How to print photos at any convenience store with Printsmash app

Printing photos at a convenience store has never been easier with the emergence of the Printsmash App. The Printsmash app can be used in conjunction with photo printers at convenience stores all around Japan, such as 7-11, Family Mart and Lawson. The one stipulation, of course, is that you have to have a smart phone in order to use the app. It can be used on both iPhone (and equivalent) and Android.

Step 1

Download the Printsmash app on your phone. It is probably best to do this before you go to the convenience store.

• On Google Play
• On Apple store

Step 2

Go to the print machine at the convenience store of your choice. Touch the screen and choose to print photos, including which type and size. It will tell you to open the app on your phone.

Step 3

Select Printsmash on your smartphone. Wifi is necessary to complete the action, but the convenience store will automatically offer you to connect to their free wifi. If for some reason, your phone doesn't connect properly, there will be instructions on the screen of the printer to follow. 

Step 4 

Select the photos you want to print on your phone which will send them to the machine.

Step 5

Confirm your selection on the screen of the printer. It will then give you the cost. On average it costs 30 yen per standard size and quality photo.

At this stage, you can deselect photos or opt to print more or one copy. If you are using the machine in Japanese, one thing to be careful of: it will have an option 終わり "owari". I thought they were asking me if I was finished my preparation and selected it and it brought me back to the start! 

Step 6

Insert the money into the machine and it will start printing them. It will ask if you want a receipt, click "する” if you want one. It will tell you on the screen of the machine how long the printing will take. Unless your printing dozens, it should be finished within a couple of minutes.  

And just like that, your photos are ready to take home! Once upon a time, they used to have paper envelopes you could put your photos into beside these type of machines. But in this day and age of SDGs awareness, most places no longer have them in my experience. So you might want to bring something with you to put the photos into when they've finished printing.

Also on City-cost:

• Another way to print photos at the 7-11 convenience store chain. 
• How to print documents at the konbini.