Hi My new MAC air updated to the Big Sur O/S about 3-4 months ago, my printers that I was using with this new MAC PC were working fine. Being patient with Apple I thought that after a few weeks, your new Big Sur system would be fixed to enable func

Did you download a new driver that is compatible with BigSur? Go to the developer's website and see if there is a new driver for your printer/scanner.

If there isn't a compatible driver, does your printer enable AirPrint?

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/print-wirelessly-mac-airprint-printer-mchl3c1a7aef/mac

I have this same problem. My expensive HP plan printer no longer works. Downloaded the only thing HP says it has available, the Generic Post Script Printer. Completely useless. So, my only option is to keep my old iMac working so that I can transfer plan printing docs from my new iMac to my old one to print. Because I have no intention of spending $3500 on a new printer.

Unfortunately, it is the printer manufacturer who provides driver updates. After a certain number of years, each printer manufacturer considers a printer "obsolete" and no longer provides driver updates. About 7 years ago, I ditched a LexMark from 1995 that was still working, but could not get drivers for recent versions of any popular operating system.

Upon updating to Big Sur, I had to update my current Epson driver by downloading their driver manually. The Epson code that is supposed to detect the OS on your machine thought I was on a different version of macOS (Epson bug that they were working to correct). Depending on the age of your printer, maybe HP also had a similar bug in their code that is supposed to detect the version of your OS (or maybe they consider it obsolete). On the plus side, I discovered that for years I've been using a generic driver (wondered why there were so few options, but thought it was because this was a relatively cheap printer). Happy to see many more options when I print. Worked in IT for more than 32 years, surprised I didn't detect this years ago.

Imagine the size of the holes in the ground it takes to make your computers, phones, TV's, Cars, Batteries etc etc

just so you can have a comfortable life.

It is up to the printer manufacturers to write drivers for newer operating systems.

These printer manufacturers are in business to make money, therefore it is not beyond

the imagination that in order to keep roofs over their heads they make elderly products

obsolete to encourage sales of new products. What is your occupation does it rely

on having a continuous turnover.

Before you upgrade your mac to a newer OS it is your responsibility to check that any third party

hardware you use with your mac is going to be compatible with the new OS. This goes for your

third party software also. This involves you actively going to a manufacturers/ developers support

website and confirming that they are going to continue support for your items.

After all Apple cannot be directly responsible for writing/ rewriting software for all the thousands

if not hundreds of thousands of permutations of software and drivers out there.

If you find once you have upgraded your OS that your printer no longer works then you

can look at the http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php this website provides drivers

for older model printers and newer OS's, you may be lucky.

I totally agree.

This sucks completely.

My printer is a large fast color laser printer that now only prints in black and white with weird margin settings.

It worked perfectly on my previous computer.

I just spend $6,000 dollars on a loaded new laptop only to learn after the fact that the great printer in my studio is now a boat anchor.

Wish I had never upgraded!

The problem is that iPhones are the weak link here, and they are easy to break and obsolete out faster than desktops, and also the software updates for the phones make them incompatible with an older computer, by design. I either need to keep an old mac running to use our plan printer or buy a new printer. Another giant piece of obsolete hardware in the landfill.

I remember a particularly painful transition to Win7 for some special purpose printers. The manufacturer did not support the recommended solution, but gave us a work-around that involved switching to a USB to serial converter. None of the other attachment options on the printer would work. In addition, we were told nothing would work with Win10 (other than replacing the printers). The manufacturer would not update the software past an official end of life with Vista.

Just to add to what was previously stated about printer manufacturers,

they are seemingly shrinking their support windows more and more

each year so they can boost their printer sales.

! s k c u s