I have an HP printer, but it is not AirPrint compatible. I would like to be able to print a Pages document from my iPad to my printer on my home network. I have tried several apps, including HP iPrint, but have had no success. I don’t need anything heavy in features. I just want to print documents. Any recommendations?
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Cameron
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What is a free alternative to AirPrint
Comments: 9 Responses to “What is a free alternative to AirPrint”
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Depends on what you mean by an alternative. If you want something to print directly from your iPad, then you only have AirPrint as it is the only such tech that is available inside apps. But you can use other apps, such as iPrint, to send photos and screen shots, etc. If you are having trouble with iPrint, then why not contact HP support?
On the other hand, if you have a Mac, you can set up a printed connected to your Mac as an AirPrint printer using third-party software. See http://macmost.com/printing-from-your-ipad.html
I downloaded and installed AirPrint Activator. When I went to my iPad, my printer immediately showed up in the printers list. However, when I tried to print to it, the iPad gave me an error message saying the printer was offline. I then went back to my MacBook and printed to the same printer with no problem, so I know it's not offline. What am I missing? The printer is not connected directly to the MacBook, nor is it connected directly to the router. Rather, it is connected wirelessly to the network using the printer's built-in wifi.
Okay, I deactivated and then reactivated AirPrint Activator and printed successfully from my iPad. However, when I try printing from my kids' iPad (which is the one we want to print from most), my printer does not appear in the list. Same network, two iPads. One finds the printer; one does not. The suspense continues.
This is ever changing. Now the printer is no longer showing up on either iPad. That is, it's not showing up in the list via the Family MacBook. However, it is showing up via my MBA, which happens to be connected to the same network. It's even showing a printer connected to an iMac at a different location that's connected to my MBA via Back To My Mac. However, the Family MacBook, which remains here at the house, always on, always connected, is the one I need to show up in the list. Very weird.
Btw, it's the Family MacBook that has AirPrint Activator installed on it.
Have you tried contacting AirPrint Activator for support? Perhaps they have a forum there were the focus is completely on these sorts of issues?
I restarted the Family MacBook. The printer reappeared on the iPad's printer list, and I successfully printed to it from the iPad. Not sure why that made a difference, but it is working...for now.
Get Printopia. It runs on your Mac as a sorta "print server" you can print from any iOS device as a regular print, a PDF to your Mac or a PDF to you dropbox account.
Btw, thanks for recommending AirPrint Activator, Gary. I like the simplicity of it. Not a bunch of extra steps like some 3rd party apps. And there are sooo many of them to sift through.