Printers compatible with Big Sur

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201311

Also, if you get a printer with the Air Print feature, print drivers are no longer needed, so compatibility is no longer an issue. If you are concerned, make sure that you are ok with the printer's return policy.

Hi,

A Canon MG7720 is mentioned in About AirPrint - Apple Support as a printer supporting the driverless AirPrint technology. This means that you can use it under macOS Big Sur as an AirPrint printer, without having to install drivers.

Software from the printer manufacturer may or may not add functionality.

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/printers/inkjet-multifunction/mg-series-inkjet/pixma-mg7720/pixma-mg7720?tab=drivers_downloads

I am sorry you are having printer problems. You may choose to blame Apple, but doing so will not solve your problem. If you will bear with me, I will offer some things that are important to know. Whenever we install an operating system upgrade or some OS updates, some printers and scanners will often stop working. Then a new OS compliant printer driver must be installed. Since the printer manufacturer owns the software that supports its printers, only they can update or provide such drivers. Apple can not. Experience has shown that many printer manufacturers are very slow to provide updated drivers. Drivers for some older printers are never provided. (Apparently, they prefer to sell new printers.) What we can do is to thoroughly check the printer web site for an updated driver that works. If one is not available, then we should ask when one will be released. If that doesn't work, if the Printer has the Air Print feature, that can be used and no driver will be needed. If not, then you can check the web site below where volunteers write drivers for older printers which are no longer supported, but which work with newer operating systems. It is worth checking out. Good luck.

Gutenprint Supported Printers

So, in summary, since Apple lets all printer manufacturers know well in advance of coming changes to its OS, and since Apple can not write such drivers for the many hundreds of printers out there, it is appropriate to place responsibility for support squarely on the printer manufacturer. These lessons also teach us which ones we should, or should not buy from in the future.

Hello,

An HP ENVY 6020 All-In-One Printer is mentioned in About AirPrint - Apple Support as a printer supporting the driverless AirPrint technology. According to Add a printer on Mac - Apple Support: "If your printer is AirPrint-enabled, it’s compatible with macOS."

This means that the printer should be compatible with macOS Big Sur as well, without the need for separate drivers. Software from the printer manufacturer may or may not add functionality. The HP downloads page (US) for ENVY 6020 has merely a reference to HP Smart when macOS 11.0 is selected as the operating system.

Connect the printer to your normal Wi-Fi network (router). Make sure that the computer is connected to the same network.

I suggest that you try to reset the printing system, and then just choose to use AirPrint.

Reset the Mac printing system to solve a problem - Apple Support

Hi fred408,

The easiest way to begin with is this: Make a note of your exact printer model. Then use, for example, Google to search for that model. Very often, one of the first search results will be a link to the printer manufacturer's support page for that printer. However, be careful; make sure that you visit the official web pages of the manufacturer when you are looking for drivers.

For the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227fdn, one would find this support page:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-laserjet-pro-mfp-m227-series/9365384/model/9365388

Choose the operating system version. Check whether the offered driver/software version can be used.

Also, generally speaking, one could check whether a printer is in the list in About AirPrint - Apple Support as a model supporting the driverless AirPrint technology. In this case, an M227fdw is mentioned (but not the M227fdn). AirPrint does not per se require a printer with built-in Wi-Fi. A network printer, wired to a Wi-Fi router via Ethernet, could also be used for AirPrint, but only if the model supports the technology. When two models are close, it may be worth investigating further. Just as an example, AirPrint is mentioned in connection with both M227fdw and M227fdn in HP's mobile support article (https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-laserjet-pro-mfp-m227-series/9365384/model/9365388/document/c03722645). So, ask HP about whether AirPrint actually can be used with your printer. Alternatively, just test it with an iPhone/iPad connected to the same Wi-Fi router (an AirPrint printer should be selectable when you try to print from the iPhone/iPad).

By the way, AirPrint means that a printer is compatible with macOS, without the need for a separate driver. Drivers/software from a printer manufacturer may or may not add functionality.

Hi,

At least according to About AirPrint - Apple Support, a Canon MG5350 is a printer supporting the driverless AirPrint technology.

Canon UK has a guide that possibly could be of interest to you:

https://www.canon.co.uk/support/consumer_products/apple_airprint_guide/#Pmac

Your printer is also in the list of printers compatible with AirPrint in that guide.

Canon support should have informed you about this. It means that it ought to be possible to use the printer in question without a separate driver. Drivers/software from the printer manufacturer may or may not add functionality.

Check that your printer has the latest firmware.

https://www.canon.co.uk/support/consumer_products/products/fax__multifunctionals/inkjet/pixma_mg_series/pixma_mg5350.html?type=firmware

See also the following article about how to add a printer:

Add a printer on Mac - Apple Support

If necessary, you may want to reset the printing system before beginning:

Reset the Mac printing system to solve a problem - Apple Support

Hi,

The HP ENVY Photo 7800 All-in-One Printer series has many models. You may want to check which exact model it is.

The HP support site has drivers here: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-envy-photo-7800-all-in-one-printer-series/9073159 .

However, a number of ENVY Photo 78xx models are listed in About AirPrint - Apple Support as printers supporting the driverless AirPrint technology. If your printer is mentioned here, it could be used without drivers. Drivers/software from the printer manufacturer may add functionality.

Add a printer on Mac - Apple Support

Hi,

There is a list of AirPrint-enabled printers here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201311

These printers are supposed to work straight with macos 11 computers.

I did finally choose to buy a new printer in that list, as it is very inconvenient for me to have to wait for a driver that may come in weeks/months. I will confirm as soon as I receive it, that is next week.

Best regards

Hi,

You mentioned a Canon TS3300.

There is a TS3300 series. Please check whether your printer has an exact TS33xx model number. For example, twenty Canon TS33xx models are mentioned in About AirPrint - Apple Support as printers supporting the driverless AirPrint technology.

If your printer is an AirPrint model, the following guide from Canon Europe could perhaps be of some interest as well: https://www.canon-europe.com/support/consumer_products/apple_airprint_guide/#Pmac

Add a printer on Mac - Apple Support

Here is a list of printers from Apple that have AirPrint. This might solve the problem as then you do not need a driver as “Ronasara” stated in a reply. Good Luck!

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201311

Looks like our printer is too old. Time for a new one.

Hi,

The HP Laserjet Pro MFP M29w is mentioned in About AirPrint - Apple Support as a model supporting the driverless AirPrint technology, so you should be able to use this printer (via a network connection) without drivers from the printer manufacturer (see also https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_1994828-1994872-16).

Reset the Mac printing system to solve a problem - Apple Support

Add a printer on Mac - Apple Support

My experience with Apple was similar. They were very courteous and helpful but after an hour we had to admit that our efforts were futile.

HP is the problem. I had to buy a new printer just to get phone help. I've since returned it because HP refuses to allow Mac's Image Capture to work on their machines. Their scanning software, HP Smart, is terrible and I don't like being forced to use only inferior proprietary software.

I tried to get software for my old HP laser printer but HP has removed all support for its software.

Apple Support has a list of printers that are compatible with Air Print. Just go to Apple Support.com /en-us/HT201311. (I tried to avoid a hyperlink, but you can just put them together.)

My next step is to buy one listed and see if it works.

To Ronasara's point, look for an AirPrint-compatible printer. You can see the official Apple list here.

BTW, I have a new Brother MFC-J995DW and it works great on Big Sur.

• According to the Apple document About AirPrint - Apple Support the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477nw is Air Print compatible and can be used as is. Doesn't need drivers.