To print from Google Docs on a phone, open the document in the Google Docs app, tap More (the three dots), tap Share & export, and tap Print. Choose your printer and tap Print. Google says the same steps work in the Google Sheets and Slides apps.
These steps come from Google’s Print a file help pages for iPhone & iPad and Android. Below you will find the steps for each phone, how to set up the page before printing, what to do when your printer doesn’t show up, and how to save a PDF instead.
How to print a Google Doc from your phone
- Open the Google Docs app. If you don’t have it, download it from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open the document you want to print.
- Tap More (three dots).
- Tap Share & export, then Print.
- Follow the prompts to select your printer and settings, then tap Print.
Result: the document goes to your printer. The steps are the same on iPhone, iPad, Android phones, and tablets.
How to set up the page before you print (iPhone and iPad)
- In the Google Docs app, open the document and tap More.
- Tap Page setup.
- Change the Orientation, Paper size, or Page color.
Result: the printout uses the new layout. Google also lets you turn on Print layout from the More menu to see and edit the document the way it will look on paper.
Printer not showing up?
- iPhone and iPad: The printer needs AirPrint support, wireless printing turned on, and the same Wi-Fi network as your device. See how to print from an iPhone with AirPrint.
- Android: install your printer maker’s print service app (or a general print service such as Mopria) from the Play Store, then try again.
- Still nothing: restart the printer and your phone, then check that both are on the same network.
A note about Google Cloud Print
Google’s iPhone help page still mentions setting up Google Cloud Print on a computer. Google ended support for Cloud Print after December 31, 2020, so you can skip that step and print directly to a nearby printer instead. Our guide on what happened to Google Chrome Cloud Print explains what to use now.
Save as a PDF instead
On the print screen, you can save a PDF instead of printing. On iPhone, tap the Share button on the print preview and choose Save to Files. On Android, choose Save as PDF as the printer.
Print Sheets and Slides from your phone
Google’s steps are the same in the Google Sheets and Google Slides apps: open the file, tap More, tap Share & export, then Print. Choose the printer and tap Print.
Print from a computer instead
If you need more control, such as handouts or margins, open the file on a computer and click File › Print. Google notes that in Firefox or Safari, Docs downloads a PDF first; open it and print from your PDF viewer. Most layout problems are fixed in File › Page setup before printing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print just some pages from my phone?
Yes, in most cases. After you tap Print, look for a page range option in the print settings before you send the job.
Why does the printout look different from the screen?
The app may show the document in a phone-friendly view. Turn on Print layout to see pages, margins, and breaks as they’ll print.
Related: How to save an image from Google Docs, How to run spell check in Google Docs, and How to print 4 slides per page in Google Slides.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.