Print

You need to find a printer app in the IOS App Store that also uses a companion app for a Mac or Windows PC.

Your Mac or Windows PC needs to be connected to the same Wireless WiFi network or through Bluetooth.

A printer needs to be connected to the Mac or Windows PC and ready to print.

The print data from the iPad is processed through the IOS Printer app on the iPad and wirelessly, either through the WiFi network or sent through via Bluetooth to the Mac or Windows PC where the companion IOS printer app for Mac or PC processes the data sent wirelessly and uses your Mac or Windows PC's printer drivers and software to initiate the printer software of your connected printer to initiate the print job inside of your Mac or PC and sends the printer data off to the printer where it should print.

Lots of these types of printing apps in the IOS App Store.

I am not going to make any specific recommendation, pick one that you think will meet your needs and make the print process as quick and streamline as possible.

These types of printer apps need the use of a secondary host computer and additional installed software onto that computer to print to either a USB printer or a wireless printer that is communicating via WiFi, Bluetooth or Ethernet from a Mac or Windows PC.

Best of Luck to You!

If you’re unable to identify a manufacturers App for your printer from the App Store - and the printer is not AirPrint compatible, then your options are limited.

If you have a PC or Mac, you could install a “helper” App that provides an AirPrint “gateway” (e.g., Readdle Printer Pro) or you could consider adding a Print Server appliance to your home network - such as an xPrintServer from Lantronix. The cost of the latter might be well on the way towards the price of low-cost AirPrint Printer....

I hope this proves to be helpful in understanding some of your cost-effective options.

You will need an AirPrint Server - such as the example already given (Lantronix). A standard print server does not support the AirPrint Print protocol.