How to Add a Printer to a Mac

The Era of Driverless Printing

Historically, setting up a new printer was one of the most frustrating tasks in consumer technology. You had to use a CD-ROM to install bloated software, navigate confusing driver menus, and connect clunky USB cables.

Today, Apple has almost entirely eliminated this friction using a technology called AirPrint. Built directly into macOS, AirPrint allows your computer to communicate with almost any modern printer instantly over a Wi-Fi network, completely removing the need to download third-party drivers or software.

As long as you own a printer manufactured within the last decade, adding it to your Mac takes less than 60 seconds.

Step 1: The Wi-Fi Requirement (Crucial)

The single most important rule of wireless printing on a Mac is this: Your Mac and your printer must be connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network.

If your computer is connected to “Home_Network_5G” and your printer is connected to “Home_Network_2.4G”, they will not be able to talk to each other.

1. Turn on your printer.
2. Use the small LCD screen on the printer itself to navigate to its Wi-Fi or Network settings.
3. Connect the printer to your home Wi-Fi network, ensuring you enter the correct password.
4. Check the Wi-Fi icon in the top right corner of your Mac to confirm you are connected to the identical network.

Step 2: How to Add a Wireless Printer on a Mac

Once both devices are sharing the same network, macOS will do all the heavy lifting.

1. Click the Apple Logo in the extreme top left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings from the dropdown menu. (On older Macs, this is called System Preferences).
3. Scroll down the left-hand sidebar and click on Printers & Scanners.
4. Click the Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax… button on the right side of the window.
5. A new window will pop up. Your Mac will automatically scan the local network for compatible devices. Within a few seconds, the name of your printer (e.g., “HP Envy 6000” or “Brother HL-L2350DW”) should appear in the list.
6. Click on the name of your printer to highlight it.
7. Look at the “Use:” dropdown menu at the bottom of the window. Ensure it says Secure AirPrint or simply AirPrint. (If it says “Auto Select,” that is also fine).
8. Click the Add button in the bottom right corner.

Your Mac will quickly configure the connection. Once finished, the printer will appear in your Devices list, showing a green circle with the word “Idle,” meaning it is online and ready to print.

How to Add a Printer Using a USB Cable

If you have an older printer that does not support Wi-Fi, or if your home internet is currently down, you can still rely on a physical wired connection.

1. Connect the printer to a power outlet and turn it on.
2. Plug the printer’s USB cable directly into your Mac. (If you have a newer MacBook, you may need a USB-C to USB-A adapter hub, as modern Macs only have small oval ports).
3. In most cases, macOS will instantly detect the USB connection and add the printer automatically in the background. You do not need to do anything else.
4. If it does not add automatically, go to Apple Logo > System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
5. Click Add Printer, and you should see the “USB” connection listed next to the printer’s name. Click Add.

What If My Printer Is Not Showing Up?

If your Mac cannot find the wireless printer during the scanning phase, it is almost always a network issue.

• Restart everything: Unplug your Wi-Fi router, turn off your printer, and restart your Mac. Plug the router back in, wait two minutes, turn the printer back on, and try again. This flushes the network cache and usually solves the problem.
• Check the IP Address: If the printer still won’t appear, find the printer’s IP address (usually found by printing a Network Configuration page from the printer’s menu). In the “Add Printer” window on your Mac, click the IP tab (the globe icon) at the top, and manually type the IP address into the address bar to force a direct connection.
• Download Manufacturer Drivers: If you are using a very old legacy printer that predates AirPrint, you may need to visit the manufacturer’s website (HP, Epson, Canon, Brother), search for your specific model, and manually download the macOS driver package.