v147 · proposed IWA API · member reference

Window.printing

The normative WICG entry point is the same WebPrintingManager object associated with a Window. navigator.printing is not declared. Chromium’s WindowOrWorkerGlobalScope binding is an implementation/spec divergence, not a normative worker contract.

Proposal and implementation differ from the old overviewChromeStatus currently records this API as Proposed, not shipped. This reference follows the current WICG IDL and Chromium source; test in the intended IWA configuration and feature-detect rather than relying on the v147 label.

Syntax

const manager = window.printing; // WebPrintingManager

Inputs

No arguments. Access the member from a Window; use feature detection before calling it.

Outputs

Returns the same manager object for a Window ([SameObject]), according to the normative IDL. It does not enumerate printers itself.

Errors

Access is not documented as a throwing operation; the method performs the policy and isolation checks. Do not infer that member presence proves the call will succeed.

Context and permission

The IDL requires a secure, isolated context. The specification also defines the web-printing Permissions Policy with default allowlist self; Chromium additionally checks an isolated context and cross-origin isolation before getPrinters(). The current proposal requires express, origin-specific consent triggered by enumeration. The exact chooser scope, persistence, and whether a later operation prompts again remain user-agent UX, not a settled web contract.

Lifecycle, cancellation, and cleanup

The normative manager is allocated per Window. Chromium’s binding currently names WindowOrWorkerGlobalScope, but that is an implementation/spec divergence: worker usability is unknown and must not be treated as normative or promised without target-runtime evidence.

Examples

const manager = window.printing;
if (!manager || typeof manager.getPrinters !== "function") {
  throw new Error("Web Printing API is unavailable in this window");
}
const printers = await manager.getPrinters();

Browser compatibility

Current public compatibility evidence (checked 2026-07-26)
Runtime	Status	Evidence
Chrome (general)	Proposed and not released. ChromeStatus lists I2S desktop target 147, which is not release proof. Do not infer general desktop Chrome support.	ChromeStatus
Current Chromium service	Implemented only when built with `IS_CHROMEOS && USE_CUPS`; otherwise `getPrinters()` has no service and throws `SecurityError`.	Chromium manager implementation
Android / mobile	ChromeStatus Android is `null`; no public mobile release exists. The current ChromeOS+CUPS-only service path does not expose the service on Android.	ChromeStatus; implementation guard
Firefox	No signal; no BCD member record found.	ChromeStatus position; BCD API data
Safari	No signal; no BCD member record found.	ChromeStatus position; BCD API data
webstatus.dev	No feature entry found for this query; this is not proof of absence from browsers.	webstatus query

Security and privacy

Printer names, IDs, capabilities and state can fingerprint a device and reveal printing activity. A compromised IWA could create unwanted jobs or denial of service. Minimize enumeration and polling, do not expose attributes to untrusted content, validate documents before submitting, and offer an app-level confirmation/audit trail. The spec requires isolation and consent; it does not make printer information non-sensitive.