How To Find A New Printer On Mac

Add a printer to your printer list and so you tin utilise information technology on Mac

To use a printer, you must add it to your list of printers using Printers & Scanners preferences. (If you lot switched from using a Windows reckoner to a Mac, using Printers & Scanners preferences is similar to using the Printing command panel in Windows.)

In almost cases, when you add together a printer, macOS uses AirPrint to connect to the printer or automatically downloads the printer's software (also chosen a printer driver). Don't install the software that came with the printer or from the manufacturer's website; follow the instructions in i of the tasks beneath, and macOS prompts you to download the latest software if information technology's needed.

For data about using a printer with an iPhone or iPad, run across Utilise AirPrint to print from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Add a USB printer

For nigh USB printers, all you lot have to do is update your software and then connect the printer to your Mac. macOS automatically detects the printer and downloads whatever necessary software. For other printers, yous may have to complete a few steps to add the printer.

On your Mac, update your printer software: Cheque with your printer's manufacturer to meet if any updates are available for your printer model.
Prepare your printer: Utilize the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add together newspaper. Turn on the printer and brand sure information technology'south not displaying any errors.
Connect your printer: Connect the USB cablevision to your Mac. If you meet a bulletin prompting you to download new software, make certain 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 cablevision to a power supply to prolong the battery life of your Mac. See Use USB-C cables with your 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 bachelor to you without any setup. To bank check, choose File > Print, click the Printer pop-up menu, choose Nearby Printers or Printers & Scanners preferences, so cull your printer. If your printer isn't available, yous can add information technology.

On your Mac, update your printer software: Check with your printer'south manufacturer to meet if whatever updates are bachelor for your printer model.

If you lot have an AirPrint printer, you don't demand to check for software updates.
Set up your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add newspaper. Plow on the printer and make certain it'due south non displaying whatsoever 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 prepare Wi-Fi printing. After connecting the printer to your Mac, install the Mac software that came with the printer and employ the printer's setup banana to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. Subsequently 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 card > System Preferences, and then click Printers & Scanners .

If you don't see your printer listed on the left, click the Add button at the lesser of the list. A dialog appears listing printers on your local network. It may take a infinitesimal or two for your printer to appear. Select your printer when it appears in the list, and then click Add. If you see a message prompting y'all to download new software, make certain to download and install it.

If your printer notwithstanding doesn't appear in the list, try calculation the printer past its IP address (see below).

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 dialog appears that lets yous specify them. Make sure the settings in that dialog accurately reflect your printer'due south installed accessories so yous can take total reward of them.

Add a network printer by specifying its IP address

If a network printer you desire to employ isn't in the list of bachelor printers, y'all tin add together information technology as an IP printer. The printer must support 1 of these press protocols: AirPrint, HP Jetdirect (Socket), Line Printer Daemon (LPD), or Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).

Annotation: Some printers continued using these generic protocols may offering limited functionality.

You must know the network printer'south IP accost or host name, printing protocol, and model number or printer software proper name. If information technology uses a special queue, you also need to know the queue proper name. See the person who manages the printer or server for assistance.

On your Mac, update your printer software: Check with your printer'southward manufacturer to see if whatsoever updates are available for your printer model.

If y'all have an AirPrint printer, you don't demand to cheque for software updates.
Set your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add together newspaper. Plow on the printer and brand certain 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 Back up commodity Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network.

Add the printer to your list of available printers: Choose Apple bill of fare > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners .

Open Printers & Scanners preferences for me

Click the Add together push button at the lesser of the printer list, click IP push button , then enter the printer information, using the following tabular array as a guide.

The Add Printer dialog showing the IP options for setting up an printer using the IP protocol.

Pick	Description
Address	Enter the printer's IP accost (a number that looks like 192.168.xx.11) or host name (for case, printer.example.com).
Protocol	Cull a printing protocol that your printer supports: AirPrint: Utilise the AirPrint protocol to enable Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet network access to a printer's press and scanning options (if the specific printer supports these features). Y'all don't need to download or install printer software to use AirPrint-enabled printers. A wide diverseness of printers, including Aurora, Blood 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 impress servers that use this protocol. Cyberspace Printing Protocol - IPP: Allows access to modern printers and print servers.
Queue	Enter the queue name for your printer. If you lot don't know the queue name, try leaving it blank or meet your network administrator.
Name	Records a descriptive name for the printer (for example, Colour Laser Printer), and then you lot tin can place information technology in the Printer pop-upwardly carte.
Location	Records the printer's location (for case, "exterior my office"), then you can identify it in the Printer pop-upward menu.
Apply	Display the appropriate software for the printer. If you don't come across 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, attempt downloading and installing the printer software (as well called a printer driver) from the printer manufacturer. You tin too try choosing generic postscript or PCL printer software from the pop-up card depending on your type of printer.

Add a Bluetooth printer

If your Mac came with Bluetooth installed, or if y'all are using a USB Bluetooth adapter, you tin impress wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled printer.

On your Mac, update your printer software: Cheque with your printer's manufacturer to see if whatever updates are available for your printer model.

If you take an AirPrint printer, you don't demand to cheque for software updates.
Prepare your printer: Utilize the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make certain it's not displaying any errors.
Connect your printer: Follow the instructions that came with your printer to make sure it'southward ready to connect with Bluetooth.
Add your Bluetooth printer to your printer listing: Choose Apple card > Arrangement Preferences, so click Printers & Scanners . Click the Add button , so click the Default button .
Select the printer in the Printers list, and then click Add. If the printer you expect to meet is not in the listing, enter its proper name in the search field, and press Return.

If your printer doesn't appear in the listing, make certain 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 lot see a message prompting you to download new software, make sure to download and install it.

Add a Wi-Fi or mobile printer that requires a configuration contour

Some network printers may crave you to install a configuration profile and so that the printer tin 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 and so install it.

On your Mac, double-click the contour to open it.
When you see a message asking if yous desire to install the profile, click Keep.
When a message appears asking you to confirm that you desire to install the profile, click Install.

The profile is installed in the Profiles pane of System Preferences. You tin can so add the printer to your printer listing.
To add your printer to the printer list, choose Apple carte du jour > Arrangement Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners .
Click the Add together button , and then click the Default button .
Select the printer (listed equally an AirPrint Contour) in the Printers list, then click Add.

If your printer doesn't appear in the listing, brand certain y'all 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.