The short answer: open the email and look for Print. In Gmail on a computer, click More at the top right of the email, then Print, or click Print all for a whole conversation (Google). In Outlook, select the message and choose Print on the Home tab (Microsoft). On iPhone Mail, tap the Reply button, then Print (Apple). Then pick your printer and print.
Before you start
- Turn the printer on and make sure it has paper and ink.
- For phones and tablets, the printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network (Apple).
- iPhones print to AirPrint printers (Apple); Android phones need a print service turned on once (see the Android steps below).
Gmail on a computer
- Go to Gmail in your web browser and open the email.
- To print one message, click More (three dots) at the top right of the email, then Print. To print the whole conversation, click Print all at the top right (Google).
- In the print window, choose your printer and click Print.
Gmail app (iPhone or Android)
- Open the email in the Gmail app.
- Tap More (three dots), then Print, or Print all for the whole conversation (Google, Google).
- Choose your printer and tap Print.
Outlook on a Windows computer
- Select the message.
- On the Home tab, choose Print.
- Pick the printer, layout and pages, then select Print (Microsoft).
Want a PDF copy instead? Choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer (Microsoft).
iPhone or iPad Mail app
- Open the email in Mail.
- Tap the Reply button (the curved arrow), then tap Print (Apple).
- Tap No Printer Selected, choose your AirPrint printer, set the number of copies, then tap Print (Apple).
To print an attachment, open it, tap the Share button, then Print (Apple).
Android phone or tablet
- First time only: go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Printing and turn on a print service for your printer (Google). Menus vary by phone maker.
- Open the email (for Gmail, follow the Gmail app steps above).
- Choose your printer and tap the print button.
Not every app can print. If yours can’t, take a screenshot of the email and print the screenshot from your photos (Google).
Mac
For Gmail or Outlook in a web browser, use the steps above. In Apple’s Mail app, select the message and choose File > Print, the same as in most Mac apps.
If it won’t print
- Printer not listed: check it’s on the same Wi-Fi as your device and restart both (Apple).
- Only part prints: in the print window, check the page range is set to all pages.
- Text too small: look for a scale or “fit to page” option in the print window.
- “Confidential” Gmail message: it can’t be printed (Google).
A safety note
Don’t print or open attachments from emails you weren’t expecting, even to “check” them. Fake invoices and shipping notices are common. See how to spot fake emails.
Questions people ask about printing emails
How do I print a whole email conversation in Gmail?
Open the conversation and click Print all at the top right (Google). In the Gmail app, tap More, then Print all (Google, Google).
Why can’t I print a certain Gmail message?
The sender may have used confidential mode, which prevents printing the message and its attachments (Google).
How do I print an attachment, like a PDF or ticket?
Open the attachment first, then print it. On iPhone, open it in Mail and use the Share button, then Print (Apple).
My iPhone can’t find my printer. Why?
Your printer has to support AirPrint and be on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone (Apple). Check the printer’s Wi-Fi connection and restart it.
Can I save an email as a PDF instead of printing?
Yes. In Outlook on Windows, choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer (Microsoft). In most browsers, choose Save as PDF in the print window.
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