What is PrintHand?

PrintHand is a comprehensive mobile printing solution available for Android and iOS platforms. Unlike printer manufacturer apps that typically work only with their own brand, PrintHand takes a universal approach. We support thousands of printer models from virtually all major manufacturers.

Whether your printer uses WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, or is shared on a network, PrintHand can connect to it. While other apps lock you into proprietary protocols, PrintHand works with standard printing protocols and gives you the flexibility to print from your mobile device to virtually any printer you encounter. Well, almost all—we're always working to add support for new models and technologies! Check out our supported printers list.

Is PrintHand free to use?

The PrintHand Mobile Print app is free to try. With the free version, you can try direct local printing over WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB by printing a test page (which we highly recommend). To print actual documents, photos, and other content via these direct connections, you'll need to upgrade to Premium Mode through a one-time purchase or subscription that includes all future updates.

PrintHand does not require a payment to send print jobs to printers shared by our Windows and Mac software. However, on the receiving end one would need to subscribe to our service or purchase individual page packs in order to complete the printing. Mobile Premium users automatically get 100 pages added to their accounts for computer-shared printing.

Do I need a computer to print from my mobile device?

In most cases, no computer is required. You can print directly from your mobile device to:

• Wi-Fi enabled printers
• Bluetooth printers
• USB-connected printers (on Android 4.0+ devices with USB host support)
• Network-shared printers

However, if you experience compatibility or print quality issues, installing our optional desktop software (available for Mac and Windows) can help by utilizing your computer's printer drivers. A computer connected to a printer is also needed on the receiving end if you want to print remotely.

When should I install the PrintHand computer software?

The desktop client is optional and recommended when:

• You're experiencing compatibility issues with direct printing
• Print quality needs improvement
• You want to leverage your computer's native printer drivers
• Your printer doesn't support direct mobile connections

The software is available for both Mac and Windows computers.

Does my data leave my network when printing?

Direct Local Printing (WiFi, Bluetooth, USB): Your data never leaves your local network. When you print directly to a WiFi-enabled printer, Bluetooth printer, or via USB connection, your documents travel straight from your mobile device to the printer without passing through any external servers. The connection is completely local and secure within your network or device.

Remote Printing (via PrintHand Desktop Client): When printing remotely to a computer connected to a printer, the encrypted print data passes through our secure cloud infrastructure to reach the receiving computer. It's important to note that we transmit the print rendering data—not your actual documents or attachments. This data is encrypted during transmission and is automatically deleted from our servers once the print job is completed. Your original documents never leave your device unencrypted and are never stored on our servers.

Why does PrintHand need various device permissions?

PrintHand requests access to messages, storage, network communication, and other features strictly for printing purposes. These permissions allow the app to access your documents and photos from various locations including:

• Your device's internal storage
• Email accounts and attachments
• Cloud storage services
• Photos and media libraries
• Network printers

We never collect, store, or transmit your personal information beyond what's necessary for printing.

Can I print emails and attachments?

Yes! PrintHand supports printing emails and their attachments:

• Android: Gmail integration is built directly into the app. Simply connect your Gmail account from within PrintHand and start printing.
• Other email providers: Yahoo Mail, AOL, Hotmail, and others can be configured within the app, or you can print emails through your mobile browser.
• iOS: Print emails and attachments directly from the Mail app using the share functionality.

How do I restore my Premium Mode purchase?

If you've previously purchased Premium Mode and need to restore it on a new device or after reinstalling the app, the process depends on where you made your purchase:

Google Play / Apple App Store: Simply log in to your account on the new device and re-download PrintHand. If you have a valid purchase or subscription, Premium Mode should activate automatically. If it doesn't activate immediately, open PrintHand and go to Settings → Premium Mode → Restore Purchase.

Amazon Appstore: Log in to your Amazon account on the new device and re-download the app. Your Premium version should restore automatically.

Direct Purchase (PayPal, Credit Card, or Other Payment Methods): If you purchased directly from us within the app on the website, you should have received an email containing your license code. In PrintHand, go to Upgrade / Restore and choose "I have activation / license code," then enter the code from your email. If you're having trouble locating your license code or restoring your purchase, please contact our support team with your purchase details.

What types of documents can I print?

PrintHand supports a wide variety of document and media types:

• Photos and images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP)
• PDF documents
• Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Web pages
• Text files
• Emails and attachments
• Calendar events and contacts
• Cloud storage files (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.)
• Content from other apps through sharing (using your device's share/send menu)

Where can I find detailed instructions and troubleshooting help?

For comprehensive guidance, we offer several resources:

• Help & Support - Online troubleshooting guides and tutorials
• Download User Guide PDF - Detailed PrintHand User Guide (9.6MB) with step-by-step instructions, tips, and troubleshooting
• Contact Support - Reach out to our support team for personalized assistance
• In-app help - Access context-sensitive help directly within the PrintHand app

Which printers are supported?

PrintHand works with thousands of printer models from all major manufacturers including HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Samsung, Lexmark, and many more. You can:

• Browse our supported printers list to check if your printer is compatible
• Download the free version and print a test page to verify compatibility
• Use the desktop client for additional printer support

Printer types in the app

"Add Printer" lists the ways the app can reach a printer. Each type looks for printers in its own way, and the same printer can appear under more than one of them. When in doubt, start with Wi-Fi Network: that is where most home and office printers are found.

Wi-Fi Network

For printers that are on your home or office network themselves, connected by Wi-Fi or by a network cable. The app finds them on its own within a few seconds, and the printer model is detected, so the right driver is chosen for you.

• The phone and the printer must be on the same Wi-Fi. Guest networks and the "AP isolation" option of some routers keep devices from seeing each other.
• A printer in sleep mode can take a moment to answer. Search again if it is missing the first time.
• Not found? Add the printer by its IP address: it is shown in the printer's network settings or on its configuration report.
• A VPN on the phone usually blocks local printing. Turn it off while you print.

PrintHand Local

For a printer that is not on the network by itself but is connected to a device that is: a computer, a router, a network drive or a print server. The app finds these printers on your network and prints to them just as well as to a Wi-Fi printer.

• Computer with our free software: install PrintHand for Windows or Mac (or PrinterShare) on the computer the printer is plugged into and share the printer in it. Then look for it here, in PrintHand Local. No network settings or passwords needed.
• Router or network drive: plug the printer into its USB port and turn on printer sharing in its settings, often called "USB printer sharing" or "LPR server". A router does not know which printer it has, so pick the model from the list, or the generic driver for its brand.
• Print server, Mac or Linux computer: a print server box, or a Mac or Linux computer with printer sharing turned on, shows up here as well.

A printer shared by Windows itself is under Windows Sharing.

Nearby Bluetooth

For small printers that work over Bluetooth: receipt, label and portable photo printers. Regular home printers rarely use Bluetooth, even when they have it; they belong under Wi-Fi Network.

• Pair the printer in the phone's Bluetooth settings first. Paired printers are then listed in the app.
• If the printer asks for a PIN during pairing, it is usually 0000 or 1234, or printed in its manual.

Wi-Fi Direct

For a printer that offers its own Wi-Fi connection. The phone connects straight to the printer, so it works where there is no Wi-Fi network at all, for example at a customer's site or outdoors.

• Wi-Fi Direct must be switched on in the printer's menu. The printer then appears in the app's Wi-Fi Direct list under its own name, which starts with DIRECT-.
• Most printers ask for their Wi-Fi Direct password the first time. The app asks for it once and keeps it with the printer. Where to find it:
  • On a printer with a display: in its Wi-Fi Direct or Wireless Direct menu, which shows the name and the password.
  • On a printer without a display, such as the HP LaserJet M15w: on the printer's web page (open its address, shown on its network page, in a browser; the Networking tab has a Wi-Fi Direct Setup page with the password), or on the printed network configuration page. The wireless test report does not include it.
  • HP printers come with the password 12345678 unless it was changed; the app offers it. Canon, Epson and Brother printers show theirs in the menu or on their Wi-Fi Direct setup sheet.
• Android confirms the first connection to the printer's network with a "Connect to device" prompt. Accept it; it is not asked again.
• While the phone is connected to the printer this way, it may have no internet for the duration of the job. The app leaves the printer's network when the job is done.
• If the printer is on the same Wi-Fi network as the phone, add it under Wi-Fi Network instead: that is simpler and does not interrupt the phone's connection.

Direct USB

For a printer connected to the phone with a USB cable. Most phones need a small adapter (USB OTG) between the phone's port and the printer's cable.

• Android asks for permission to use the printer when it is plugged in. Allow it, and tick "always" to skip the question next time.
• If the cable goes to a computer or a router instead of the phone, the printer belongs under PrintHand Local.

Windows Sharing

For a printer connected to a Windows computer, at home or at work, including offices with an Active Directory domain.

• On the computer, Windows 10 and 11 need two settings:
  1. Turn on "File and printer sharing": Settings, Network & internet, Advanced network settings, Advanced sharing settings (Windows 10: Control Panel, Network and Sharing Center).
  2. Right-click the printer, choose "Printer properties", not the plain "Properties", and on the Sharing tab tick "Share this printer".
• Signing in from the app: a local Windows account is easiest, with its user name and password and Domain left empty. A Microsoft account works with its e-mail and password once "Only allow Windows Hello sign-in" is turned off in Settings, Accounts, Sign-in options; a PIN does not work over the network.
• At work, use your office account and the domain name.

Easier still: our free PrintHand software on the computer shares the printer with no Windows settings or passwords. See PrintHand Local.

Print to PDF

No physical printer: the pages are saved as a PDF file on the phone, to send, keep or print later. It is also a quick way to check how a document will look before printing it on paper.

PrintHand Remote

For printers that other people share with you over the internet from a Windows or Mac computer running PrintHand or PrinterShare. Sign in to your account, and the printers shared with you are listed wherever you are.

• Remote printing is paid per page by the printer's owner; Premium Mode includes 100 pages.
• You do not need Remote for a printer on your own Wi-Fi: add it as Wi-Fi Network or PrintHand Local instead.

Still have questions?

If you couldn't find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to contact our support team. We're here to help!