How to Print from a Chromebook

Published on June 30, 2013, by Jim Mendenhall
Tags: Chromebooks,  Screencasts,  Chromebook Tutorials 

So, you have a new Chromebook and you want to print some documents, but simply plugging in your printer via USB won’t work. Fortunately, Google has introduced their Cloud Print technology that makes it really easy to print from your Chromebook (or from any other computer) to a “Cloud Print Ready” printer or any standard printer that is connected to another computer.

Cloud Ready Printers

You can find a list Cloud Ready Printers here. If you use one of these printers, you can simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions to set it up and there is no need to connect it to another computer. This is an easy and efficient way to print if you’re in the market for a new printer, but if you want to connect your existing printer, that’s easy too.

Connect Your Existing Printer to Google Cloud Print

If you already have a working printer that is connected to a Linux, Mac or Windows computer, connecting that printer to Cloud Print is pretty easy. First, you need to make sure that you have the Google Chrome browser installed and a Google account. Then follow the instructions on Google’s website, or watch the video above, to connect your printer.

Print to Your Cloud Printer from Your Chromebook

Once you’ve setup your printer, you will find it listed in the printer dialog on your Chromebook. Make sure that you’re using the same Google account for both the computer where you set up the printer and the Chromebook (or make sure you’ve shared the printer with the account you are using on the Chromebook). Printing to your cloud printer is essentially the same as printing to any other printer. The biggest difference is that it takes a few seconds (or minutes) before the printing actually begins. This is because you’re printing over the Internet and not directly to your printer.