How to Add a Printer to Your Mac in Four Steps

The fastest way: use AirPrint if your printer supports it

If your printer has an AirPrint label on the box or manual, your Mac will find it automatically without any software installation. Turn on the printer, make sure it is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac, then open System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Click the plus button, select your printer from the list, and click Add. That is the entire process — no drivers, no downloads, no restarts.

AirPrint works because Apple built the printer language directly into macOS. Your Mac and printer speak to each other without a middleman. Most modern printers from Canon, HP, Epson, Brother, and Xerox support it. If you see your printer listed in Printers & Scanners within 30 seconds of turning it on, you have an AirPrint printer and you are done.

Key Takeaways

AirPrint printers appear automatically in System Settings > Printers & Scanners and need no software installation.
For older or specialty printers without AirPrint, read the manufacturer's driver from their support website, not from a third-party site.
USB printers require the driver installed first, then the printer plugged in; network printers need the driver installed, then you add them through Printers & Scanners.
After adding any printer, test it by opening a document and choosing File > Print to confirm it appears in the printer list.

Adding a USB printer when AirPrint is not available

If your printer does not support AirPrint, you will need the manufacturer's driver. Go to the printer maker's support website — for example, hp.com/support or canon.com/support — search for your exact printer model, and read the macOS driver. Do not read from a third-party driver site; those often bundle unwanted software.

Install the driver by opening the downloaded file and following the on-screen steps. You may need to restart your Mac. Once the restart is complete, plug the printer into your Mac using a USB cable. Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click the plus button, and your printer should appear in the list. Click Add. If it does not appear, wait 10 seconds and try again — sometimes the Mac needs a moment to recognize the USB connection.

Adding a network printer without AirPrint

Network printers connect to your Wi-Fi instead of a USB cable. First, read and install the driver from the manufacturer's website the same way you would for a USB printer. Restart your Mac when prompted.

Next, connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. Most printers have a menu button on the front panel where you can select your network and enter the password. Some printers have a WPS button that lets you connect by pressing a button on your router instead. Check your printer's manual for the exact steps — this part varies widely by model.

Once the printer is on your Wi-Fi, open System Settings > Printers & Scanners and click the plus button. Your printer should appear in the list. If it does not, click the dropdown menu at the top that says "Default" and select "Show All Printers". If your printer still does not appear, try typing its IP address manually — you can find this in the printer's menu under Network Settings or Wi-Fi Status.

Troubleshooting when your printer does not appear

If your printer is not showing up in Printers & Scanners, first check that it is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. Open your Mac's Wi-Fi menu and your printer's menu and confirm they are both on the same network name — sometimes a printer connects to a guest network by mistake.

Restart both the printer and your Mac. Turn off the printer completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your Mac. This clears temporary connection problems that prevent the Mac from seeing the printer.

If you installed a driver and the printer still does not appear, the driver may not have installed correctly. Open Applications > Utilities > System Information, click Software, and look for your printer's name in the list. If it is not there, uninstall the driver by going back to the manufacturer's website, downloading the uninstaller tool if they provide one, or manually deleting the printer software from Applications. Then read and install the driver again.

Testing your printer after you add it

After adding your printer, test it before you need it for something important. Open any document — a web page, a text file, anything — and press Command+P to open the print dialog. Look for your printer's name in the dropdown menu at the top. If you see it, your printer is ready. Click Print and watch the printer to confirm a page comes out.

If the printer does not appear in the print dialog even though it appeared in Printers & Scanners, the driver may not be fully loaded. Restart your Mac and try again. If it still does not work, remove the printer from Printers & Scanners by clicking the minus button, restart, and add it again.

Removing a printer you no longer use

Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer you want to remove, and click the minus button. The printer is now removed from your Mac. If you installed a driver for that printer and you do not plan to use it again, you can uninstall the driver to free up space. Go to Applications and look for a folder with the printer maker's name — for example, "HP" or "Canon" — and drag it to the Trash.

Removing a printer this way does not affect any other printers you have added. Your Mac will continue to remember the other printers in your Printers & Scanners list, and you can still print to them normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install anything for an AirPrint printer?

No. AirPrint printers work without any software. Your Mac has the driver built in. Just turn on the printer, make sure it is on your Wi-Fi, and add it through Printers & Scanners.

Where do I find my printer's IP address?

On most printers, press the menu or settings button on the front panel and look for Network Settings, Wi-Fi Status, or TCP/IP. The IP address is usually listed there. You can also print a network configuration page from the printer's menu, which will show the IP address.

Can I use a printer on a different Wi-Fi network than my Mac?

No. Your Mac and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network to communicate. If your printer is on a guest network and your Mac is on the main network, they cannot see each other. Connect both to the same network.

What if the printer driver is not available for my Mac?

Check whether your printer is very old or uses an unusual operating system. Visit the manufacturer's support page and search for your exact model. If no macOS driver exists, the printer may not be compatible with your Mac. You can try adding it as a generic printer through Printers & Scanners, but it may not work correctly.

Do I need to add the printer again if I restart my Mac?

No. Once you add a printer, your Mac remembers it. Even after a restart, the printer will still be in your Printers & Scanners list and available when you print.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.