Can't Add Printer, box is empty

I have Brother MFC-9970CDW printer that "disappeared" for the Printers & Scanners "Add" screen. First I thought it was software update that did it.

However, after reading this post and realizing that Wi-Fi printer might not appear in the list if it is on a different subnet, I remembered that I have a 5GHz Wi-Fi network and regular Wi-Fi network setup on my AirPort. So, since my printer can't connect to 5GHz network I switched my Mac to regular Wi-Fi network and printer came up in the list right away.

Do you guys know if there is a setting where you can have same subnet for standard and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks?

Since you know the IP address of the Brother you could open Safari and enter that IP address as the URL. This should result in you connecting to the internal web page of the Brother printer where you can view ink levels and network settings. If this does work then it suggests you have an issue with Bonjour, which is the protocol used by the printer to advertise itself on your network so that you can see it when you try to add the printer. But if the Mac does not connect to the printers web page then it suggests an issue with the network address, most likely the printer given that the other devices you have also fail to print.

If you can connect to the printers web page then you can add the printer by manually entering the IP address instead of relying on Bonjour. With the Add printer window open, select the IP icon and then enter the IP address of the printer. Set the Protocol to Line Printer Daemon and leave the Queue name blank. Change the Name from the IP address to something more meaningful to you and in the Use menu, drop the menu to Select printer software and then browse to the Brother model. Add this printer and then see if you can print. Note if this works it will continue to do so until the printer changes its IP address, which may happen if you need to keep restarting the router.

I had a similar issue, and this resolved it:

Remove any currently installed printer drivers that could be causing the issue:

1. Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners.
2. Control-click anywhere in the list of devices, then choose “Reset printing system” from the shortcut menu that appears.

Cheers

Wow, well I've been at this for days now (as time allows) using my Macbook Pro, which has been working perfectly for printing, then all of a sudden it can't find either of my printers (both wireless) a Brother laser and HP print/scan/fax! So, yesterday I thought I'd check the Brother (normally used daily) by going into the settings, re-entering the network settings, and it then spits out a printed copy saying all is fine and dandy! Only problem, it still won't print from 'my' Macbook Pro, my wife's Macbook or the Ipad? Going through a different 'Apple' site, one thing it said to do was to 'reset printing' which I did on 'my' Macbook Pro, so it now shows no printers/devices at all. I tried to re-add them, and the box that comes up is blank/empty....showing nothing. I tried the search feature, and again...nothing. I seem to have router issues off and on...albeit, my internet is working just fine lately, and the only thing I do is to reset the modem/router by pulling the plug for a while, and reconnecting! Once that's done, internet is working great, but whether that has anything to do with my printers not working...I don't know?

I did check the IP address on both my Macbook Pro against the printers IP address, and the last number is within the allowable, by what I can tell. Prior to resetting the two printers on my Macbook Pro, each time I tried printing I got the message 'Printer is not connected' which it obviously was, as I can get the printer to print out a copy of the settings from the printer itself, but getting the wireless printing working is the struggle. Any idea's, and if/when I find the answer, I'll try and explain what I did here.

I have an almost similar problem.

I bought a MacBook Air 2 weeks back and when I connected it to my Samsung wireless printer(M288x Series), it was up and running in less than 3.7 seconds.

Unfortunately I had to replace that MacBook Air because of a hardware problem and it's replacement(a similar Macbook Air) doesn't seem to show the same printer that it's predecessor had no problem in finding and connecting to.

Everything is updated.

If you can't provide a solution, a suicide hotline would help.

Running OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

skyblu1212 wrote:

To clarify:

I had an existing Canon printer, connected to the wireless network with its own wi-fi. Didn't show up on my Add Printer dialog box. So I took a USB cable (which I know works because it was connecting something else to my PC, and that was fine), and tried hooking up the printer to my computer directly. Still nothing in the Add Printer dialog box.

Typically when a wireless printer does not appear in the Default Add Printer view, the cause is from the Mac and the printer set to different IP subnets.

But for a printer not to appear in the Default Add Printer view when it is connected directly to the Mac via USB cable, then this would suggest the USB cable or a fault with the printer or a fault with the USB port on the Mac. Even though this cable was working with the PC, it could still be the cable. Because I don't think it is the printer or the Mac.

skyblu1212 wrote:

I had a second printer that came free with my MacBook but was still in the box, so I opened it up, set it up, and connected it to the netwrok (this one also has wi-fi). The printer is on the network for sure, because a) the printer itself has a Wi-Fi light that turns green when connected, and b) I can see both wi-fi printers from my PC.

Still, when I open the dialog box to add a printer to my Mac, nothing shows up, so I can't select anything from a list but I also cannot manually input the printer because all fields are grayed out.

Most printers use Bonjour to advertise their presence on the local network. With this other printer also not appearing in the Default Add Printer browser, it could be that Bonjour is not working on the Mac. One test you can try is to open Safari and open Bookrmarks. The Bookmarks sidebar that appears will have a Bonjour entry. Select this and the printer should be listed, as shown below.

If the printer is not visible then Bonjour may not be running on the Mac. You can check this by opening Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities), selecting All Process from the top drop menu and then looking for mDNSResponder in the list.

But that doesn't explain why the printer also does not appear when connected via USB. So with both of these symptoms you could try a reset of the printing system. If that does not help then I would be thinking about backing up your data and reinstalling Lion on this Mac.

Back to Windows products? Bite your tongue. I have Mac OS and Windows on my machine. Windows still *****.

Wow. They censored the correct spelling of "psuks." Must be Maudie Frickert checking this stuff.

Didn't work for me :-(

So can you confirm, does the printer have its own built-in wireless or is it connected to a wireless router or print server or is it being shared by the Windows computer you mention.

As for the printer not being detected with USB connection, then assuming you are connecting it directly to Mac rather than to a USB hub, then it could be the USB cable at fault.

I saw this today as I had the same problem. 4 years later I guess. My fix was to reset the wireless router as It stopped transmitting 2.5 gz as my printer is. The router is dual band, 5.0 and 2.5 so all my machines will work on one or another. My mac book recognizes 2.5 as soon as I reset the wireless, all printing started working again. Had to reset the printer to the router again but thats easy

Good evening. I'm having similar problem with printers. Both my daughters got MacBook Airs for Christmas. One has found printer hosted drivers and loaded, connected and printed.

The second can't find the printer at all. I've tried to switch wifi from 5ghz back just in case but mac still can't see printers. I've restarted printer and mac no joy. It's so frustrating.

How does one find printers and auto setup and other doesn't?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

I eventually found I had to go into my 'Router' settings, take out my printer devices, and re-enter them (we have one Brother and one HP printer/scan/fax setups) and everything is back working! The hard part was remembering my password to get in to my router, which I eventually did, so this was the answer for me. Hope it can help someone else down the line.

Well I have a similar problem but with a twist. For some odd reason my Macbook Air decided it would not print. The Brother printer showed up but kept telling me it had a communication problem. I tried a reset, didn't work, I tried using IP since it would not show up anymore in default printer when trying to add it. I was able to add it but had the same no comms message. It works fine with my PC and the printer is wifi. I just bought a new Macbook Pro and finished setting it up a few minutes ago and I am printing a page with it as we speak.... so !!!! Really I am not sure what alien force has taken over my Macbook Air .

Any help would be cool, thank you

Forgot to mention the air is up to date and running on El Capitan v10.11.6