BGR Breaks It Down: How to use AirPrint with any printer

By on Nov 29, 2010 at 9:20 AM
mobile November 29, 2010

Apple’s latest iOS update finally adds AirPrint to iOS devices, bringing wireless printing capabilities to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. That’s the good news. The bad news is that in order to use AirPrint, you need a compatible printer. Since very few printers are compatible at this point in time, odds are pretty good that yours isn’t one of them. Don’t worry, though — that’s where hobbyist hackers come in.

If you own a Mac [update for Windows PCs added below] and a printer, you can use AirPrint. In fact, your printer doesn’t even have to be wireless. A simple new hack using an OS X app dubbed AirPrint Hacktivator will enable printing via AirPrint for nearly anyone in a matter of minutes. Hit the jump for a guide that will get you up and running in no time.

1. Download the latest version of AirPrint Hacktivator
2. Unzip the AirPrint Hacktivator to your desktop or Applications folder, then run it
3. Slide the toggle switch in the app to ON, then enter your administrator password when prompted
4. Click OK to confirm
5. Now, go to System Preferences -> Print & Fax
6. Click the minus symbol to remove your printer, then add it back and check the box share it on your network (see video below for instructions)

You’re now ready to use AirPrint from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 4.2 or later. Just remember that your Mac must be on and connected to your network in order for your hacktivated AirPrint to work.

UPDATE: BGR reader Andre just sent us an email to let us know that German blog Macerkopf has an app that will let Windows users hack their PCs to enable AirPrint as well. Check out the translated post for more details and make sure you download the English version of the hack if you want to get in on the action.

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26 Comments

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  • Anonymous

    what about Windows ?

    • Dario69

      I think Zach forgot this wasn’t an Apple blog he was writing for. Some advice – when writing for a blog that is supposed to cover all areas of technology – not just Apple – don’t write something as general as ‘with any printer’ without indicating the OS if it is OS dependent. Journalism 101 -or even Blogism 101 really. Even if Apple had 90% of the desktop market it still wouldn’t make it right. 10% of the desktop market just makes this headline even more silly.

    • sirpaul

      You don’t need any apps what-so-ever, as long as your printer is shared. I’ll make a youtube video after my exams are over. That’s in 2.5 weeks lol :P

  • Len

    I’m just trying to imagine how many times I would actually want to print something from an Ipad…
    If I have access to a printer, then I probably have access to a computer and would rather print from a computer than an Ipad.

    Imo, AirPrint is another one of those Apple features that doesn’t add much functionality, however it is something Apple can claim as a “new”, cool feature invented by Apple. But in reality, I don’t see many everyday users actually using AirPrint.

    • Donny

      I think it adds quite a bit of functionality. For me at least. I get email attachments in pdf, word or excel format and it would be nice to just print them off from my phone or whatever device.

      • Len

        Hmm for business purposes I can see how that could possibly be a benefit of printing attachments immediately, however for personal use, I would think that the purpose of printing is mostly just so the attachment is bigger and more easily readable than on an iphone screen.

        As I mentioned, if you have a printer handy, you probably have a computer around as well which has access to the same e-mail attachments on a bigger screen, perhaps eliminating the need to print it.

        This sounds like another case of adding functionality that may seem to add some convenience to the user, but does it really? It sounds more like something I would deliberately have to force myself to use rather than naturally using a computer to print.

        As much as I doubt how useful this actually is, having options is definitely a good thing :)

  • Anonymous

    And maybe someday, you can even share a document with somebody, not just email a copy.

  • CJG

    How about using AirPrint with a Printer connected (via usb) to my TimeCapsule? I already print wirelessly thanks to that when using my macbook – why not with AirPrint?

  • Chill74

    With Cortado Workplace you don’t even need to turn on your mac… and it’s free!

  • 09CiViCSi09

    Just get a HP printer with Eprint/WiFi and u can print from anywhere in the world and it work with Airprint. Just order my today $59.99 D110a i think that was the model its on sale i got this PhotoSmart because its easy to print pictues right from the iphone 4 using the hp printer App or Airprint will do the job right too i think they created this more for business and pictures do to ur business computer are always on so u can print right from the ipad.

  • Vs

    Attempted with with Vista… and ipad 4.2.1 … Doesn’t work.. Windows print sharing only allows devices on the ‘windows network’ to access the printer..

  • David

    Norton AV is not happy with theWindows version of the file, so I decided not to download it. Proceed at your own risk, folks.

    • Mgl323

      Thanks for the heads up.

  • shipdog58

    Followed all of the steps, not working for me. :(

  • shipdog58

    Connected to the wrong wireless network…D’oh! Working just fine.

  • Jacques

    Works fine on my Windows & laptop. Too cool.

  • Anonymous

    No way dude, that is jsut totally messed up man!

    http://www.real-privacy.edu.tc

  • wanderer

    Downloaded it and installed the small hack and it works like a charm with my Imac running Snow leopard and printing out on a wired HP C42. This is so sweet that someone always finds a workaround Apple. Why Apple didn’t make something like this is beyond me, but I guess its always something to do with business.

    • WarmNFuzzy

      because you have to have a computer on, thus defeating the purpose of having it on an iDevice

  • NobodySpecial

    If you need to hack it to print, you did it wrong.

  • WarmNFuzzy

    whats the point of it if you have to have your computer on?

  • wanderer

    In my situation having the computer on is fine. Why? Because my iMac is always on anyway. It works, and thats what matters. Why always try to find the bad side of things, when you don’t even have to pay for the freakin hack. My Imac has been on since early 2007 and the only time its off is when I go out of town for a few days.

  • J.R

    Wont work just keeps saying it closed unexpectedly after following the instructions to install it. Oh and im running os x 10.5.8

  • Jpwillis269

    This is working great for me with a cheap epson printer connected to my airport express router. I have my MacBook power setting set to wake up with network activity so it isn’t staying on all the time but will come on when I need to print something from my iPad.

  • RLB

    I personally think that Printopia is better only that printing to Dropox is an option as well as printing to your Mac in addition o printing toma printer. Still, the computer can’t be in sleep mode. But that’s to be expected.

  • Manny908

    Won’t work for me either…keeps telling me app. Closed unexpectedly after trying to open application!! Mac OSX

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