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Unable to connect to network printer

After installing Mavericks i cannot print anymore on my network printer.

The printer has connected to a Windows XP pc, i see it under settings Windows printer but when i launch a print the printer goes into pause state. The message i see is "unable to connect to printer".

I had this connection since Snow Leopard > Mountain Lion and it has always worked.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 25, 2013 12:17 AM

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Posted on Oct 25, 2013 2:41 AM

What brand and model of printer do you have?

184 replies

Oct 25, 2013 2:55 AM in response to AndreaMrx

Same problem here (Mavericks > Windows XP) . I tried all the tricks from this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3049 and this discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3216717 nothing worked.

I think it must be an authentication problem.


I can connect to Win XP for transfering files and folder etc.


(Samung SCX 4623F; printing works fine with direct connection Mac-Printer)

Oct 25, 2013 3:30 AM in response to PAHU

Samsung SCX4521F i've installed the driver from samsung site, on mountain lion it works on mavericks no


My problem is not to find the printer in printer settings; i see it in windows printer >workgroup/server/sharename but when i want to print the printer switch to inactive and opening the spool queue and pressing start i have the message "unable to connect to printer"

Oct 25, 2013 3:31 AM in response to AndreaMrx

Checking the specs for this model it shows that it uses a Samsung proprietary printer language. So that rules out some of the workarounds that may have been possible had it supported the PCL or Postscript printer language. So I think you may have to wait until Samsung releases a driver for 10.9.

Oct 25, 2013 5:30 AM in response to AndreaMrx

Identical issue. I was able to connect through the Windows XP machine in our office to the Brother laser printer and print without issue before the upgrade to Mavericks. Now, the Workgroup/Computer/Printer all show up in the printers and scanners dialog... but the printer resets to inactive and then briefly says "Unable to connect to printer".

I can print directly when I walk my laptop across the building and plug the USB cable into it... so it's not a driver issue. It's something in Mavericks.

Oct 25, 2013 6:47 AM in response to AndreaMrx

Hi, I have the same problem with the connection with a Epson L210 (XP machine). Works fine when I had Mountain Lion, I installed Mavericks and Now I can't Print. The same message: "Unable to connect to printer" I suposse is a problem with Mavericks.


If someone find a solution, please tell me.


The same of 7over, I can print if I connect with USB to the printer.

Oct 25, 2013 9:07 AM in response to AndreaMrx

Not sure if this is relevant to printing to a Windows PC connected printer. However, after updating to Mavericks, my mac could no longer connect to my HP Laserjet CP1515n. I am not sure how I had originally added the printer, but I notice that on another mac running 10.7, if I click to add a printer in system preferences, it finds my Laserjet nearby (under Default) because it is Bonjour enabled. On my mac that is running Mavericks, it doesn't find it. However, if I click the IP button and add it via its IP address with protocol HP Jetdirect - Socket, it works.

Oct 27, 2013 2:02 AM in response to AndreaMrx

Exact same problem using an Epson Stylus Photo R200 via an XP machine. Used to work fine at 10.7 and 10.8, now I get "unable to connect to printer" and the job instantly pauses. I can still access shares on that machine via Finder so it's seeing and authenticating for file sharing.


Apple, can we have a fix, this is a major issue for people!

Oct 27, 2013 2:45 PM in response to AndreaMrx

Same thing here...Windows XP print server to HP 1320LaserJet. Worked fine until Maverick. Can findshared folders etc and the printer to which I want to print from my MacBook Pro via WiFi. But it goes through the motions "printing" then it just goes to "paused". What's the answer? Apple are you going to fix or do we wait for HP to update for Mavericks?...wasted a whole day before I found this thread!

Oct 27, 2013 3:34 PM in response to AndreaMrx

Apple developers must have missed testing this functionality in 8 iterations of the DP. This is clearly a major show-stopper. I have this same setup as well and indeed this is broken under Mavericks. As it appears, my guess is it has something to do with the network printing protocol/security between Mavericks and Windows XP. File sharing from Windows XP to Mavericks still works fine and local (hard-wired) printing works fine in Mavericks, too. Thus, not an issue with the printer driver, as any printer shared from Windows XP that used to work in previous OS X (.8, .7, etc.) no longer does its job! I'm glad I have Mavericks in my USB and not in my internal HD!

Unable to connect to network printer

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