The fastest way: use AirPrint if your printer supports it

If your printer is AirPrint-compatible, adding it to your Mac takes about 30 seconds. AirPrint is Apple's wireless printing standard, and most modern printers from HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, and Xerox support it. Your Mac and printer just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), then select Printers & Scanners on the left sidebar. Click the + button at the bottom of the printer list. Your Mac will scan for available printers on the network. Select your printer from the list and click Add. That's it — your printer is ready to use.

To check if your printer supports AirPrint, look at the printer's manual or visit the manufacturer's website and search for your model number plus "AirPrint". Most printers made in the last five years do.

Key Takeaways

  • AirPrint printers connect automatically once you add them in System Settings — no driver software needed.
  • Non-AirPrint printers require you to download and install the manufacturer's printer driver before your Mac can see them.
  • Your printer and Mac must be on the same Wi-Fi network, or connected via USB cable, for the Mac to detect it.
  • If your printer doesn't appear in the list, restart both the printer and your Mac, then try adding it again.

Adding a non-AirPrint printer with a driver

If your printer doesn't support AirPrint — usually older models or specialty printers — you'll need to install the manufacturer's printer driver. A driver is software that tells your Mac how to communicate with the printer.

Visit the manufacturer's website (HP.com, Canon.com, Brother.com, Epson.com, or Xerox.com). Search for your printer model, then look for a "Drivers" or "Downloads" section. Select macOS as your operating system and download the driver package. Open the downloaded file and follow the installer's instructions — it will typically ask you to restart your Mac when finished.

Once the driver is installed, go back to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click the + button, and your printer should now appear in the list. Select it and click Add.

Connecting a printer with a USB cable

If your printer has a USB port and you prefer a wired connection, plug the USB cable directly into your Mac. For AirPrint printers, your Mac should recognize it immediately — no additional steps needed. For non-AirPrint printers, install the driver first (following the steps above), then plug in the USB cable.

Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click the + button, and your printer should appear. Select it and click Add. USB connections are useful if your Wi-Fi is unreliable or if you want a dedicated connection for high-volume printing.

What to do if your printer doesn't appear in the list

First, make sure your printer is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac (or plugged in via USB). Check your printer's display panel or settings menu to confirm it's connected to Wi-Fi — some printers show a Wi-Fi icon when connected.

Restart both your printer and your Mac. Turn off the printer completely, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. Restart your Mac by going to Apple menu > Restart. Once both devices are back on, return to System Settings > Printers & Scanners and click the + button again.

If your printer still doesn't appear and it's not an AirPrint model, download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer's website. Sometimes an outdated or missing driver prevents your Mac from detecting the printer. After installing the driver, restart your Mac and try adding the printer again.

Setting a default printer

Once you've added one or more printers, you can choose which one your Mac uses by default when you print. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, then look for the Default printer dropdown menu at the top of the window. Select the printer you want to use most often.

When you print from any application, your Mac will automatically select this default printer. You can always change it for a single print job by opening the print dialog (usually File > Print or Command + P) and selecting a different printer from the dropdown before clicking Print.

Removing a printer you no longer use

Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer you want to remove from the list on the left, then click the − button at the bottom. The printer is now removed from your Mac.

If you installed a driver for that printer and want to remove it completely, you'll need to uninstall the driver separately. Some manufacturers provide an uninstaller application in the driver package, or you can manually delete the printer driver files from your Mac's Library folder — but this is rarely necessary unless you're running low on storage space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install anything for an AirPrint printer?

No. AirPrint printers work with just the built-in software on your Mac. You only need to add the printer once in System Settings, and then you can print to it from any application. No driver download or installation is required.

My printer is on Wi-Fi but my Mac can't find it. What's wrong?

Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network — check your printer's settings menu to confirm. Restart both the printer and your Mac. If it's a non-AirPrint printer, download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer's website, then restart your Mac and try again.

Can I print from my Mac to a printer at someone else's house?

Only if you're on the same Wi-Fi network. Once you leave that network, your Mac won't be able to reach the printer. If you need to print remotely, some printers support cloud printing through the manufacturer's app or service, but this requires setting it up in advance on the printer itself.

What's the difference between adding a printer and installing a driver?

Adding a printer tells your Mac where to find it on the network or via USB. A driver is software that translates your print commands into a language the printer understands. AirPrint printers don't need a separate driver because macOS includes built-in support. Non-AirPrint printers require you to install the driver first.

If I have multiple printers, do I have to choose one as the default?

No, but setting a default saves you a step. If you don't set a default, your Mac will remember whichever printer you used last and suggest it the next time you print. You can always pick a different printer in the print dialog before sending your job.