Printing from a Chromebook hasn’t always been easy. So last June, Google added a Chrome OS Native Printing feature for Chromebooks since not everyone has a Google Cloud Print capable device. Even so, I’ve still seen inconsistency when trying to print, especially after we replaced our older HP printer with a Brother model.
After some research, I found the WiFi Printer Driver Chrome Web App and since then, I haven’t had a single printer issue. And it doesn’t require you to know the IP address of your local network printer, which saves some configuration time.
Your results may vary based on the printer model you have, of course.
But in scanning through the app reviews, I see a wide range of success across different printer brands including HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother, to name a few.
One thing I have noticed is that the WiFi Printer Driver app needs to be actively running in order for me to print. It’s a minor annoyance at best though. And depending on which printer you have, you might not need the app to be active when printing.
Regardless, if you have a wireless printer that doesn’t consistently work with your Chromebook, this app is worth a try.
16 Comments
I installed this and got quite excited when the printer responded but it gave false info regarding page size so instead of printing to A4 it printed to postcard size.
I have the same issue doesn’t matter what I try always prints postcard size.
Did you ever find a solution? Mine is printing in a postcard size now…
I ended up buying an hp printer that is cloud ready I have heard canon has compatibility issues with chromebox. Hp envy 5055 is the best choice for any chrome book or chomebox
Thank you so much for posting this information! I have been looking on and off for over a month for a solution to my chromebook problem. All other devices would print to my printer except the chromebook. The app works. Thank you.
I got it to add my printer but it still won’t print. I didn’t get a second box pop up to show a destination. Any suggestions?
It worked on one print job, which sure made me happy, and then stopped working, which sure made me unhappy. I’m baffled!
I just wanted to say THANK YOU because I love EVERYTHING about my Chromebook but in the past year that I’ve had mine, I just couldn’t get it to print using my old school Canon Pixma. But not anymore, thanks to you. My husband is in I.T and he couldn’t make this happen. I am beaming with PRIDE.
Awesome! Happy to help. ✌?
Fifteen minutes of frustration gone in seconds. Thanks for posting the life saving app. U-DA-MAN!
I know an IT guy named Stanley Hudson who advised me to connect the printer to the chromebook using the IP address then set the IP address equal to the social security of my eldest child. I was amazing but he swore it worked. He said once it is connected, you just need to print a test page and shove it up your butt! bwahahaha
It won’t print double sided or in black and white even when i tell it to in the app?
Did not work for me. When selecting the printer as destination, print preview said the printer was not installed correctly. EPSON WP-4530, a cloud compatible printer.
Finds my printer but says it’s not supported. Brother HL-2270DW
Given up on ever being able to print or scan from my chromebook and now use my phone instead using Noko print for printing and Cannon print when I need to use the scanner. The last straw was when Google abandoned Cloudprint!
I was able to download an app from the store made for mobile devices and finally got it to work. it is called Nokoprint. It prints multiple file types and you can choose from your Google Drive or downloads. If you want to choose only some pages of a document it can be found under the settings icon in the top right.