You can print from your Chromebook with compatible printers that connect to the internet or USB cable. Currently, Chromebooks don't support Bluetooth printing.
Tip: If you connect your printer to your Chromebook through a USB cable, a notification appears. Follow any on-screen instructions, then proceed to Step 2.
Step 1: Connect both devices to the same internet connection
Important: Your printer and Chromebook must be connected to the same internet network.
- Turn on your printer.
- Connect your printer to the internet network.
- If you need help, follow your printer manufacturer’s instructions.
- If you haven’t yet, turn on your Chromebook and sign in.
- Connect your Chromebook to the same network as your printer.
Step 2: Select your printer
Important: To select your printer, follow these steps.
- To print your page, image, or document that’s on-screen, on your keyboard, press Ctrl + p.
- Tip: To show the print dialog box, you can use a keyboard shortcut. Press and hold the Ctrl button and press p at the same time.
- Next to "Destination," select the Down arrow
.
- Select See more...
- Choose your printer.
- Some printers listed in the drop down menu may not be compatible with your Chromebook. When you select your printer, your Chromebook does a compatibility check.
- If you can’t find your printer on the list, to learn about compatibility or add a printer manually, select Manage.
- Select Print.
Step 3: Save your printer to your Chromebook
When you save your printer to your Chromebook profile, it becomes the default.
- At the bottom right of your Chromebook, select the time.
- Select Settings
.
- Under "Device," scroll down to “Printers and scanners.”
- Select Print.
- Under "Available printers to save," next to your printer, select Save.
- Some printers listed in the drop down menu may not be compatible with your Chromebook. When you select your printer, your Chromebook does a compatibility check.
- Check that your printer appears at the top, under "Your saved printers."
Scan a document
Important: Before you attempt to scan, make sure your printer can scan.
- At the bottom right of your Chromebook, select the time.
- Select Settings
- Under "Device," scroll down to “Printers and scanners.”
- Select Scan.
- Tip: Alternatively, to find the Scan app, open Launcher
and search for
Scan.
- Tip: Alternatively, to find the Scan app, open Launcher
- To select your scanner, under "Scan" select the down arrow menu on the right.
- Tip: You can customize your color mode, page size, resolution, and scan options under “More settings.”
- To start your scan, select the Scan button.
Tip: Scanned files are saved to the location you specified in the "Scan to" option. To find your scanned files, select Show file location. You can also scan documents with your Chromebook’s camera.
Fix printer setup problems
- At the bottom right of your Chromebook, select the time.
- Select Settings
- Under "Device," scroll down to “Printers and scanners.”
- Select Printers.
- Next to the name of your printer, select More
Edit.
- Make sure all your printer information is correct, with no typos or misspellings.
If all your printer info is accurate, try removing and re-adding your printer:
- Next to the name of your printer, select More
- Set up your printer again.
- Turn your printer off, then back on.
- Try to connect to Wi-Fi again.
Tip: If your printer still won’t connect to Wi-Fi, contact your printer manufacturer for help.
If your printer doesn’t appear under "Your saved printers," you can also add your printer manually.
Important: If you're using a Chromebook at work or school, and you're not able to add a new printer, contact your administrator.
- If you haven't already, connect your printer to the internet.
- Tip: Your Chromebook and printer must be connected to the same internet connection.
- At the bottom right of your Chromebook, select the time.
- Select Settings
- Under "Device," scroll down to “Printers and scanners.”
- Select Printers
- Enter your printer information:
- Name: Enter any name to help you recognize your printer.
- Address: Enter your printer’s IP address. If you need help finding your printer's IP address, contact your printer's manufacturer or check the printer's instructions.
- Protocol: For most printers, the supported connection protocol is Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).
- Queue: For most printers, the queue is ipp/print.
- Select Add.
If your printer can't be set up automatically, you can continue to follow the on-screen steps for the advanced setup process.
Use the advanced setup process
If your printer can't be saved automatically, you can use the advanced setup process.
- Next to the printer name, select Set up.
- In the box that appears, choose your printer manufacturer and model.
Tip: To find this info, look at the label on your printer. - Select Add.
- Check that your printer appears at the top, under "Your saved printers."
If your printer doesn't appear in the manufacturer or model drop-down menus, Chromebook may not support your printer. You can try to use a "Generic" Postscript Printer Description (PPD) from the drop-down menus or you can specify your own PPD.
PostScript Printer Description
Chromebooks use PPD files to support printers. PPD files are different from printer drivers and tell your Chromebook how to support a specific printer model.
- In the box that appears next to “Or specify your printer PPD,” select Browse.
- Choose your printer PPD, then select Open.
- At the bottom right of your Chromebook, select the time.
- Select Settings
- Under "Device," scroll down to “Printers and scanners.”
- Select Printers.
- Under “Other available printers,” on the same Wi-Fi network, you’ll find compatible printers. Only connect to devices that you trust.
Tip: It may take time for your Chromebook to recognize other printers or scanners on your network.