Printer manufacturers' companion apps handle setup, scanning, ink levels and printing from phones and computers. When the app sits on a searching screen or reports that it can't find anything while the printer sits switched on a few feet away, the cause is usually a permission the app hasn't been given or a network detail that keeps the app and printer apart. This guide covers both on iPhone, Android and Mac, and only resets the printer's network settings if you really need to.
What you might be seeing
- The app keeps searching and never lists the printer
- The app shows the printer offline although it prints from a computer
- First-time setup stops at the searching or connecting stage
- The app found the printer before but not after a phone update
Common causes
- Missing app permissions
- iPhones and recent Macs require local network permission, and Android often needs location or nearby devices access to scan for printers.
- Bluetooth or location off
- Many setup flows use Bluetooth or location services to find a new printer nearby.
- Different networks or a VPN
- The app can only find printers on the same local network as the device it runs on.
- Setup mode timed out
- A new printer only stays in setup mode for a limited time.
- Outdated app
- Older app versions may not work with the latest phone or printer software.
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.
Update the app and your device
Open the App Store, Play Store or your computer's app store and install any update for the manufacturer's app, then check for system updates on the device itself. These apps are updated frequently to keep pace with new phone software, and a version a few months old can stop searching properly after a major phone update.
Allow local network access on iPhone, iPad and Mac
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network and turn on the switch for the printer app. On macOS 15 and later, the same list is in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network. If the app is missing from the list, delete and reinstall it, then tap Allow when it asks to find devices on your network.
Allow location and nearby devices on Android
Open Settings › Apps, select the manufacturer's app and tap Permissions. Set Location to allow while using the app, with precise location on if offered, and allow Nearby devices on newer Android versions. Make sure location is switched on for the phone itself too. Menu names vary by phone maker, but the permissions screen is reachable from the app's info page.
Turn on Bluetooth for setup
Many apps use Bluetooth to spot a new or unconfigured printer and pass it your Wi-Fi details. Turn Bluetooth on, and on iPhone check Settings › Privacy & Security › Bluetooth to make sure the app is allowed. Keep the phone within a few feet of the printer during setup. Once the printer is on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth usually isn't needed for everyday printing.
Put both on the same network
Check that your phone or computer is on the same Wi-Fi as the printer, not a guest network or mobile data, and disconnect any VPN. For first-time setup, connect the phone to the network you want the printer to join, since the app usually passes that network's details on. Networks with a web sign-in page, such as some hotel or office Wi-Fi, generally can't be used.
Put the printer back into setup mode
If setup stalled, the printer may have left setup mode. Restore its network settings from the control panel, usually under a Network or Wireless menu with an option to restore or reset network settings, or follow the button sequence in the printer's manual. This clears only network settings, not anything else. Then restart setup in the app straight away.
Reset the app's stored data
On Android, open the app's info page, tap Storage and choose Clear cache, then Clear storage if it still fails. On iPhone, go to Settings › General › iPhone Storage, select the app, choose Offload App and then reinstall it, which keeps its documents. Sign in again and let it search fresh. If it still can't find the printer, remember that printing itself doesn't need the app.
How to keep it from happening again
- Accept the app's permission requests when you first install it
- Keep the app updated alongside your phone's software
- Avoid moving the printer between networks once the app is set up
- Finish setup soon after putting the printer in setup mode
Common questions
Why does a printer app need my location?
On Android, scanning for Wi-Fi networks and nearby Bluetooth devices could reveal where you are, so the system requires location or nearby devices permission for any app that does it. The printer app uses it to find the printer, and you can choose to allow it only while the app is in use.
Do I need the app to print?
No. Most current printers work with built-in printing, such as AirPrint on Apple devices and the Default Print Service or Mopria on Android. The app is mainly useful for setup, scanning, firmware updates and ink or toner status, and some of its features may require signing in to the manufacturer's account.
The app shows the printer as offline but printing works. Why?
Some apps check printer status through the manufacturer's online service rather than directly. If that link drops, the app reports offline even though local printing works. Make sure the printer's web services or cloud connection setting is on and the router lets it reach the internet. Signing out of the app and back in also refreshes the status.
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.