A user takes hold of a printout as it emerges from a black Canon PIXMA TS8250 printer, which sits on a tabletop with an Amazon Echo smart speaker next to it.

Voice control printing – here's how easy it is

Have you spoken to your Canon printer today? If not, you should start! While they won't tell you a joke or sing you a song, compatible Canon printers now function with Alexa [1] and Google Home [2] to print off handy and entertaining pages using just your voice.

Many people know that you can use smart speakers such as Alexa [1] or Google Home [2] to turn on your lights by voice command alone. Well now you can ask a range of compatible Canon printers to print content such as colouring pages, puzzles, lined paper, musical staff paper and more.

You simply have to say: “Alexa, ask Canon printer to print a checklist” [3], and the job is done. You don’t even need to be in the same room as your printer: you could be in the kitchen making breakfast, brushing your teeth in the bathroom, or lounging in bed...

In a modern-day society increasingly dependent on the Internet of Things – where multitasking is the norm, and technology the facilitator, smart printing with voice control is the latest time-saving tool.

Intrigued? Read on to find the answers to your voice control printing questions….

Can I print with Amazon Echo?

Yes! Providing you’re using a compatible Canon PIXMA printer, you can print with devices enabled with Alexa voice technology: Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Spot and Amazon Tap.[4] All you need is one of these Alexa-enabled devices, together with an Amazon account and the Amazon Alexa app. See the latest compatible printers.

Can I print with Amazon Echo

Can I print with Google Home?

Yes! You can now use devices with the Google Assistant built in to print on compatible Canon printers. Compatible devices are Google Home, Google Home Mini and Google Home Max. Download the Google Assistant app to get started – you can use the tablet and smartphone versions. Find out how to print with Google Home.

Related Articles
Wireless printing

PRINTING

Wireless printing

Go wireless in your home office and print from anywhere – it's easy to set up.

Boost your business with the MAXIFY GX7050

PRINTING

Boost your business with the MAXIFY GX7050

Great for business, the Canon MAXIFY GX7050 is fast and versatile, delivering top-quality output with ultra-low running costs.

Print on the move with the PIXMA TR150

PRINTING TIPS

Print on the move with the PIXMA TR150

Learn how a portable printer can help to boost mobile businesses.

Can I print with Google Home

Which Canon printers are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home?

At the bottom of this guide to voice control printing with Alexa, you can see a list of printers that have voice control capabilities when connected to an Amazon Alexa-enabled device. For Google Assistant-enabled devices, see this guide to printing with Google Home.

Which other smart printing apps can I use?

Smart printing isn't just about voice control. The Canon PRINT app gives you another convenient way to print images without the hassle of cables or computers. Whether your images are stored on your phone, on your tablet or in the cloud with PIXMA Cloud Link, you can send them straight to your printer. You can also send scans from your all-in-one printer to your phone, and even convert documents to PDF files for easy sharing with others over email.[5]

If you have a Wi-Fi enabled camera, you can use the Canon Camera Connect app to quickly import your photos straight onto your phone for easy, wireless printing with the Canon PRINT app.

Which other smart printing apps can I use

Which voice commands can I use for my printer?

Here are five things you can ask your printer to do, hands-free, from the comfort of your sofa. These commands are for Alexa-enabled smart devices, but voice commands for Google Home are similar – just remember to say "Hey Google" instead of "Alexa" before giving a command. If your smart home device needs to know anything else before it prints, it will ask.[6]

A sheet of colouring in images comes out of a white Canon PIXMA printer.

“Alexa, ask Canon printer to print out a colouring page for grown-ups”

Once your printer is connected to your smart device, you can use this voice command to print beautiful colouring templates to stoke your creativity. You can specify children’s colouring pages, too.

“Alexa, ask Canon printer to print a Number Place puzzle”

All you have to do is ask, and your Canon printer has a variety of Sudoku puzzles at three different difficulty levels at the ready to make sure you’re never bored.

“Alexa, ask Canon printer to print notebook paper”

Students will appreciate the ability to print lined paper in seconds. Musicians and music students can even ask for staff paper for musical notation, without having to go anywhere near a computer.

“Alexa, ask Canon printer to print a checklist”

It has never been quicker or easier to get organised. The moment you think of an important task, or an item you need from the supermarket, you can print a list template and make sure you never forget a thing.

“Alexa, check the status of Canon printer”

Using this voice command will prompt your printer to report any issues you ought to be aware of. If it's running low on ink, it will even tell you which cartridge needs replacing.

See this guide to getting the most out of your Canon printer for more printing ideas.

Written by Matt Golowczynski

[1] Amazon, Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Echo Spot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap, Alexa and all related logos and motion marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
[2] Google, Google Home, Google Home Mini and Google Home Max are trademarks of Google LLC.
[3] Actual voice commands may vary.
[4] Alexa support is currently available in Amazon Alexa skill store only for English/French/German/Japanese language. Alexa support is not currently available in other languages. Please check in advance the availability of Amazon Alexa skill for your language.
[5] The use of Alexa requires an active smart assistant account linked and accompanying app enabled, the smart device and printer to be actively connected with permission to the Canon Inkjet Cloud Printing Center, and the required action(s), skill(s), or applet(s) available/enabled to the compatible printer.
[6] Voice commands cannot be displayed as text on Amazon smart devices with screens.

Related Products

Related Articles

Get Inspired is your key source of useful photography tips, buyer’s guides and insightful interviews – everything you need to find the best camera or the best printer, and make your next creative idea come to life.

Back to all Tips & Techniques