If your Mac and printer are already connected to the same Wi-Fi network, choose File > Print, click the Printer pop-up menu, choose Nearby Printers or Printer & Scanner preferences, then choose your printer. If your printer isn’t available, you can add it.
- Update your software (if you don’t have an AirPrint printer): Choose Apple menu > App Store, click Updates, then install any software updates listed. Even if no updates appear, this ensures that macOS has the latest information about printer software it can download from Apple. If you don’t do this, you may see a message that software isn’t available when you connect your printer.If you have an AirPrint printer, you don’t need to check for software updates.
- Prepare your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make sure it’s not displaying any errors.
- Connect your printer: Follow the instructions that came with the printer to connect it to the network. If you have a Wi-Fi printer, you might need to connect the printer to your Mac with a USB cable to set up Wi-Fi printing. After connecting the printer to your Mac, install the Mac software that came with the printer and use the printer’s setup assistant to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. After setting up, you can disconnect the cable from your printer and Mac and the printer should remain connected to the Wi-Fi network. For more information, see the Apple Support article Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network.
- Add the printer to your list of available printers: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners. If you don’t see your printer listed on the left, click the Add button
at the bottom of the list. A dialog appears listing printers on your local network. It may take a minute or two for your printer to appear. Select your printer when it appears in the list, then click Add. If you see a message prompting you to download new software, make sure to download and install it.If your printer still doesn’t appear in the list, try adding the printer by its IP address (see below).
When you add a printer, macOS can usually detect whether the printer has special accessories installed, such as additional paper trays, extra memory, or a duplex unit. If it can’t, a dialog appears that lets you specify them. Make sure the settings in that dialog accurately reflect your printer’s installed accessories so you can take full advantage of them.
- Update your software (if you don’t have an AirPrint printer): Choose Apple menu > App Store, click Updates, then install any software updates listed. Even if no updates appear, this ensures that macOS has the latest information about printer software it can download from Apple. If you don’t do this, you may see a message that software isn’t available when you connect your printer.If you have an AirPrint printer, you don’t need to check for software updates.
- Prepare your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make sure it’s not displaying any errors.
- Connect your printer: Follow the instructions that came with the printer to connect it to the network. For more information, see the Apple Support article Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network.
- Add the printer to your list of available printers: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners.Click Add
from the printer list, click IP, then enter the printer information, using the following table as a guide.| Address | Enter the printer’s IP address (a number that looks like 192.168.20.11) or host name (for example, printer.example.com). |
| Protocol | Click the Protocol pop-up menu, then choose a printing protocol your printer supports:- AirPrint: The AirPrint protocol enables Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet network access to a printer’s printing and scanning options (if the specific printer supports these features). You don’t need to download or install printer software to use AirPrint-enabled printers. A wide variety of printers, including Aurora, Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, Fuji, Hewlett Packard, Samsung, Xerox, and many others, support the AirPrint protocol. If your printer is AirPrint-enabled, you don’t need to download or install printer software.
- HP Jetdirect – Socket: HP and many other printer manufacturers use this protocol.
- Line Printer Daemon - LPD: Older printers and print servers may use this protocol.
- Internet Printing Protocol - IPP: Modern printers and print servers use this protocol.
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| Queue | If your printer requires it, enter the queue name for your printer. If you don’t know the queue name, try leaving it blank or see your network administrator. |
| Name | Enter a descriptive name for the printer (for example, Color Laser Printer), so you can identify it in the Printer pop-up menu. |
| Location | Enter the printer’s location (for example, “outside my office”), so you can identify it in the Printer pop-up menu. |
| Use | If this pop-up menu doesn’t display the appropriate software for the printer, choose Select Printer Software, then select your printer in the Printer Software list.If that list doesn’t include your printer, try downloading and installing the printer software (also called a printer driver) from the printer manufacturer. You can also try choosing generic printer software from the pop-up menu. |
macOS Sierra: Add or remove a printer