How to configure AirPrint on iOS devices?

AirPrint in Hexnode UEM lets IT administrators preconfigure AirPrint-enabled printers on managed iOS devices so users can print without manually adding printer destinations or installing printer-specific drivers. AirPrint is Apple’s driverless network printing feature for supported printers on the same Wi-Fi network as the iOS device. In Hexnode UEM, the AirPrint configuration stores the printer IP address, resource path, and optional iOS 11 and later settings such as port and Force TLS, then deploys those settings through a policy to selected devices, device groups, users, user groups, or domains.

AirPrint Configuration Summary for iOS Devices

• Use Hexnode UEM to add AirPrint printer details to managed iOS devices through a policy.
• Collect the printer IP address and resource path before configuring the AirPrint payload.
• Use the Port and Force TLS options only for devices running iOS 11 and later.
• Associate the policy with devices, device groups, users, user groups, or domains to deploy the printer configuration.

How AirPrint Configuration Works in Hexnode UEM

The AirPrint configuration in Hexnode UEM defines a printer destination that iOS can use for network printing. The configuration requires the AirPrint-enabled printer’s IP address and resource path. These values identify where the printer is located on the network and which Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) resource the iOS device should use.

After the policy is saved and associated with targets, Hexnode UEM pushes the AirPrint settings to the selected iOS devices. When the settings reach the device, users can open an AirPrint-compatible app, choose the print option, select the preconfigured printer, and print supported documents or images.

Obtain the Printer IP Address and Resource Path

Before creating the AirPrint configuration in Hexnode UEM, obtain the AirPrint-enabled printer’s IP address and resource path from a Mac connected to the same network as the printer.

1. Open Terminal from Finder > Applications > Utilities on a Mac connected to the same network as the AirPrint-enabled printer.
2. Enter the following command:
   
   ippfind

   1

   ippfind

3. Note the information returned by Terminal in the following format:
   
   ipp://printer_name.local.:631/ipp/print

   1	ipp://printer_name.local.:631/ipp/print

   
   The first part identifies the printer name. The last part, such as /ipp/print, identifies the resource path.
4. Enter the following command to obtain the printer IP address:
   
   ping printer_name.local

   1	ping printer_name.local

5. Note the IP address returned by the command in the following format:
   
   PING printer_name.local (10.178.0.28)

   1	PING printer_name.local (10.178.0.28)

In this example, the printer IP address is 10.178.0.28 and the resource path is /ipp/print . Use these values when configuring the AirPrint device in Hexnode UEM.

Configure AirPrint for iOS Devices in Hexnode UEM

1. Log in to your Hexnode UEM portal.
2. Navigate to Policies.
3. Select an existing policy, or click New Policy to create a new policy.
4. Go to iOS > Configurations, select AirPrint, and click Configure.
5. Click +Add AirPrint device.

Configure the AirPrint device settings with the printer information collected from the network.

• IP Address: Enter the IP address of the AirPrint-enabled printer.
• Resource Path: Enter the resource path of the AirPrint-enabled printer. Common resource path formats include:
  • printers/Canon_MG5300_series
  • printers/Xerox_Phaser_7600
  • ipp/print
  • Epson_IPP_Printer
• Port: Enter the port number of the AirPrint destination. If no value is provided, the default port is used. This option is available only on devices running iOS 11 and later.
• Force TLS: Select this option to use Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt data sent to the printer. This option is available only on devices running iOS 11 and later.

After configuring the AirPrint options, associate the policy with the required targets so Hexnode UEM can deploy the printer configuration.

Associate the AirPrint Policy with Devices and Groups

If the policy has not been saved, associate the policy with targets before saving it.

1. Navigate to Policy Targets.
2. Click +Add Devices.
3. Select the devices and click OK.
4. Click Save to apply the policy to the selected devices.

In addition to devices, the AirPrint policy can be associated with Device Groups, Users, User Groups, or Domains from Policy Targets.

If the policy has already been saved, associate it with targets from the policy list.

1. From Policies, select the policy that must be associated.
2. Click Manage > Associate Targets and select the device.
3. Click Associate to apply the policy to the selected devices.

Print from an iOS Device Using the AirPrint Printer

After the AirPrint settings reach the iOS device, the AirPrint-enabled printer becomes available for printing full-quality output from supported apps.

1. Select the app that you want to print from on the iOS device.
2. Tap the print option available in the app. If the print option is not visible, refer to the app’s user guide because not all apps support AirPrint.

3. Tap Select Printer. The AirPrint-enabled printer name appears in the printer list. Tap the printer name to select it.

4. Enter the number of copies. If you are printing a document, select the required page range.

5. Tap Print to print the selected image or document.

Troubleshoot AirPrint Configuration on iOS Devices

• The printer does not appear on the iOS device: Confirm that the policy is saved and associated with the correct target. Also verify that the iOS device and AirPrint-enabled printer are on the same network and that the printer supports AirPrint.
• The Port or Force TLS option is not available on the device: These AirPrint options require iOS 11 or later. Use an iOS 11 or later device if the deployment requires a custom AirPrint port or TLS enforcement.
• The print option is missing inside an app: Not all iOS apps support AirPrint. Check the app’s user guide or test from another app that supports printing.
• The printer information returned by Terminal is unclear: Use the ippfind output to identify the resource path, and use the ping printer_name.local output to identify the IP address. Enter those values in the corresponding Hexnode UEM AirPrint fields.