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How To Add Printer To Mac: Add Any Printer to Mac ( Step by Step Guide)

Comprehensive Guide on How to Add Printer to  Mac OS in Simple and Easy Way for any type & brands of printer.How to add printer to Mac

If you want to know how to add printer to Mac OS in any of your Mac device like MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Mini etc. then this guide would be very helpful to you. We will cover all the way of adding printer to mac. You would be able to add any printer on mac like AirPrint enabled printer, Wireless printer, Bluetooth printer & even you can add printer on mac using IP address.

 

How to Add printer to Mac: Overview

We are writing this post after seeing lots of confusion & curiosity around the internet about How to Add printer to Mac? lots of Mac user searching around this topic that is why we decided to write a most comprehensive guide.

Whether you are a new Mac user or you have never installed a printer before, you just need to read this guide to help you add your printer to mac. Adding a new printer to Mac can be very easy or it can be a bit technical. That depends on so many factors

There are many ways to add a printer to Mac. Printers can be broadly divided into two types – wired and network printers. How to add printer to mac depends on the kind of printer you are using. No matter what printer brand you have like HP printer, Epson Printer, Canon Printer, Brother Printer etc. In this blog we will help you install that printer on your Mac OS. If you are searching any query as mentioned below or any anything related to How to add printer to Mac, You will be able to add your printer with ease.

How to add printer to:  Macbook, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, Mac with USB, Mac with ip address, Mac with USB, Mac network printer

How to add: Airprint Enabled printer to Mac, wifi printer to Mac, wireless printer to Mac, canon printer to Mac, Hp printer to Mac, Brother printer to Mac, Epson printer to Mac

We will start with most easiest method, if your printer is Airprint Enabled.

 

Adding AirPrint Enabled Printer To Mac

If you are using an AirPrint enabled printer then you do not need to bother much about installing or adding a printer to your Mac OS. AirPrint automatically detects your Mac operating system and perform all installation related task automatically.

Adding an AirPrint enabled printer makes printer behave like a plug and play device.

AirPrint is a technology developed by Apple Inc. to accommodate maximum number of printers and make it easy for the Apple users to use a printer. Originally this technology was developed for iOS devices and iPhone users to enable to print through their devices.

This technology supports more than 1100 printers. It makes it easy for user to add printers to Mac without downloading or updating any software. Here you can find list of AirPrint enabled printers.

Also Read:- How To Open Flash Drive On Mac: For All Mac Models (USER GUIDE)

 

How to Use AirPrint Enabled Printer on Mac OS

If you are using a wired printer perform the following

  1. Connect USB cable with the Mac
  2. Open the document that you want to print
  3. Go to the File menu and choose print or Press command + P
  4. Now the Printer window will open
  5. This is the first time that your Mac will detect the Printer on your computer
  6. And assign it the printing job.

For wireless Printers

  1. Connect your wifi printer to the wifi network at your home or office
  2. Go to Wifi Network in Mac
  3. Select the printer to add it to your OS

Now, when you will select the document to print, it will automatically assign the wifi printer for printing the document.

All major printers from leading printer brands like HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, etc. are supported by AirPrint. If you are using a popular printer than most probably it will have the AirPrint inside it.

Don’t worry if your printer does not support AirPrint. Just read the article to know other methods to  adding printer to your mac.

 

How to Add Printer to Mac: Wired via USB Cable

A wired printer is a printer with USB cable. This printer does not have any network or wireless capacities. It uses the universal serial bus or USB to communicate with the computer.

Read the instructions in manual book of the printer to figure out the correct port for USB cable on your printer and Mac computer.  Follow these steps below.

  1. Go to System Preferences.
    System Preferenes MacOS
  2. Update any listed softwares.
  3. Turn on the printer
  4. Connect the USB cable on the printer and MacOS
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    Note: If your Pinter is not Airprint enabled then you need to install driver for your printer from printer manufacture website.
  5. go to the printer and scanner under the system preference.
    Printers And Scanners Option Under system preferences MacOS
  6. then click on Add button (+)
  7. If you see any instructions to download drivers then follow the instructions

That’s it. You have successfully installed wired printer on your Mac. Now you should be able to use the printer to print documents. Read further to know more about adding printer to Mac for different types of printers.

Note: This guide can help you add any brand wired printer like Hp printer, Canon printer, Epson printer, Brother printer to mac with USB Cable.

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How to Add Printer to Mac: Adding a Network (wireless) Printer

A network printer is commonly known as a wifi printer. Technically it is called as a network printer because it is attached to the computer via a network. Perform the below-given steps to install and use the wifi printer on Mac OS

  1. Turn on Your Mac Wifi Network and Network Printer
  2. Add your printer to the wifi network
    1. Connect the Wifi printer to the Mac with the USB cable provided
    2. Install the Printer Setup Assistant from the printer to Mac
    3. Start the Printer Setup Assistant on Mac
    4. Follow the on screen instructions to connect printer to the wifi network
  3. Go to System and Preferences in Mac computer
  4. Navigate to the Printers and Scanners section
  5. Your Printer should be listed there
  6. Choose the printer and Click on the Add button

Now you are ready to use the wifi or wireless printer on your Mac computer or laptop. See the next section if you want to know how to add printer to Mac with IP address. If you need further instructions on this then read exclusive post on How To Add Wireless Printer To Mac.

Note: This guide can help you add any brand wireless printer like Hp printer, Canon printer, Epson printer, Brother printer to mac 

How to Add Printer to Mac with IP Address Option

We can also add a network or wifi printer to the Mac by using its IP address. This is a completely manual option. But don’t worry, our guide here will help you add printer to Mac with IP address option.

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Note: Some printers connected with IP address may offer limited functionality.

Printers need to support one of the four protocols including HP Jet Direct protocol, Line Printer Daemon Protocol, AirPrint Protocol or Internet Printing Protocol.

Add printer to your wifi network

  1. Insert the USB cable on Printer and Mac
  2. Install PSA or Printer Setup Assistant on Mac
  3. Start PSA and follow the instructions to connect to the network
  1. Now Remove the USB cable
  2. On Mac go to System Preferences > Printers and Scanners
  3. At the bottom of Printer list
  4. Click on the + icon.
    + icon in printer list under system preferences MacOS
  5. Enter the IP address of the printer (see the printer).
    Enter IP address to add printer to Mac

 

  1. Now click on the Protocol Pop-up menu
  2. Choose one of the printing Protocols
  3. We recommend choosing IPP or Internet Printing Protocol as most of the modern computers support it.
    Choosing Internet printing protocol in MacOS
  4. If you are using an old printer than you must choose Line Printer Daemon Protocol
  5. If the other two Protocols do not work for your printer then try selecting the other two options one by one
  6. Your printer must support any one of four options
  1. Enter the Queue name, location and name for the printer.
    Enter Queue name for printer in MacOS
  2. Select the drivers for the printer from the pop-up menu which appears
  3. If the Pop-up does not shows any drivers then
  4. Click on the Select Printer Software or Driver option.
  5. Select the Brand of your printer and Mac will automatically download the appropriate software

 

If your printer is not listed in this list then you have to manually download the printer software or driver for Mac OS. Perform the below-given steps in case you have to manually download the printer driver.

  1. Open the Safari on Mac
  2. Go to the official website of your printer
  3. Go to the Drivers or Download section
  4. Choose the model of your printer there
  5. Select the appropriate version of Mac OS
  6. Click on Download

Mac will automatically install the printer driver upon download.

Note: You can add any brand printer like Hp printer, Canon printer, Epson printer, Brother printer to mac with printer IP address.

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How to Add Printer to Mac: Bluetooth Printer

Modern printers also come with Bluetooth installed inside them. Such printers can also be required to have installed on the Mac. Most recent Mac OS X versions come with Bluetooth installed on them. For other previous Mac versions, you have to use a Bluetooth adapter.

Perform the following steps to add Bluetooth printer to Mac

  1. Turn on the Bluetooth on Mac
  2. Turn on the printer
  3. Follow the steps in the printer manual to start Bluetooth on the printer
  4. Add the printer to the Bluetooth on computer
  5. Go to System Preferences à Printers and Scanners
  6. Click on the Default button
  7. Select the Printer and then click the Add button
  8. Now the Mac OS will show a message to download software
  9. Make sure to download the software

Note: You add any brand Bluetooth printer like Hp printer, Canon printer, Epson printer, Brother printer to mac with the help of this guide.

 

Once you have added your printer to Mac with any of the above method, now it is mandatory to  keep your printer driver updated so that you printer will be running without any glitch. We are covering how to update printer driver on Mac? in this post so that you will not have any problem in future.

 

How to Update Printer Driver on Mac

If you are using an old printer then it is possible that the drivers you have installed on your Mac have become outdated. You may also need to download drivers in case original drivers have become corrupt due to some reason.

Before installing the printer driver on the Mac OS we will need to download the driver software on the computer. For this, we have to visit the official website of the printer. In the website you will see a section named Drivers or Downloads.

Visit that section and search for the updated drivers for your printer. Search with printer model name and number.

Once you have downloaded the drivers on Mac follow the below given steps

  1. Turn off the printer
  2. Restart your computer
  3. Now power up the printer and wait for 2 minutes
  4. Connect the printer with the computer and wait for Mac to detect it
  5. Go to the folder where you have downloaded or saved the drivers
  6. Double click on the dmg file on your printer
  7. Mount the updated Driver to the location of drivers
  8. Follow the on screen instructions

After finishing the instructions, updated drivers will be installed on Mac. To test the successful installation you should test the printer by printing a document. If the printer does not prints than you should carefully repeat the above given steps.

 

Tips to Avoid Problems with Printers on Mac

Once you have added printer or scanner to mac, you can use them to print and scan documents. Taking care of small things can make your printer using experience hassle free. Follow the below tips to avoid problems with printers and scanners on Mac.

  • Keep the printer clean from inside and outside
  • Use the printer frequently to avoid Cartridge ink dry up
  • Properly align the head of the printer once in a month
  • Use high quality ink
  • Do not give too long printing instructions at once
  • Avoid Printing continuously for hours
  • Do not put heavy loads on the top of the printer
  • Avoid keeping the printer in exposure of heat
  • Do not place the printer in front of a cooler or table fan or near the AC

 

Contact Official Printer Support 

The above guide must be sufficient for you to add printer to Mac. You should be now be able to  add printer to mac. If you still face some problem with installation of your printer on your Mac OS, then you should contact the official support website of the printer you are using.

Alternatively you can also visit Mac support website.

 

Final Words: Conclusion

Installing a printer on Mac could be difficult for new users. Even experienced users can find it difficult sometimes for technical reasons. We have covered all aspects related to how to add printer to Mac in this guide and kept it simple and easy to understand.

Do let us know, if this guide has helped you. You can leave your comment about your experience. Please like & share this post to help others.

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