How to Connect a Printer to Your Mac

The fastest way to connect a printer to your Mac

Most modern printers connect to a Mac through AirPrint, Apple's built-in wireless printing system. If your printer supports AirPrint, you do not need to install any software — your Mac finds and uses the printer automatically. Go to System Settings, click Printers & Scanners, select your printer from the list, and you are done. If your printer is older or does not support AirPrint, you will need to read and install a driver from the manufacturer's website, then add the printer the same way.

The entire process takes five to ten minutes for AirPrint printers and about fifteen minutes if you need to install a driver. Both your Mac and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network for wireless printing to work.

Key Takeaways

AirPrint printers require no software installation and appear automatically in your Mac's printer list when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Older printers need a driver downloaded from the manufacturer's website before your Mac can recognize them.
You add any printer through System Settings under Printers & Scanners, whether it uses AirPrint or a downloaded driver.
USB-connected printers usually work without drivers on modern Macs, but wireless printers almost always need either AirPrint support or a manufacturer driver.

Check if your printer supports AirPrint

Before you start, find out whether your printer has built-in AirPrint. Look in your printer's manual or visit the manufacturer's support website and search for your exact model number. Most printers made in the last five years support AirPrint, including models from HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Xerox. If you cannot find the manual, you can also try adding the printer through System Settings — if it appears in the list without any software installed, it supports AirPrint.

If your printer does not support AirPrint and you cannot find a driver for your Mac, you have one alternative: print through a cloud service. Some printers let you email documents to a special address, and the printer prints them automatically. Check your printer's manual to see if this option is available.

Connect an AirPrint printer wirelessly

Make sure your printer is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. On your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select System Settings. Click Printers & Scanners in the left sidebar. You should see your printer listed under "Available Printers" — click it once to select it, then click the "Add" button. Your Mac will add the printer and show a confirmation message. That is all you need to do.

If your printer does not appear in the list, restart both your printer and your Mac, then try again. If it still does not show up, check that both devices are truly on the same Wi-Fi network by looking at your printer's display panel or its settings menu. Some printers have a separate 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz network option — your Mac may be on one while your printer is on the other. Switch your printer to match your Mac's network band and try again.

Install a driver for older or non-AirPrint printers

Visit the manufacturer's website — HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Xerox, or whoever made your printer. Find the Support or Downloads section and enter your printer's exact model number. Look for a driver labeled for macOS (not Windows). read the file to your Mac and double-click it to run the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions, which usually involve clicking "Continue" and "Agree" several times, then entering your Mac password when prompted. The installer will finish in two to five minutes.

After the driver installs, restart your Mac. Then open System Settings, go to Printers & Scanners, and click the "Add" button. Your printer should now appear in the list. Click it and select "Add" again. Your Mac will configure the printer and show a confirmation message when it is ready to use.

Connect a printer with a USB cable

If you prefer a wired connection, plug the USB cable from your printer directly into a USB port on your Mac. Modern Macs (2015 and newer) usually recognize USB printers without any driver installation. Open System Settings, click Printers & Scanners, and your printer should appear in the list within a few seconds. Click it and select "Add." If it does not appear, you may need to read a driver from the manufacturer's website using the same steps described above.

USB printing is reliable and does not depend on Wi-Fi, but it limits where you can place your printer — it must be within cable length of your Mac. If you move your Mac or printer frequently, wireless printing is more convenient.

Test your printer connection

Open any document or webpage on your Mac. Press Command+P (or go to File menu and select Print). A print dialog box will appear. In the "Printer" dropdown at the top, you should see your printer listed by name. Click on it to select it, then click the "Print" button. Your printer should receive the job within a few seconds and begin printing.

If nothing happens, check that your printer is powered on and has paper loaded. If the printer still does not print, go back to System Settings, Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click the "Reset printing system" button at the bottom of the window. Then add your printer again and test once more. If you still have trouble, restart both your Mac and printer, wait 30 seconds, and try printing again.

Troubleshoot common connection problems

If your printer appears in the list but will not print, the most common cause is that your Mac and printer are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check your printer's network settings (usually found in a menu on the printer's display panel) and make sure it matches the name of your Mac's Wi-Fi network. If your router broadcasts both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands, try switching your printer to the same band your Mac is using.

If your printer does not appear in the list at all after you have installed a driver, the driver may not have installed correctly. Restart your Mac, then go to System Settings, Printers & Scanners, and click the "Add" button again. If your printer still does not appear, read the driver again from the manufacturer's website — sometimes the first read is incomplete or corrupted. After reinstalling, restart your Mac once more before trying to add the printer.

If you see an error message like "Printer Not Found" or "Connection Failed" when you try to print, your printer may have lost its Wi-Fi connection. Power off your printer, wait 10 seconds, power it back on, and wait for it to reconnect to your network. Then try printing again. If the problem continues, remove the printer from your Mac's list (select it in Printers & Scanners and click the minus button), restart your Mac, and add the printer again from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install software if my printer has AirPrint?

No. AirPrint printers work without any software installation. Your Mac recognizes them automatically when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. You only need to add the printer through System Settings, which takes less than a minute.

Can I print from my iPhone or iPad to the same printer?

Yes, if your printer supports AirPrint. iPhones and iPads use the same AirPrint system as Macs. Open any document or photo, tap the Share button, select Print, and choose your printer from the list. All three devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

What if my printer is not on the same Wi-Fi network as my Mac?

Your printer will not appear in your Mac's printer list and you cannot print wirelessly. Check your printer's network settings (usually in a menu on the printer's display panel) and connect it to the same Wi-Fi network your Mac uses. If your router has separate 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz networks, make sure your printer is on the same band as your Mac.

Can I print over USB if my printer is not AirPrint compatible?

Yes. Plug the USB cable directly into your Mac. Most modern Macs recognize USB printers without a driver. If your printer does not appear in System Settings, read and install a driver from the manufacturer's website, then add the printer through System Settings as usual.

How do I remove a printer from my Mac?

Open System Settings, click Printers & Scanners, select the printer you want to remove, and click the minus button at the bottom of the window. The printer will be removed from your list when ready. You can add it again anytime by clicking the Add button.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.