How to Add a Printer to Your Mac - A Step-by-Step Guide

Macs and MacOS
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While printing is an essential part of business, printers are a nightmare to set up and could be better for someone just beginning their printing business. However, knowing the steps can simplify setting up a printer.

This article will deal with how to add a printer to Mac, whether the desktop or laptop variant. You must read carefully below, as one mistake will ruin your work and make you start all over again.

How to add Printer to Mac

How to add printer to Mac? If you want to connect your Mac to a wireless printer, you can do so by either using the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Set-up) or Bluetooth. You may do the following steps for either of the following options:

How to Add Printer to Mac by WPS

Connecting through WPS can require you to access your router and press the Wireless button. It may also read as Wi-Fi, depending on your router. After doing that, do the following:

  1. Open your Mac computer and click on the Apple icon on the top left of the screen.
  2. Click on System Preferences.
  3. Click the Printers and Scanners option if you are using the latest Mac; on older models, you may have to click on Print & Scan.
  4. Click on the plus sign just below the printer’s list. If you are using an older Mac version, click on Add Printer or Scanner after clicking the plus sign.
  5. Choose the printer you want to add. Your Mac will display the list of printers on the network in the Default tab.
  6. Select the printer’s software or driver through the Use menu to choose the AirPrint option, a native one by Apple itself for AirPrint compatible Wi-Fi printers, or Auto-Select if you want to download the correct drivers for your printer. You may also select your printer’s name instead.
  7. Once you have chosen, click on Add. Finally, click Add.

How to add printer to Mac? With these steps, your printer will be successfully added to your Mac computer through WPS. You may see it on the list in the Print & Scan menu.

How to Add Printer to Mac by USB

If you have a printer that is not Wi-Fi compatible, you may add it to your Mac computer through USB by following the steps below:

  1. Connect your printer’s USB to your Mac computer (Desktop PC or Laptop). Note: Your drivers, in most cases, will be automatically downloaded, and you will be ready to use your printer. If it doesn’t work, then continue.
  2. Click on the Apple icon.
  3. Click System Preferences.
  4. Click Printers and Scanners (Print & Scan under Hardware in older Mac models).
  5. Click the plus (+) sign just below the list of printers.
  6. Choose the printer you want to add in the Default tab; your Mac will automatically show a list of printers and the one you have connected by USB.
  7. Once you have selected. Click on Add.

How to add printer to Mac? Your printer will be successfully added to your Mac computer through these steps.

How to Add Printer to Mac by IP Address

If you are not willing to use either of the two methods listed above and are instead interested in connecting your printer via printer, then you may follow the simple steps below:

  1. Click on the Apple icon.
  2. Click System Preferences.
  3. Click Printers and Scanners (or Print & Scan under the Hardware tab depending on your Mac model).
  4. Click on the plus (+) sign at the bottom of the list of printers.
  5. Click the IP icon (blue globe).
  6. Simply type the IP address of your printer in the Address text field. Your Mac will automatically look for your printer and add it.
  7. Select the print driver you want to use in the Use dropdown menu.
  8. Click on Add.

These steps will successfully add your printer to your Mac via IP Address.

Conclusion

You learn how to add printer to Mac? in this article. You may follow the above three methods to add your printer to your Mac laptop or desktop. If you have any questions, don’t forget to comment below!

FAQs

Why Doesn’t My Printer Show Up On My Mac Computer?

If your printer doesn’t show up on your Mac device, check if it is on the same network, whether it has turned off or if the printer drivers have somehow been uninstalled. You may also restart your computer and connect the printer via USB to check if it works.

What is an AirPrint printer?

AirPrint is an Apple branded technology exclusive to the iOS products such as iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Through this, you can even easily use your iPhone to make a printout from an AirPrint enabled printer.

Is Every Printer An AirPrint?

If your printer lacks Wi-Fi, it won’t have the AirPrint feature. Due to this reason, not all printers can have the AirPrint technology, as most are found only in Wi-Fi-enabled printers.