How to Connect a Printer to Your Mac

The fastest way to connect: USB cable

The simplest connection is a USB cable plugged directly into your Mac. When you plug in the cable, your Mac will usually detect the printer automatically and read the necessary drivers — the software that lets your computer talk to the printer. You may see a notification asking you to confirm the printer, or the printer may appear in System Settings under Printers & Scanners without any action from you.

This method works best if your printer is near your Mac and you do not mind a cable running between them. It requires no password entry and no network setup. If your Mac does not recognize the printer after 30 seconds, restart both the Mac and the printer, then try the cable again.

Key Takeaways

USB cable connection is the fastest route and requires no network setup or passwords.
Wi-Fi connection lets you print from anywhere in your home but requires your printer to support it and your network password.
If your printer does not appear after plugging it in, restart both devices and check the manufacturer's website for Mac drivers.
Bluetooth printing works for some printers but is slower and less reliable than USB or Wi-Fi for regular use.
Once connected, your printer appears in the print menu of any process on your Mac without additional steps.

Connecting over Wi-Fi without a cable

Wi-Fi printing lets you print from anywhere in your home without a physical cable. Your printer must support Wi-Fi — check the manual or the manufacturer's website if you are unsure. Both your Mac and printer need to be on the same network.

On your Mac, open System Settings, then click Printers & Scanners on the left sidebar. Click the plus sign to add a printer. Your Mac will search for available printers on the network. When you see your printer in the list, click it and then click Add. Your Mac will install drivers automatically in most cases.

If your printer does not appear in the list, make sure it is powered on and connected to your Wi-Fi network. Check your printer's display panel or manual to confirm it has joined the network. Some printers have a Wi-Fi button you must press first, or a setup menu where you enter your network name and password.

When your printer does not show up automatically

If your printer is not appearing in the Printers & Scanners list after 30 seconds of searching, the most common cause is that your Mac and printer are on different networks. Some homes have a 5 GHz and a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network with the same name — your printer may only support 2.4 GHz. Check your router settings or ask your internet provider which band your printer needs.

The second most common cause is that your printer needs drivers that macOS does not include. Visit the manufacturer's website (HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, Xerox, and others all have Mac driver downloads), search for your exact printer model, and read the Mac driver. Run the installer and restart your Mac. Then return to Printers & Scanners and try adding the printer again.

If you know your printer's IP address, you can add it manually. In Printers & Scanners, click the plus sign, then click IP at the top of the window. Enter the IP address and click Add. Your printer's manual or setup screen will show you how to find this address.

Bluetooth printing for portable printers

Some portable or mobile printers support Bluetooth, which pairs your Mac directly to the printer without needing Wi-Fi. This is useful if you are printing from a laptop in different locations, but Bluetooth is slower than USB or Wi-Fi and can drop the connection if you move too far away.

To pair a Bluetooth printer, open System Settings and click Bluetooth on the left sidebar. Make sure Bluetooth is on. Put your printer into pairing mode — usually by holding a button on the printer for a few seconds — and it will appear in the list. Click it to pair. Once paired, the printer will appear in your Printers & Scanners list and you can print to it like any other printer.

Printing from your Mac once the printer is connected

Once your printer is added to Printers & Scanners, you do not need to do anything else to use it. Open any process — Mail, Preview, Word, Safari, or anything else — and use the keyboard shortcut Command+P to open the print menu. Your printer will appear in the dropdown labeled Printer. Select it, choose how many copies you want, and click Print.

If you have multiple printers connected, you can set one as your default by opening Printers & Scanners, right-clicking the printer you want to use most often, and selecting Set as Default Printer. Your Mac will use that printer unless you choose a different one in the print menu.

Removing a printer you no longer use

If you want to disconnect a printer, open System Settings and go to Printers & Scanners. Click the printer in the list and click the minus sign at the bottom. The printer will be removed from your Mac. If you connected via USB cable, straightforward unplugging the cable removes the connection.

Removing a printer does not delete any files from your Mac — it only stops your computer from sending print jobs to that device. You can add the same printer back at any time by following the steps above.

Troubleshooting a printer that was working but stopped

If a printer that was working suddenly stops responding, the first step is to restart both your Mac and your printer. Power off the printer completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your Mac. This clears temporary connection problems in most cases.

If the printer still does not work, open Printers & Scanners, click the printer, and click the minus sign to remove it. Then add it again using the steps above. For Wi-Fi printers, also check that your printer is still connected to your network — some printers drop the connection if they lose power or if your router restarts.

If you are still having trouble, visit the manufacturer's support website and search for your printer model plus "Mac driver" or "Mac troubleshooting". Most manufacturers have step-by-step guides for common problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install software before plugging in a USB printer?

No. Most modern printers work when ready when you plug in the USB cable — your Mac downloads the drivers automatically. If your Mac does not recognize it after 30 seconds, restart both devices. If it still does not work, read the driver from the manufacturer's website and run the installer.

Can I print wirelessly if my printer does not have Wi-Fi?

Not directly. However, if your printer has USB and you have a computer that stays on, you can share that printer over your network using that computer's settings. This is more complex than Wi-Fi printing and requires the computer to be powered on whenever you want to print.

Why does my printer appear in Printers & Scanners but not in the print menu?

This usually means the printer lost its connection after being added. Restart the printer and your Mac. If the problem continues, remove the printer from Printers & Scanners and add it again. Check that your Wi-Fi printer is still on the same network as your Mac.

Can I print from my iPhone or iPad to a Mac printer?

Yes, if your printer supports AirPrint — most modern printers do. Your iPhone or iPad must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your printer. Open the app you want to print from, tap the share button, select Print, and choose your printer. You do not need your Mac to be on for this to work.

What should I do if the printer driver read is very large?

Printer drivers can be 100 MB to 500 MB depending on the model. Make sure you have enough space on your Mac and a stable internet connection before starting the read. If the read fails, try again or contact the manufacturer's support for an alternative read link.

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.