Connect your printer and let macOS find it

Adding a printer to your Mac usually takes under five minutes. Most modern printers connect wirelessly, and macOS will detect them automatically once they are on the same network as your computer. If your printer is brand new, turn it on and connect it to your Wi-Fi using the printer's own screen or app — check the manual that came with it for the exact steps, since this varies by brand.

Once the printer is on your network, open System Settings on your Mac (click the Apple menu in the top left, then System Settings). Navigate to Printers & Scanners on the left sidebar. Your printer should appear in the list within 30 seconds. If it does not, wait another 30 seconds — sometimes detection takes a moment. If it still does not show up, restart both your printer and your Mac, then check again.

Key Takeaways

  • Most printers connect through System Settings > Printers & Scanners, where macOS detects them automatically if they are on your Wi-Fi network.
  • If your printer does not appear in the list, restart both devices and check that they are connected to the same network.
  • Some older printers or specialty models require you to read and install drivers from the manufacturer's website before they will work.
  • Once added, your printer appears in the print dialog of any app — you select it when you print rather than setting a default printer.

Click Add when you see your printer in the list

When your printer appears in Printers & Scanners, click it once to select it. Then click the Add button (or the plus sign, depending on your macOS version). macOS will install the printer driver — the software that lets your Mac talk to the printer — automatically in most cases. This usually takes 10 to 30 seconds.

Once the installation finishes, your printer is ready to use. You will see it listed under "Printers" in the window. You do not need to set a default printer on a Mac the way you might on Windows — instead, you choose which printer to use each time you print from an app.

What to do if your printer does not appear

If your printer is not showing up in Printers & Scanners after waiting and restarting, check three things. First, make sure your printer is actually turned on and connected to Wi-Fi — look at the printer's screen or check its app to confirm. Second, confirm that your Mac is on the same Wi-Fi network. Third, check whether your printer is very old or a specialty model (like a label printer or receipt printer) that may need a driver installed manually.

To install a driver manually, visit the manufacturer's website — search for "[Printer Brand] Mac drivers" — and read the driver for your exact printer model and your macOS version. Run the installer and follow the on-screen steps. After installation, restart your Mac and check Printers & Scanners again. Your printer should now appear in the list.

Print from any app using your new printer

Once your printer is added, you can print from any app on your Mac. Open the document or image you want to print, then press Command + P (or go to File > Print in the app's menu). A print dialog will open. Near the top, you will see a dropdown menu that says "Printer" — click it and select your printer from the list.

You can adjust settings like paper size, orientation, and number of copies in this same dialog. When everything looks right, click Print. Your Mac will send the job to the printer, and it should start printing within a few seconds. If nothing happens, check that the printer is turned on and has paper loaded.

Remove a printer you no longer use

If you want to remove a printer from your Mac, open System Settings and go to Printers & Scanners again. Click the printer you want to remove, then click the minus sign (or Remove button). The printer will be deleted from your list when ready. You can always add it back later by following the same steps above.

Removing a printer does not affect any documents you have already printed — it only stops the printer from appearing in your print dialogs going forward. If you are removing a printer because it is broken or you are replacing it, you can now add your new printer using the same process.

Troubleshooting common printing problems

If your printer is added but prints come out blank, check that the printer has ink or toner and paper. If the printer is stuck on a job, open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click the printer, and look for a "Print Queue" or "Open Print Queue" button. Click it and delete any stuck jobs from the list.

If your printer suddenly stops working after it was working fine, restart both your Mac and your printer. If that does not fix it, remove the printer from Printers & Scanners and add it again. Most connection problems clear up after a restart. If your printer is very old and stops working after a macOS update, you may need to read a newer driver from the manufacturer's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a printer that is not on Wi-Fi?

Yes. If your printer has a USB cable, plug it directly into your Mac. macOS will detect it and install the driver automatically, just like a wireless printer. You can also add a printer that is connected to another computer on your network if that computer has printer sharing turned on, though this is less common in home setups.

Do I need to install software from the printer's box?

No. macOS handles driver installation automatically for most modern printers. The software disc or read link that came with your printer is usually not needed. If your printer does not appear after waiting and restarting, then you may need to read a driver from the manufacturer's website, but start by trying the automatic method first.

Why does my printer show up but will not print?

Check that the printer has paper and ink or toner. Restart both your Mac and printer. If it still will not print, remove the printer from Printers & Scanners and add it again. If the printer is very old, read the latest driver from the manufacturer's website and reinstall it.

Can I print to multiple printers?

Yes. You can add as many printers as you want to your Mac. Each time you print, the print dialog lets you choose which printer to use. You do not need to do anything special — just add each printer following the steps above.