Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac
To use a printer, you must add it to your list of printers using Printers & Scanners settings. (If you switched from using a Windows computer to a Mac, using Printers & Scanners settings is similar to using the Printing control panel in Windows.)
In most cases, when you add a printer, macOS uses AirPrint to connect to the printer. If necessary, install the latest printing software that came with the printer or from the manufacturer’s website.
For information about using a printer with an iPhone or iPad, see Apple Support article Use AirPrint to print from your iPhone or iPad.
Add a USB printer
For most USB printers, all you have to do is update your software and then connect the printer to your Mac. If necessary, install the latest printing software that came with the printer or from the manufacturer’s website.
On your Mac, update your printer software: Check with your printer’s manufacturer to see if any updates are available for your printer model.
Prepare your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make sure it’s not displaying any errors.
Connect your printer: Connect the USB cable to your Mac. If you see a message prompting you to download new software, make sure to download and install it.
Important: If your Mac has a single USB-C port, use a multiport adapter. Connect the printer, then connect a USB-C cable to a power supply to prolong the battery life of your Mac. See Use USB-C cables with Mac.
Add a Wi-Fi or network printer
If your Mac and printer are already connected to the same Wi-Fi network, the printer might be available to you without any setup. To check, choose File > Print, click the Printer pop-up menu, choose Nearby Printers or Printers & Scanners settings, then choose your printer. If you don’t see your printer, you can add it.
On your Mac, update your printer software: Check with your printer’s manufacturer to see if any updates are available for your printer model.
If you have an AirPrint printer, you don’t need to check for software updates.
Prepare your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make sure it’s not displaying any errors.
Connect your printer: Follow the instructions that came with the printer to connect it to the network.
If you have a Wi-Fi printer, you might need to connect the printer to your Mac with a USB cable to set up Wi-Fi printing. After connecting the printer to your Mac, install the Mac software that came with the printer and use the printer’s setup assistant to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. After setting up, you can disconnect the cable from your printer and Mac and the printer should remain connected to the Wi-Fi network. See the Apple Support article Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network.
Add the printer to your list of available printers: Choose Apple menu
in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
If you don’t see your printer listed on the left, click the Add Printer, Scanner or Fax button on the right.
A dialogue appears listing printers on your local network.
When your printer appears in the list, select your printer, then click Add.
It may take a minute or two for your printer to appear. If you see a message prompting you to download new software, make sure to download and install it.
When you add a printer, macOS can usually detect whether the printer has special accessories installed, such as additional paper trays, extra memory or a duplex unit. If it can’t, a dialogue appears that lets you specify them. Make sure the settings in that dialogue accurately reflect your printer’s installed accessories so you can take full advantage of them.
Tip: You can quickly add a printer when using Print Centre, which you can find in the Utilities folder. When Print Centre is open, choose Printer > Add Printer to set up a new printer to use. See Manage printers and print jobs with Print Centre.
Add a network printer by specifying its IP address
If a network printer you want to use isn’t in the list of available printers, you can add it as an IP printer. The printer must support one of these printing protocols: AirPrint, HP Jetdirect (Socket), Line Printer Daemon (LPD), or Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).
Note: Some printers connected using these generic protocols may offer limited functionality.
You must know the network printer’s IP address or host name, printing protocol, and model number or printer software name. If it uses a special queue, you also need to know the queue name. See the person who manages the printer or server for assistance.
On your Mac, update your printer software: Check with your printer’s manufacturer to see if any updates are available for your printer model.
If you have an AirPrint printer, you don’t need to check for software updates.
Prepare your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make sure it’s not displaying any errors.
Connect your printer: Follow the instructions that came with the printer to connect it to the network. See the Apple Support article Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network.
Add the printer to your list of available printers: Choose Apple menu
Click the Add Printer, Scanner or Fax button on the right, click the IP button
, then enter the printer information, using the following table as a guide.
Option
Description
Address
Enter the printer’s IP address (a number that looks like 192.168.20.11) or host name (for example, printer.example.com).
Protocol
Choose a printing protocol that your printer supports:
AirPrint: Use the AirPrint protocol to enable Wi-Fi, USB and Ethernet network access to a printer’s printing and scanning options (if the specific printer supports these features). You don’t need to download or install printer software to use AirPrint-enabled printers. A wide variety of printers, including Aurora, Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, Fuji, Hewlett Packard, Samsung, Xerox and many others, support the AirPrint protocol.
HP Jetdirect – Socket: Use this protocol to access Hewlett Packard and many other printer manufacturers.
Line Printer Daemon - LPD: Allows access to some older printers and print servers that use this protocol.
Internet Printing Protocol - IPP: Allows access to modern printers and print servers.
Queue
Enter the queue name for your printer. If you don’t know the queue name, try leaving it blank or see your network administrator.
Name
Records a descriptive name for the printer (for example, Colour Laser Printer), so you can identify it in the Printer pop-up menu.
Location
Records the printer’s location (for example, “outside my office”), so you can identify it in the Printer pop-up menu.
Use
Display the appropriate software for the printer. If you don’t see software for your printer, choose Select Software, then select your printer in the Printer Software list.
If Printer Software list doesn’t include your printer, try downloading and installing the printer software (also called a printer driver) from the printer manufacturer. You can also try choosing generic postscript or PCL printer software from the pop-up menu depending on your type of printer.
Add a Bluetooth printer
If your Mac came with Bluetooth® wireless technology installed, or if you are using a USB Bluetooth adapter, you can print wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled printer.
On your Mac, update your printer software: Check with your printer’s manufacturer to see if any updates are available for your printer model.
If you have an AirPrint printer, you don’t need to check for software updates.
Prepare your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make sure it’s not displaying any errors.
Connect your printer: Follow the instructions that came with your printer to make sure it’s ready to connect with Bluetooth.
Add your Bluetooth printer to your printer list: Choose Apple menu
Click the Add Printer, Scanner or Fax button on the right, then click the Default button
.
Select the printer in the Printers list, then click Add. If the printer you expect to see is not in the list, enter its name in the search field and press Return.
If your printer doesn’t appear in the list, make sure you have the latest Bluetooth driver for the printer installed. Check with the manufacturer for the latest driver.
After you connect your printer, if you see a message prompting you to download new software, make sure you download and install it.
Add a Wi-Fi or mobile printer that requires a configuration profile
Some network printers may require you to install a configuration profile so that the printer can be discovered on your network using AirPrint. If you are provided a profile to install, download or copy the printer profile to your Mac and then install it.
On your Mac, double-click the profile to open it.
When you see a message asking if you want to install the profile, click Continue.
When a message appears asking you to confirm that you want to install the profile, click Install.
The profile is installed in the Profiles settings of the Privacy & Security
settings. You can then add the printer to your printer list.To add your printer to the printer list, choose Apple menu
Click the Add Printer, Scanner or Fax button on the right, then click the Default button
.Select the printer (listed as an AirPrint Profile) in the Printers list, then click Add.
If your printer doesn’t appear in the list, make sure you have the latest profile for the printer installed and that there is a network path for your computer to the printer. Check with your network administrator for the latest profile.