How to Print on a Chromebook Google and Cloud Print

Printing from a Chromebook is a little different than printing from a PC. There are two main different ways you can print from a Chromebook. Certain printers will work out of the box with a Chromebook while other printers will need another computer and additional steps to allow you print from your Chromebook. For most users, it is recommended to buy a Chromebook compatible printer because this is really the easiest way. This advice will be repeated several times throughout the article on how to print on a Chromebook.

 

Chromebook Compatible Printers

Having a cloud-enabled printer is going to make the process a lot easier, but it’s still possible with a more traditional printer restricted to using a USB connection. The easiest solution to printing on a Chromebook will be to buy a Chromebook compatible printer. There are many excellent printers that work with Chromebooks right out of the box and no additional setup is required. Google has made printing from a Chromebook very easy!

 

How to Use Google Cloud Print

As mentioned, Google has made printing from a Chromebook very easy. Google Cloud Print is a free service that allows you to print documents and photos securely from your Chromebook to your network-connected HP printer. Google Cloud Print is a specific wireless solution that a printer manufacturer must choose to support. Look for the Google Cloud Print logo on the box. If you just have a wireless printer, it may not be enough. It is necessary to have a specific Google Cloud Print printer in order to use this feature to print from a Chromebook.

Using Google Cloud Print, you can make your home and work printers available to you and anyone you choose, from the applications you use every day. Google Cloud Print works on your phone, tablet, Chromebook, PC, and any other web-connected device you want to print from. See the following list of the best Chromebook compatible printers.

 

Using Chromebook Compatible Printer

If you have a Google cloud-connected printer for Chromebook, setup instructions vary by the brand of your printer. Google has provides step-by-step instructions for every printer manufacturer with cloud-enabled hardware. Make sure you setup your Chromebook printer correctly!

  • Brother Chromebook Printers – Brother devices that support Google Cloud Print connect directly to the Google Cloud Print server. If your Brother device supports Google Cloud Print, please see the Google Cloud Print Guide for setup instructions.

  • Canon Chromebook Compatible Printers– Select Canon printers are Google Cloud Print Ready for easy and convenient printing from anywhere. If your Canon printer is Google Cloud Print Ready, follow these instructions for setting up Google Cloud Print on your particular model.

  • Dell Chromebook Printers – Print on the go with Google Cloud Print, compatible with selected Dell printers. For Dell printers, follow the instructions at the bottom of the Dell compatible printers page.

  • Epson Chromebook Compatible Printers – Epson’s Google Cloud Print Ready printers connect directly to the Google Cloud Print service for a seamless printing experience. For Epson printers, follow the instructions for Setting up Google Cloud Print.

  • HP Chromebook Ready Printers  – HP’s Google Cloud Print capable printers enable seamless printing from virtually anywhere with no need for additional drivers or software. For instructions on setting up Google Cloud Print on your HP printer, click here.

  • Samsung Printers for Chromebooks – Samsung’s Google Cloud Print Ready printers support printing from anywhere, with no need for drivers. To setup Google Cloud Print on your Samsung printer, follow the Samsung instructions online.

  • Xerox Chromebook Supported Printers – Select Xerox printers and MFPs allow you to connect securely and directly to the Google Cloud Print™ service so your printer is always available, wherever you are with no need to install and maintain print drivers or additional software. For setup instructions, please visit the  Xerox Support page.

Each Chromebook compatible printer will have different instructions on how to setup printing. This is why it is suggested to the visit the printer manufacturer’s website. All printer manufacturers should have a pretty quick guide to getting you setup printing on a Chromebook.

 

Using an Old Printer with Chromebook

You can even use an old printer on the Chromebook. However, you will need to connect it to your WiFi network via another PC running Windows or OSX. If you have an old printer, you will need to Set Up a Classic Network-Attached Printer.  If your printer is connected to your computer via USB or a local access network, these are the instructions you’ll need to set up access via Google Print.

  1. You will need Google Chrome installed on your Windows/Mac machine. Download. This will allow you to setup up the other PC as a Google Cloud Print Sever
  2. Next, you will need to install the printer as if it was any other Windows or Mac printer. Make sure to install all the necessary drivers and test it to see if it will print.
  3. Open Google Chrome on your Windows/Mac machine and login into your google Account.
  4. Click the Chrome menu button on the browser toolbar
  5. Select Settings and then Click Show advanced settings.
  6. Scroll down to the “Google Cloud Print” section. Click Add printers.
  7. Select the printers you want to connect, and then click Add printer(s).

Your printer should now be available to you from any Chrome browser you’re signed into (including your Chromebook, of course). This will require the other computer to be turned on to print from a Chromebook.

 

Chromebook Printing with Android Smartphone

To avoid having to run another PC or laptop so one can print using a Chromebook another option is to use your Mobile Phone which generally remains on during the day in any case. Download and install Printhand app to your Android Phone. At this point you are not required to pay anything, upon installation you are prompted to test the print function with your particular printer, this sometimes involves downloading and installing further files tailored to your printer. All of this is done using easy to follow prompts.

Once you have managed to test the installation by actually printing a test page at that point, if you wish to continue using the app you are required to pay. At this point you can actually print files from your phone via wifi.

Connecting your phone and Chromebook with Printhand

Now you need to register your phone. Once the phone is registered then, making sure your printer is on try printing from the Chromebook.  Choose the “ Print from Google Cloud Print Dialogue” option or press CTRL+SHIFT+P and select your phone. Within a few seconds you will see the phone appears to be downloading something and this prompts your PrintHand app to fire up. You will then see a preview of the page(s) and you should follow the prompts to print. It is possible to adjust certain print functions, Landscape, Portrait, numbers of copies, page size  etc.

Using the PrintHand app and another printer will require the other printer to be wireless.