For non-airprint printers- Is there any way to print without having computer on?

[jlyanks85]

I have a canon printer which I bought last year for my iMac and it's really good but it's not a air print one.

I have printopia which works great for my iPad and iPhone, but only when my iMac is on.

Is there any apps out there I can d/l to print without the computer being on?

Or I pretty much have to buy a AirPrint printer to do that?

 

[hchavarria]

I have a canon printer which I bought last year for my iMac and it's really good but it's not a air print one.

I have printopia which works great for my iPad and iPhone, but only when my iMac is on.

Is there any apps out there I can d/l to print without the computer being on?

Or I pretty much have to buy a AirPrint printer to do that?

I use PrintBeureu which does not require any computer to be on.

 

[George Knighton]

I use PrintBeureu which does not require any computer to be on.

Do you mind telling us how this works?

Does PrintBureau (assuming that is spelled right, but please correct) allow iPhones and iPads to search for all printers on your WiFi network?

Does it find only printers that broadcast on their own, or is it finding printers resident on a WiFi network?

I want an application that finds a conventional laser printer on a network that runs through a Time Capsule.

 

[Richard8655]

I use Airprint Activator, which is free. You can print wirelessly to any printer known to your wifi network, whether it's an official Airprint supported printer or not. Download and install on your Mac. Then enable printer sharing and "wake upon network connection". You can then put your Mac to sleep, and it'll waken (automatically) only when you need to print from your iPad.

 

[chuges]

I think it would also work if you bought an airport express and plugged your printer into it (They go for about $60 on ebay). This would also give you a bonus of having airplay for your music

 

[macking104]

There are a number of wifi routers, like the Asus RT-N13U, that have USB printing capabilities.
(not an ad)

 

[beauparc]

Download and use the Canon print app. Works well for me with the PC off.

 

[jackrv]

I think it would also work if you bought an airport express and plugged your printer into it (They go for about $60 on ebay). This would also give you a bonus of having airplay for your music

This works wonderfully.

 

[fhall1]

I use Airprint Activator, which is free. You can print wirelessly to any printer known to your wifi network, whether it's an official Airprint supported printer or not. Download and install on your Mac. Then enable printer sharing and "wake upon network connection". You can then put your Mac to sleep, and it'll waken (automatically) only when you need to print from your iPad.

OP said he wanted a solution where the computer didn't have to be on.

 

[OSMac]

I think it would also work if you bought an airport express and plugged your printer into it (They go for about $60 on ebay). This would also give you a bonus of having airplay for your music

Are you sure? Explain...

People can plug any usb printer into a Airport Express and somehow that allows full printing from an iPad?

I just cant see that as the iPad or airport would need a printer driver...
but would love to hear it works somehow

 

[jlyanks85]

Download and use the Canon print app. Works well for me with the PC off.

I have this app and it works very well with the computer off, but only works for pictures as far as I know.

Would be great if it worked for documents and stuff.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Are you sure? Explain...

People can plug any usb printer into a Airport Express and somehow that allows full printing from an iPad?

I just cant see that as the iPad or airport would need a printer driver...
but would love to hear it works somehow

It doesn't work like that...

 

[docjane]

Can anyone help with my Asus RT-N13U?

I got this router specifically so I could connect wirelessly to my printer and print from my ipad. I am a casual user, so I am having trouble. I have an old PC, and it looks like airport activater requires a mac to be connected. This router is supposed to work for wireless printing without the computer on, but my ipad won't recognize the printer. I'm not sure what to do next. I tried an app for printing but my printer is evidently too old to be a choice (Brother HL2040 and a Canon MX700)

 

[boshii]

Are you sure? Explain...

People can plug any usb printer into a Airport Express and somehow that allows full printing from an iPad?

I just cant see that as the iPad or airport would need a printer driver...
but would love to hear it works somehow

It just turns the printer into a wifi-enabled printer. It won't let you print from an iPad but it will let you print from any wifi-connected computer.

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I got this router specifically so I could connect wirelessly to my printer and print from my ipad. I am a casual user, so I am having trouble. I have an old PC, and it looks like airport activater requires a mac to be connected. This router is supposed to work for wireless printing without the computer on, but my ipad won't recognize the printer. I'm not sure what to do next. I tried an app for printing but my printer is evidently too old to be a choice (Brother HL2040 and a Canon MX700)

If you want to print from your iPad, you need to buy one of these printers: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/ipad_accessories/printers

Which router you have doesn't matter.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

^^ You don't have to buy an Airprint printer to print directly from the iPad.

You can print to almost any WiFi connected printer direct from your iPad if you buy the app "Print N Share" from the app store. There are some printers it won't support without the assistance of a 'helper app', but it works fine with my Canon Pixma MX870, which is NOT an Airprint-enabled printer. They do offer a "helper" app for those few printers that aren't supported directly. But if your printer is supported (most Canon models are) you don't need the helper app and you can do this direct between the iPad and the WiFi printer without your Mac being on/in sleep mode/whatever. No PC needed.

The app has a bit of a quirky user interface but once you get the hang of it, you can print anything your iPad can display. I routinely use it to print my Noteability documents...preserves colors, etc. Works perfectly. A bit pricey @ $8.99 but far cheaper than buying a new printer. And it gets very handy if you travel a bunch and need to make printouts in the field. I have used it to connect to hotel concierge/executive center printers, printers at client locations, etc. The app really extends the value prop of "going laptopless" with just your iPad when you travel for business/pleasure. Once on vacation I actually went to a computer store and 'borrowed' their display printer to make a few printouts I needed in a hurry.

App is here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/print-n-share-for-documents/id301656026?mt=8

 

[Jackintosh]

Under Settings, Energy Saver, make sure "wake on network access" is checked (on). This often fixes the probem.

 

[deeddawg]

I have an old PC, and it looks like airport activater requires a mac to be connected.

If you have an old PC to use, consider FingerPrint from http://www.collobos.com/

I set it up using an old Windows laptop and it works great with a Brother HL4150CDN. (I already had the laptop on the network for other purposes)

You can download a trial version to ensure it will work before buying the software.

 

[whtrbt7]

I was going to say "stop printing, save some trees, save the earth" but who am I kidding? The planet's going to hell anyways. Might as well party and print hard. So here are the options:

1. Buy a new HP E-print printer. It just works and works from anywhere.
2. Use Print & Share app
3. Airprint activator (you'll need to have a computer on)
4. Stop printing, save some trees, save the earth

 

[MrXiro]

Not that this helps you but I discovered Epson iPrint the the other day that does just what you are asking for epson printers. But you have a canon so this post means nothing to the OP.

 

[takeshi74]

For non-airprint printers- Is there any way to print without having computer on?

Lantronix xPrintServer:
http://www.lantronix.com/it-management/mobile-print-servers/xprintserver.html

I just cant see that as the iPad or airport would need a printer driver...

Not necessarily. Solutions mentioned above don't require a print driver on the iPad. Faulty assumption.

This router is supposed to work for wireless printing without the computer on, but my ipad won't recognize the printer.

If you're printer isn't AirPrint enabled or you don't use one of the other solutions mentioned you won't be able to print from your iPad. Wireless printing to the printer attached to your router is entirely different from printing from the iPad. Your router just makes your printer accessible to the network and acts as a print server. It is not, however, an AirPrint print server.

If you want to print from your iPad, you need to buy one of these printers: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/ipad_accessories/printers

Not necessarily, as pointed out by several solutions suggested in this thread.

If you have an old PC to use, consider FingerPrint from http://www.collobos.com/

Or use this:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1293865/

 

[MrXiro]

I use Airprint Activator, which is free. You can print wirelessly to any printer known to your wifi network, whether it's an official Airprint supported printer or not. Download and install on your Mac. Then enable printer sharing and "wake upon network connection". You can then put your Mac to sleep, and it'll waken (automatically) only when you need to print from your iPad.

Just noticed this is an old thread... AirPrint activator no longer exists on the app store.