WiFiLabelPrint shipping labels from an iPhone
An iPhone prints to a printer on the same Wi-Fi network that supports the iPhone's built-in printing. A USB label printer needs a computer, a wireless printer, or a label you do not print yourself. Bridge support for phone printing is in testing.
| Option | Works for | Host computer stays on | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email the PDF to a computer | Any printer the computer can already use. | Yes | Free | Apple, print from iPhone |
| Pirate Ship on the phone | A printer the iPhone can already see. Download the PDF, tap Share, then Print. | No | Free | Pirate Ship, print a label from iPhone |
| Mac plus Printopia | An iPhone or iPad using the Mac's printer. Whether the Mac has to stay awake was not re-read. | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Decisive Tactics, Printopia |
| Rollo Wireless Adapter | Rollo X1038. Rollo documents iPhone and iPad printing for this adapter. | No | $59.99 | Rollo Wireless Adapter |
| Rollo Wireless Printer X1040 | A replacement printer. Rollo says it prints from the iOS share sheet. | No | $279.99 | Rollo Wireless Printer |
Apple's iPhone guide says the phone prints to a printer on the same Wi-Fi network that supports the iPhone's built-in printing. None of the USB printers on this page is that kind of printer: ZP450, LP2844, GK420d, a USB GX420d, ZD220d, Rollo X1038, or LabelWriter 4XL.
Rollo's own article says the USB printer does not support printing from other operating systems. Zebra's connectivity page says Zebra print servers do not support HTTP or IPP.
Chromebook setup is not covered here.
Get the label onto the phone#
Pirate Ship, which we read: download the PDF, open the share sheet, tap Print, and choose a printer the phone can see.
Keep the label at 4x6#
Print at 100 percent. A page that scales a 4x6 label to fit a letter sheet will shrink the barcode. The wrong-size guide is the Zebra version of that problem. At 203 dpi, a 4 by 6 inch label is 812 by 1218 dots.
What people use instead#
Use the computer that already prints. Email yourself the PDF and print it there.
A Mac plus Printopia is the app path onto the Mac's printer. The price, and whether the Mac has to stay awake, were not re-read from the vendor page.
Rollo's wireless adapter ($59.99) and the X1040 ($279.99, refurbished $239.99) are the Rollo products documented for phones. The adapter is for the X1038 only. Rollo's iPhone article is for the wireless printer, and it says Bluetooth on that printer is for setup.
The model pages say what each printer can do from a computer: ZP450, Rollo X1038, LabelWriter 4XL. Make a USB label printer wireless is the network-option table.
Still to check#
Whether a phone lists the printer in its Print menu, whether a 4x6 PDF from Pirate Ship, eBay, or UPS prints at that size and the barcode scans, and what happens to a letter-size PDF that has a 4x6 label on it. Those checks are open.
FAQ
Can I print a shipping label from my phone?
Yes, if the printer is on the same Wi-Fi network and supports the iPhone's built-in printing. Pirate Ship's path is download the PDF, tap Share, tap Print, and choose that printer.
Can my Zebra print from an iPhone?
Not the USB ZP450, LP2844, GK420d, USB GX420d, or ZD220d. Zebra print servers do not support HTTP or IPP. A GX420d that shipped with Wi-Fi is still in that print-server limit.
Why doesn't my printer show up on my iPhone?
A USB label printer is not on Wi-Fi as a printer the iPhone can print to. Apple's Mac sharing article only names another Mac or a UNIX computer.
Can I print eBay labels without a printer?
eBay's help describes a QR code label that a participating location prints. The US wording was not checked. Confirm the option in your own eBay account.