How to Connect a Printer via Bluetooth

Not every printer supports it

Bluetooth is a separate hardware radio from Wi-Fi, and plenty of budget and older printers simply don't have it — check your model's spec sheet or the printer's own settings menu under "Connectivity" or "Wireless" before assuming it's available.

Step 1: Put the printer into pairing mode

On the printer's control panel, look for a Bluetooth icon or setting, usually under a wireless or connectivity menu, and select "Pair" or "Enable Bluetooth." Some printers have a dedicated physical Bluetooth button instead.

Step 2: Search for it from your device

On your phone, tablet, or computer, open Bluetooth settings and look for the printer in the list of available devices — it usually shows up under its model name or a name including "Printer." Select it to pair.

Step 3: Confirm any on-screen pairing code

Some printers show a numeric code on their display that needs to match what your device shows, as a security confirmation step — just confirm it matches and accept on both ends.

What Bluetooth is actually good for — and its real limits

Bluetooth's biggest advantage is working with zero network infrastructure — useful for a printer in a garage, workshop, or anywhere without reliable Wi-Fi coverage. The tradeoffs: range is typically limited to about 30 feet with a direct line of sight mattering more than with Wi-Fi, only one device can usually print at a time rather than multiple people sharing the printer over a network, and print speeds can be slower than a Wi-Fi connection for larger jobs.

If pairing isn't working

Make sure Bluetooth is actually enabled on both the printer and your device (not just Wi-Fi), keep them close together during the initial pairing (even if normal range is longer), and if the printer already has an old paired connection to a different device stored, clearing that first from the printer's Bluetooth settings often resolves a pairing that silently fails.