The fastest way: use AirPrint if your printer supports it
Most modern printers work with AirPrint, which means your Mac can find and use them without installing anything. If your printer is made in the last five years and cost more than $100, it almost certainly has AirPrint built in. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to confirm — search for your model number plus "AirPrint".
Turn on your printer and make sure it is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. On your Mac, open the document or photo you want to print. Press Command+P (or go to File > Print). A window will open showing nearby printers. Your printer should appear in the list. Click it, then click Print. That is the entire process.
If your printer does not appear in the list after 30 seconds, restart your printer and try again. If it still does not show up, your printer may not be on Wi-Fi, or it may be on a different network than your Mac. Check that both devices are connected to the same network name in your Wi-Fi settings.
Key Takeaways
- AirPrint printers need no software installation — your Mac finds them automatically if they are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- If your printer is older or does not support AirPrint, you will need to read and install printer software from the manufacturer's website.
- The printer must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi before your Mac can see it.
- If a printer stops working after a macOS update, reinstalling the printer software usually fixes the problem.
Installing printer software for older or specialty printers
If your printer does not support AirPrint, you need to install software that tells your Mac how to communicate with it. Go to the manufacturer's website — for example, hp.com, canon.com, or epson.com. Find the Support or Downloads section and search for your exact printer model. read the driver or software package for Mac.
Open the downloaded file and follow the installer's instructions. It will ask you to connect your printer via USB cable or to your Wi-Fi network. Do what it asks. The installer will add your printer to your Mac's printer list. Once installation finishes, restart your Mac.
After restart, open any document and press Command+P. Your printer should now appear in the printer list. If it does not, the installation may have failed. Restart your printer, wait 30 seconds, and try Command+P again.
Connecting via USB cable instead of Wi-Fi
If your printer has a USB port and you have a USB cable, you can connect directly to your Mac without using Wi-Fi. Plug the USB cable into your printer and into an available USB port on your Mac. Your Mac will recognize the printer automatically if it has AirPrint, or it will prompt you to install software if it does not.
USB connection is useful if your Wi-Fi is unreliable or if your printer is in a location where Wi-Fi signal is weak. The trade-off is that your Mac must be physically near the printer — you cannot print from another room. Once connected, printing works the same way: Command+P, select your printer, and click Print.
What to do if your printer does not appear in the printer list
First, make sure the printer is powered on and has paper and ink. Then restart both your printer and your Mac. This solves most connection problems. Wait at least 30 seconds after restarting before trying to print.
If the printer still does not appear, check that it is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. On your Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right corner and note which network you are connected to. On your printer, look for a Wi-Fi settings menu or a network status page (usually printed by pressing a button on the printer itself). Make sure both show the same network name.
If you installed printer software and it still does not work, the software may not have installed correctly. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners (on newer Macs) or System Preferences > Printers & Scanners (on older Macs). Look for your printer in the list. If it is there but shows an error, click the minus button to remove it, then reinstall the software from the manufacturer's website.
Removing a printer you no longer use
Open System Settings or System Preferences and go to Printers & Scanners. Find the printer you want to remove in the list on the left. Click it once to select it, then click the minus button below the list. The printer will be removed from your Mac.
If you installed printer software for that printer, you may also want to uninstall it. Go to Applications, find the printer manufacturer's folder (for example, "HP" or "Canon"), and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash. This frees up space and prevents old software from interfering with future printers.
Troubleshooting when printing stops working after a macOS update
Sometimes a macOS update breaks printer connections. The fix is usually to reinstall the printer software. Go to the manufacturer's website, read the latest version of the software for your printer model and your current macOS version, and run the installer again. Restart your Mac when it finishes.
If reinstalling does not work, try removing the printer from Printers & Scanners, restarting your Mac, and adding it again. For AirPrint printers, this usually means just restarting and letting your Mac find it automatically. For other printers, you may need to reinstall the software.
Understanding printer software and why you sometimes need it
A printer is a separate device that speaks its own language. Your Mac needs a driver — a piece of software that translates your Mac's print commands into instructions the printer understands. AirPrint is a standard language that most modern printers speak, so your Mac already knows how to talk to them. Older printers use their own languages, so you have to install a translator specific to that printer.
When you install printer software from the manufacturer, you are installing that translator. It also installs any extra features the printer has — for example, settings to print on both sides of the paper, or to adjust color. Without the software, your Mac can still send a basic print job, but it cannot access those features.
This is why printer software is different from other Mac software. You are not installing a program you will open and use. You are installing a background tool that your Mac uses whenever you print. It is also why you sometimes need to reinstall it after a macOS update — the update may have changed how your Mac talks to printers, and the old software no longer translates correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install software for every printer?
No. AirPrint printers work without any software installation — your Mac finds them automatically. Older printers and some specialty printers need software installed. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if it supports AirPrint.
Can I print from my iPhone or iPad to the same printer?
Yes, if the printer supports AirPrint. iPhones, iPads, and Macs all use the same AirPrint standard, so any printer that works with one will work with the others. Just make sure all devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
What if my printer is connected to Wi-Fi but my Mac cannot find it?
Restart both your printer and your Mac, then wait 30 seconds. Check that both are on the same Wi-Fi network by looking at the network name in your Wi-Fi settings. If they are on different networks, connect your Mac to the printer's network. If the printer still does not appear, try removing it from Printers & Scanners and restarting your Mac again.
Is it safe to leave my printer connected to Wi-Fi all the time?
Yes. Printers are designed to stay connected to Wi-Fi. Leaving it on and connected means you can print from anywhere in your home without plugging in cables. If you want to save power, you can turn off the printer when you are not using it — it will reconnect automatically when you turn it back on.
What should I do if printing is very slow?
Slow printing usually means your printer is far from your Wi-Fi router or the signal is weak. Move the printer closer to the router if possible, or move your Mac closer when printing. If the printer is wired to your Mac with USB, try moving it closer anyway — sometimes Wi-Fi interference affects USB performance. Restart both devices and try again.