How to Add a Printer and Print Documents from a Kindle Fire

With printing being such a basic function, you’d assume it would be available on almost any device that you can read a document on. But, there are plenty of devices that make it impossible for users to connect them to a printer.

The Amazon Kindle Reader tablets certainly come to mind. Apart from many eBooks having DRM protection, Kindle tablets can’t even be connected to printers. That is, with the exception of the Kindle Fire. This hybrid between Amazon Fire tablets and Kindle Readers is a lot more versatile, albeit more expensive too.

Let’s get started adding a printer to your Kindle Fire.

Connecting to a Printer from a Kindle Fire

There are two ways to connect your Kindle Fire to a printer. You can use a USB cable to connect you Kindle Fire to your computer and print that way, or connect to the printer via Wi-Fi, if the printer has wireless functionality.

1. Swipe down on the screen to bring up the Quick Settings menu.
2. Tap on the Wireless icon.
3. Assuming it isn’t already, move the slider next to the Wi-Fi option to On.
4. Now, find and connect to the same network the printer is on.
5. Locate the printer by opening a document you want to print and selecting File > Print.
6. Then, select All Printers…
7. Click on the + button and enter your printer’s IP address, it’s located in the user guide if you don’t know it.

Alternatively, you can connect your Kindle Fire to your computer, via a USB cable, and print from your PC. The printer will need to be connected directly to the PC to print from it without a router.

So far, so good. Right? This is the easy part. Now for the hard stuff.

Dealing with DRM Protection

The main reason why a regular eBook reader like a standard Kindle tablet won’t let you print eBooks is so that users won’t be able to post eBooks on torrent sites or hand out hard copies to anyone looking for free eBooks, thus costing Amazon and their authors a fortune.

Not all eBooks feature DRM protection, but most of them do. All eBooks and documents that have a .azw extension, or Kindle-bought eBooks, require some tampering and converting before they can be printed. Even if you own the eBook, you’ll still have to convert it.

How do you do this? You’ll only be able to do it by installing and using third-party DRM-removal software. Epubor is a well-known software product that’s available in a Kindle Fire format and also for PC and Mac users.

Note that on a Kindle Fire, you don’t have to jailbreak the device to install third-party software. This makes the actual DRM removal and conversion process quite simple. After you’ve installed Epubor or another software that you like, follow the instructions of each program, as they feature detailed guides on how to proceed from start to finish.

Converting Non-DRM eBooks

Just because you’ve finished removing the DRM protection from your .azw files, it doesn’t mean that they’re ready to print just yet. Along with a DRM-removal app, you’ll also have to install a PDF converter. Again, Epubor does a good job at offering Kindle Fire users the complete suite of programs required to print eBooks through their Epubor Kindle to PDF Converter.

However, you should note that many .azw to PDF converters may not work on your tablet. This means that you’ll have to move the files to your laptop or computer, convert them there with a Windows or MacOS program, and then move them back to your tablet.

Printing eBooks and Other Files

Now that you have documents and eBooks ready to print, you’ll also need a printing app. Kindle Fire tablets, although capable of communicating to printers, don’t do this natively, as some smartphones and regular tablets do.

Once again, this means that you’ll have to download and install a third-party app. The HP ePrint app usually works well on Kindle Fire and Fire HD tablets. That’s not to say that the OfficeSuite won’t do a good job also.

1. Open your printing app and load the PDF document you want to print.
2. Check to see if you’re still connected to the same wireless network as the printer.
3. Now, tap Print.
4. Select the printer from the list of available devices or click on All Printers to search for those nearby.
5. Make adjustments to how you want to print (one-sided, two-sided, font, etc.) and then tap Print.

Although various printing app interfaces may differ, the steps involved in operating them are usually the same. If you’ve used one you can use them all.

FAQs

Can you connect to a printer on a Kindle Fire without internet?

Yes, if you have a computer that is directly connected to a printer, then you’re in luck.

You can easily connect the Kindle Fire to the computer, via a USB cable, and then access the files from your tablet to print using your computer.

Is It Worth It to Print DRM eBooks and Documents?

Now that you know how, do you think this is something you might do? Keep in mind that breaking the DRM protection is considered illegal. We should also point out that DRM protection is constantly evolving. It’s not inconceivable that some removal software may stop working eventually. Corrupting your copy of a document with DRM-removal software is also a possibility.

At the same time, we understand that being able to read a book in black and white on paper is also nice, and saving a few bucks is even better. On that note, do you think you’ll ever use a regular Kindle eReader ever again, or is paying a little extra for the Kindle Fire HD worth it, given all you can do with it?