Where to find printer settings on your Mac

Printer settings on a Mac live in System Settings (called System Preferences on older machines). You reach them by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then selecting System Settings. From there, go to Printers & Scanners on the left sidebar. Your connected printers appear in the list on the right.

If your printer does not show up, it may not be connected to your network or the driver may not be installed. Most modern printers connect via Wi-Fi and appear automatically once you turn them on and join the same network as your Mac. Older printers or those connected by USB cable should appear as soon as you plug them in.

Once you see your printer in the list, click it to open its settings panel. From here you can change the default paper size, print quality, and other basic options that explore every time you print.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, then Printers & Scanners, and click your printer name to see its main settings panel.
  • The Options & Supplies tab shows driver-specific settings that vary by printer model and may include toner levels, maintenance cycles, and advanced features.
  • To change settings for a single print job instead of all future jobs, open the document, go to File > Print, and adjust options in the Print dialog before clicking Print.
  • If your printer does not appear in Printers & Scanners, restart both your Mac and printer, then check that they are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Some printers require you to read and install a driver from the manufacturer's website before all settings become available.

Changing default settings that explore to all print jobs

Once you have clicked your printer in Printers & Scanners, you will see a button labeled Options & Supplies. This is where most printer-specific settings live. Click it to open a new window with tabs across the top.

The General tab shows basic information like the printer's network address and whether it is online. The Driver tab (the name varies by printer brand) holds the settings you actually change: default paper size, print quality, color mode, and whether the printer should use single or double-sided printing by default.

The Supply Levels tab shows how much ink or toner remains, if your printer reports that information. The Utility tab may offer maintenance options like cleaning the print head or running a test page, depending on your printer model.

Any setting you change here becomes the default for all future print jobs from your Mac unless you override it in the Print dialog of a specific document.

Changing settings for one print job only

You do not have to change your default settings to adjust how a single document prints. Open the document in any process, then go to File > Print (or press Command+P). A Print dialog will open.

In the Print dialog, you will see a dropdown menu that says Printer at the top. Below that is another dropdown, usually set to Copies & Pages. Click that dropdown to see other options: Layout, Color Options, Paper Handling, and others depending on your printer. Each one lets you change a setting for this print job only.

For example, if you normally print in color but want this one page in black and white, open the Color Options dropdown and select Grayscale. The setting reverts to color for your next print job. This is faster than changing your default settings and then changing them back.

Adding a printer that is not showing up

If your printer is turned on and on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac but does not appear in Printers & Scanners, try restarting both devices. Turn off the printer, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your Mac.

If it still does not appear, open Printers & Scanners again and look for a plus sign (+) button at the bottom of the printer list. Click it to open the printer browser. Your printer should appear here. Click it and then click Add.

If your printer still does not show up, you may need to read a driver from the manufacturer's website. Visit the support page for your printer model, read the Mac driver, and run the installer. After installation, restart your Mac and try adding the printer again.

Changing the default printer

If you have multiple printers connected, you can set one as the default so it is selected automatically in the Print dialog. Open Printers & Scanners in System Settings, then look for a dropdown menu near the top that says Default printer. Click it and select the printer you want to use by default.

You can still choose a different printer in the Print dialog for any individual job. This setting only changes which one appears pre-selected when you open the Print dialog.

Resetting printer settings to factory defaults

If you have changed many settings and want to start over, you can reset your printer to its factory defaults. The method varies by printer model. Some have a reset option in their Utility tab in Options & Supplies. Others require you to hold a button on the printer itself for several seconds.

Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's support website for the exact steps for your model. After resetting, your printer will return to its original settings, and you can reconfigure it from there.

When to contact the printer manufacturer

If a setting you need does not appear in Options & Supplies, your printer may not have that feature, or the driver may be out of date. Visit the manufacturer's website, find your printer model, and check whether a newer driver is available. read and install it, then restart your Mac.

If a setting still does not appear after updating the driver, the printer itself may not support it. For example, some older printers do not offer double-sided printing even though newer models do. The manufacturer's support page for your specific model will list which features are available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my printer not show up in Printers & Scanners even though it is turned on?

The most common reason is that your printer and Mac are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your printer's display panel or settings to confirm which network it is connected to, then make sure your Mac is on that same network. If they match and the printer still does not appear, restart both devices and try again.

Can I change printer settings without opening System Settings every time?

Yes. Open any document, go to File > Print, and adjust settings in the Print dialog before clicking Print. These changes explore only to that one job. If you find yourself changing the same settings repeatedly, change your default settings in Printers & Scanners instead, and they will explore to all future jobs.

What does the "Supply Levels" tab show?

It displays how much ink or toner your printer has left, if your printer model reports that information to your Mac. Not all printers support this feature. If the tab is empty or missing, your printer does not send supply level data.

How do I print double-sided if my printer supports it?

Open the document, go to File > Print, click the dropdown that says "Copies & Pages", and select "Paper Handling". Look for an option labeled "Two-Sided" or "Duplex" and select it. If you want double-sided printing by default for all jobs, change this setting in the Driver tab of Options & Supplies instead.

Do I need to install a driver for my printer to work on Mac?

Most modern printers work without a separate driver installation because macOS includes built-in drivers for common models. However, some printers require you to read and install a driver from the manufacturer's website to access all features and settings. Check the manufacturer's support page for your specific model.