Print Test Page from Android Phone or Tablet

Step by step

What a test page tells you

Android has no universal built-in test page. A test PDF is the dependable alternative.
Print settings differ between phone makers. If a menu name here does not match, search Settings for “printing”.
Cleaning cycles, nozzle checks and alignment are run on the printer or in the maker’s app, not from the Android print dialog.
Check the print preview before you tap print. Some apps shrink content to fit the page.

Official sources

Steps follow these pages. Menu names can change with updates.

Printing from an Android phone or tablet is simple once a print service is available. Android does not offer a one-tap test page, but it prints PDFs well, so a test sheet from our PDF hub is the practical choice.

How Android printing works

Android uses a print service to find printers and send jobs. Google worked with Mopria to build the default print service, and Mopria describes it as built into Android with no setup needed on most devices. Your phone and printer need to be on the same local network, or the printer needs Wi-Fi Direct support.

Steps in short

Open a test PDF in Chrome, Files or Drive.
Open the app’s menu or share options and choose Print.
Pick your printer, paper size and color setting.
Tap the print button and inspect the page.

Which test sheet to use

Color test page for a general inspection.
Black and white test page for gray steps and fine text.
Nozzle check for missing lines or colors on inkjet printers.
Alignment page for crooked or offset prints.

What a test print can and cannot tell you

If the page prints, the print service, network and printer are working together. If it looks wrong, the cause could be the printer, the paper, or the app preview. Compare it with the sheet’s read your result page, and try the same file from a computer to see whether the phone is the variable.

Maintenance

Head cleaning and nozzle checks are handled by the printer. Your best sources are the printer’s own panel or the maker’s app. Our pages for Epson, Canon, HP and Brother link to the official steps.

Printer not showing up

Confirm the printer is on and on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone. Then read printer offline.

Good questions

Do I need to install an app to print from Android?

Often not. According to Mopria, most Android devices come with a built-in print service. If your printer is not found, check your network first and then your printer maker’s support page.

Can I print over Bluetooth or mobile data?

Mopria states its print service is not supported over Bluetooth, public Wi-Fi hotspots or cellular data. Use the same local network or Wi-Fi Direct.

Print a test page from Android