Why your iPhone hates printer cables
iPhones lack native support for wired printing because Apple does not provide driver support for iOS or iPadOS, making direct USB connections ineffective. While third-party apps and workarounds like AirPrint bridges exist, they typically require a computer intermediary to function. For users with older printers, upgrading to a modern wireless model is often the most practical solution for mobile printing.
- ▪Apple devices have supported the AirPrint wireless standard since late 2010 but do not include native drivers for wired printers.
- ▪Direct USB printing from an iPhone is impossible because the operating system lacks the necessary drivers to communicate with printer hardware.
- ▪Third-party apps such as PrintCentral Pro and PrintDirect can facilitate printing but generally require a computer to act as a middleman.
- ▪Advanced workarounds like using a Raspberry Pi as a print server exist, though upgrading to a modern AirPrint-compatible printer is recommended for frequent users.
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| Original publisher | Engadget |
| Canonical URL | https://www.engadget.com/2266565/why-iphone-hates-printer-cables/ |
| Publication time | Sat, 26 Sep 2026 23:30:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-26T23:50:40.108Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-26T23:50:40.108Z |
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| Cluster | rGm1F-W__CX0 · 1 stories |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Big Tech Apple Why your iPhone hates printer cables The iPhone was never designed to print with a cable, but several wireless options are available. By Deven McClure Sept. 26, 2026 7:30 pm EST Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover Printers are one of the most maligned and problematic pieces of tech, often serving as a boundless source of errors even when you're positive you've done everything right. If you have an older printer without modern wireless capabilities, you might have tried to print directly from your iPhone using a wired connection, to no avail. But why does the iPhone hate printer cables so much? Since late 2010, the iPhone and iPad have been capable of AirPrint, which is Apple's wireless printing standard.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Engadget.
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