default Print Service and Mopria cover most network printers for everyday printing. The manufacturer's app or plugin helps with setup, scanning, ink levels and special features. A plugin appears as another service under Printing, and you can turn the others off if the same printer shows up twice.
Why can't I find the Printing menu on my phone?
Phone makers customize Android settings, so the menu moves around. Use the search bar at the top of Settings and type printing or print service. You can also start a print from any app and open All printers, where an option to add a printer or service leads to the same settings.
Can Android print to a USB printer?
Sometimes. With a USB On-The-Go adapter, some phones and print services can print to a directly connected printer, but support varies widely by phone and printer. Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi Direct is far more dependable. For a USB-only printer, printing from a computer it's connected to is usually simpler.
This guide is general information written for common home and office printers. Menus and button names vary between models, so check your printer’s manual where a step differs. Printer Problems Solved is independent and not affiliated with any printer manufacturer. See our disclaimer.