Why It’s Best to Download the Full Driver and Print from Your Computer – And Still Use Mobile Apps When Needed
When setting up a printer, it’s tempting to rely solely on mobile printing apps or the basic driver that automatically installs when you connect a printer. While phone apps and basic drivers are convenient, downloading the full printer driver and printing from your computer remains the best way to get the most out of your printer—especially when you care about print quality, functionality, and control.
Here's why using the full driver with your computer is the smarter, more powerful choice—while still keeping phone apps handy for quick, on-the-go tasks.
1. Unlock the Full Range of Printer Features
Downloading and installing the full driver package from the printer manufacturer’s website gives you complete access to all the features your printer was designed to offer. This includes:
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Custom print settings (paper type, print quality, layout)
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Access to all paper trays and media options
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Maintenance tools like cleaning, alignment, and nozzle checks
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Ink level monitoring
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Color profile and ICC settings for graphic and photo printing
These features are often missing or extremely limited in mobile apps or basic built-in drivers. If you’re printing photos, documents with color graphics, or labels, the full driver gives you the control you need for professional results.
2. Reliable Performance and Fewer Errors
The full driver ensures that your printer and computer communicate correctly and efficiently. Mobile apps may fail to recognize certain printer models, or offer only “draft” or limited-quality print modes. These apps can also be inconsistent with wireless connections, especially in environments with multiple devices.
With the full driver installed on your PC or Mac, you’re far less likely to experience issues like:
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Print jobs getting stuck or lost
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Incomplete pages or wrong formatting
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Missing print options like borderless or duplex
Computer-based printing is more stable and accurate for complex print jobs, large files, and specialty tasks.
3. Better Print Quality and Color Accuracy
If you use specialty ink like edible ink, sublimation ink, or pigment ink from companies like InkProducts Inc, you need the full driver to make the most of your printer’s capabilities. That’s because many third-party ink solutions work best with custom color settings or ICC profiles—which can only be applied using the full driver on a computer.
Printing from your phone often forces the printer into a “universal” or basic mode that ignores color profiles, resolution settings, and even paper types. That can lead to:
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Washed-out or inaccurate colors
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Streaks and banding
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Improper alignment
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Poor results on specialty paper or film
Using the full driver ensures you get vibrant, crisp, professional-quality prints every time.
4. Better for High-Volume and Multi-Page Jobs
When printing long documents, reports, or multiple photos, your computer gives you more control and efficiency. The full driver lets you preview and batch print, set print ranges, adjust scaling, and configure double-sided printing—none of which is easy (or even possible) on most mobile apps.
If you run a home office or a small business, printing from your computer is not just better—it’s essential.
5. Use Phone Apps for Quick Jobs and Convenience
That said, mobile apps like HP Smart, Canon PRINT, or Epson iPrint do serve a purpose. They’re perfect for:
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Printing quick documents or boarding passes
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Scanning a photo and sending it to print
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Checking ink levels remotely
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Wireless printing when your computer isn’t nearby
Just don’t rely on them for full-featured, quality-driven printing.
Conclusion
While mobile printing apps are convenient for quick, casual use, downloading the full driver and printing from your computer offers the best experience by far. You’ll unlock advanced features, get better print quality, avoid common errors, and enjoy more control over every print job.
For optimal results—especially when using high-quality third-party ink from InkProducts Inc—take a few extra minutes to install the full driver from your printer manufacturer’s website. It’s a one-time setup that makes a lasting difference.
Use mobile apps when needed, but let your computer and full driver be your primary printing solution.
