How Does Google Cloud Print Work?

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Google Cloud Print is a technology that helps you to access your computer’s printers from anywhere and any device. For printing a page from mobile device, now don’t have to worry about transferring them to printer connected computer, and then print them. This concept was earlier limited only to desktop computers via “Remote Printer” feature.

Cloud Print technology connects your printers to the web through your Google account. And then, you or anyone you choose can access that printer from any device that is connected to internet. The printer seemed to be connected as a real one to the device. This technology makes it very easy to manage cloud printers and print jobs.

No wonder that Google Cloud Print works with all printers. Yes, I mean to say all, even if this is your Dot-Matrix printer of 1964, if it is working with your computer. Latest in market, many Cloud Ready printers are available from HP, Kodak, Epson etc. These printer are also called ePrint-enabled printers.

Connecting a Classic Printer with Google Cloud Print

Print jobs can be added through very popular Chrome Browser on all devices.

To add a classic printer with GCP (Google Cloud Print), open the Google Chrome Browser and go to Wrench icon -> Options menu. Now, go to the Under the Hood tab and scroll down to the “Google Cloud Print” section. Click Sign in to Google Cloud Print button. You will be redirected to a new page.

On the new page, sign in with your Google Account to enable the Google Cloud Print connector. Now proceed as directed. You’ll see a confirmation that Google Cloud Print has been enabled. Click Manage your printers to learn more. Now you can print to this printer whenever you’re signed in with the same Google Account on your Chromebook.

On Android and other Mobile Devices

On Android devices, the service can be used through Cloud Print and PrinterShare apps. On other mobile devices, you can print any e-mail, document, spreadsheet, or other Docs file through Google Docs and new print2docs feature by Google.

Security & Privacy

Documents you send to print are kept strictly confidential. Google says that they keep a copy of each document you send for printing – but only for so long as the printing job is active and not complete. But once the job got completed, the document is deleted from server. However the job title, the printer you sent it to, and printer status information is kept as a record, along with your Google Account ID. You can see and edit these records through the Google Cloud Print dashboard at any time.

Related: Adding Cloud Print Button to Web Pages