Unable to assign printer names and order maintain in the print dialog box on Mac

Question

Level 1

15 points

Unable to assign printer names and order maintain in the print dialog box on Mac

I've added a couple of new printers to my network. To keep things organized, I reset the Printer system and added the printers one by one (by IP address), naming them with a certain order:

01_Brother MFC-J5855DW

02_Brother MFC-L8900CDW

03_Brother MFC-8890DW

etc.

The first three printers are on my home network, and then the next four printers are on my office network. When I finished and started printing out various documents, in the print dialog box, I'm presented the list of printers without the number in front, just the name of the printer, "Brother MFC-J5955DW". The office and home printers are no longer grouped together in the list, and some of the printers have a bunch of numbers and letters in the name, "Brother MFC-L8900CDW series [3820j23af492375w]"

What's going on? Why aren't the names I've assigned (and numerical order) maintained?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Printer Names Not showing

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 26.3

Posted on Mar 10, 2026 5:22 AM

Reply

Answer 1

MartinR

Level 7

25,026 points

Mar 11, 2026 12:14 PM in response to sduttonusa

While I cannot explain why they appear that way at present, try going into System Settings > Printers & Scanners to see how they are named there. While there, you can rename the printers; try renaming one or two to see if that makes a difference.

Reply

Answer 2

sduttonusa Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 12, 2026 3:08 PM in response to MartinR

That's where I originally labled them. Going back there now, they are all labled properly. I can "change" the names there again, but in the print dialog box, I'm given the truncated names. Is there a preference file that is being read by the Print Dialog Box . . . this would be the place to check on the names that are being ascribed.

Reply