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How to Print from Windows 8.1

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Like other activities, Microsoft fundamentally changed the way things work in Windows 8.1. Chief among those changes was how people interact with devices like printers. It used to be that every device maker created their own drivers and software experience that was exclusive to that particular printer maker. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case and users can expect a robust and mostly universal experience no matter what printer they plug into their Windows 8 device.

Unfortunately, it’s not always obvious how to do so. Here’s how to print from Windows 8.1 inside a Windows Store app.

Go to the Start Screen by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard or the Windows button below your devices display. Now open the application that you’d like to print from. In our example, we’re printing a shipment notification inside of the Mail app in Windows 8.1. So we’ve gone to the Start Screen and opened the Mail app by tapping on its live tile.

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Once you’ve reached the thing you’d like to print, place your finger on the right-edge of the screen and swipe to the left if you have a device that’s equipped with touch. If you have a mouse and keyboard, place your cursor in the top-right corner of your screen. Click or tap on the Devices Charm.

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Tap or click on Print.

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If your printer is plugged in to the device, it’ll automatically show up in the Print menu. If it isn’t, check the USB cable connection between your device and the printer and select Print from the Devices menu again. Tap or click on the printer you’d like to print from.

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Change the orientation or the amount of copies you’d like to print. Then click or tap on Print.

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All versions of Windows 8.1 include drivers that can allow you to print without installing any extra software, you’ll just need to give your device time to recognize the printer and to install the appropriate driver. It’s also worth noting that if you have an older device, you may still need to install the software that came with it before you’re able to do any extras like scan documents directly to your computer. Also, some Windows Store apps include a print button inside their interface, for example Mail also allows users to print by open selecting the three dots in the bottom right corner of the screen and tapping or clicking on the Printer icon.

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