How to Print Photos from Your iPhone or iPad

Reading Time: 5 minutes read

Whether you’re making a scrapbook of your latest holiday snaps or want to hang your wedding photos in the hallway, printing your photos helps to bring your favourite memories to life.

What’s more, printing photos from your iPhone or iPad is simple and convenient – you don’t need fancy software and can print directly from your Apple device within minutes.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to print photos from your iPhone or iPad, plus share our advice on getting the best from your prints.

How to print photos from your iPhone or iPad

If your printer is compatible with AirPrint, you can print your images directly from your iPhone or iPad without needing to transfer files between devices.

If your printer isn’t AirPrint compatible, you may still be able to print directly from your device by downloading your printer’s accompanying app – the HP Smart app if you have an HP printer, for example.

Here’s how to print your images with an AirPrint-compatible computer:

1. Ensure your device and printer are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

2. Open the Photos app on your device.

3. Select the photo you’d like to print

4. Tap the Share icon (it looks like an upwards arrow coming out of a box).

5. Scroll through the menu and tap Print.

6. Tap Select Printer.

7. Choose the printer you’d like to use.

8. Select how many copies you’d like by tapping the plus or minus buttons.

9. When ready, tap Print.

Tips for printing photos

Printing your photos is a great way to share treasured experiences with friends and family or decorate your home with nostalgic memories. Here are some tips on getting the best out of your prints.

Good paper will make a difference

When printing at home, the paper you use makes a big difference to how your prints will come out. If you want sharper images, we recommend choosing glossy photo paper which lets you see the detail in your images. Alternatively, matte photo paper will create softer images without the shine.

Understand your image size capabilities 

Before printing, it’s important to check your image size. If you print your images too large, it’s likely the quality will be reduced. Photos printed from an iPhone can be enlarged to around 8 inches by 10 inches with little to no pixelation, but if you’re looking to print anything larger, your images may not be as sharp.

Use a printer for your needs

If you need to print photos on-the-go, you could invest in a portable printer that connects to your iPhone. This way, you can print images while out and about. If you’re happy using a home printer, you can invest in something that fulfils your needs – a color printer with scanning capabilities, for example.

Go to a print shop

If you need expert advice, it’s best to visit a print shop to discuss your options. They’ll be able to tell you what size photos you can produce in good quality, and talk you through the various options for photo paper finishes.

Print your photos as gifts

Why not treat someone special to a thoughtful, personalized calendar or photobook? If it’s your best friend’s birthday, you could create a calendar filled with your favorite photographs from over the years. Or, you could create a photobook for your mom for Mother’s Day – a sentimental gift that’s sure to bring a smile to her face.

Make beautiful photo gifts with Motif

Let Motif’s Photobook App do the hard work for you by working seamlessly with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS to create a personalized memory book. You can customize backgrounds and choose from over 80 professionally built layouts, to create a truly personal and thoughtful gift. Get started today by downloading the Motif app on your device.