How to add a printer to a Mac: 4 methods

Connecting Mac to Printer: Five Ways and Troubleshooting

My husband is the responsibilities CEO of the family – he is always around whenever I need to fix things. Once, I decided to buy a printer so I didn’t have to spend money to go to my local printing center for printing paper documents such as notes, forms or photos. However, I didn't expect that setting up a printer would be so tricky. Fortunately, my husband was right by my side and helped me add the printer to my Mac and now I can share my experience.

Five ways to add printers on your Mac

Last Friday, we finally welcomed our new friends. Naturally, we want to connect it as soon as possible. Now, I want to show you how to add a printer on your Mac:

method	Operation steps
Wi-Fi	1. Use NetSpot to find the best location for your printer. 2. Turn on the printer. 3. Press the WPS button or follow the instructions. 4. Open System Settings > Printer and Scanner and Add.
USB	1. Update your Mac and turn on the printer. 2. Connect the USB cable. 3. Open System Settings > Printer and Scanner and Add.
Bluetooth	1. Set the printer to pairing mode. 2. Click Control Center > Bluetooth Settings. 3. Connect to your printer.
IP address	1. Find the printer's IP address. 2. Open System Settings > Printer & Scanner > Add Printer. 3. Enter the IP address and select the protocol, and then add.
Delete the printer	1. Open System Settings > Printer and Scanner. 2. Select the printer and click the minus button to delete it. 3. Use CleanMyMac to clear the residual files.

The above table briefly describes these methods. For more detailed instructions, continue reading.

NetSpot will scan your room and highlight the best location for network connections. Available on Setapp.

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How to connect a printer on a Mac

Can't wait to print? Here is a quick guide on how to add a printer on your Mac. Let me show you four ways you will be able to print documents, photos, or whatever you need in no time.

How to connect a printer to a Mac via Wi-Fi

Many wireless printers are equipped with AirPrint technology. If your printer also has this technology, what does it mean? If the Mac and the printer are on the same Wi-Fi network, it will be displayed in the Mac's Print dialog. But first, you need to connect the printer to Wi-Fi. The method is as follows:

First, plug in the printer power supply. Open it. If it has a WPS button, just press it. Next, press the same button on the router to connect. Your printer doesn't have a WPS button? No problem at all. Find your printer manual. There you can see instructions for joining the network. This should be easy.

If your printer supports AirPrint, congratulations! You have completed all the settings! If your printer does not support AirPrint, this instruction is for you:

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings.
2. Click Printer and Scanner.
3. Find your printer in the list. If it does not appear, click Add Printer, wait for it to appear, and select it.

This is how you add your printer to your Mac via Wi-Fi.

Tip: Is there a problem connecting the printer to Wi-Fi? Get NetSpot! This application will analyze your Wi-Fi network and display the best location for the printer. It does remove guesses about connecting devices. So give it a try.

Add a USB printer to your Mac

You can also connect the printer using USB. The method is as follows:

1. Make sure your Mac is updated to the latest version.
2. Insert and turn on the printer.
3. Connect the USB cable to the printer.
4. Next, connect the same USB cable to your Mac. If your Mac has a USB-C port and the printer does not have a USB-C connection, try using a hub or dock.
5. Permission prompts to allow the printer to connect to the Mac.
6. Open System Settings and go to Printer and Scanner. If the printer is listed, select it. If not, click Add Printer, wait for it to appear, then select it and click Add.
7. Your Mac may need to download and install the printer driver. Please wait.
8. To set the printer as the default printer, select it in Printers & Scanner and click Set Default Printer.

Add a Bluetooth printer to your Mac

Some printers can connect to your Mac using Bluetooth. To set them up, you need to pair them with your Mac. In this section, we will discuss how to set up a wireless printer on your Mac.

Here's how to add a wireless printer to your Mac:

1. Put the printer in pairing mode. (You may need to check the printer's manual).
2. Then, click the Control Center icon in the Mac menu bar
3. Click Bluetooth > Bluetooth Settings.
4. You will see your printer list at the bottom. Click on the connection next to it.
5. Once connected, the printer will appear in the Print dialog box of any application, allowing you to select it to print.

This is how to connect the printer to your Mac via Bluetooth.

I recently discovered a utility called ToothFairy. It makes it easier to manage Bluetooth devices on your Mac. Instead of manually pairing the printer via Bluetooth settings, you can use ToothFairy to simplify the process.

This application is especially suitable for devices such as AirPods and Magic Mouse. With ToothFairy, you can quickly connect and switch Bluetooth devices with custom keyboard shortcuts. You can also view the battery level at a glance. For me, it saves the hassle of searching for Bluetooth settings every time I want to connect to the device.

How to add a printer via IP address

Your Mac cannot automatically find the printer on the network. what to do? Fortunately, you can add it manually using the printer's IP address:

1. Get the IP address from the network administrator. If you are connecting to a printer at home, log in to the router's administration page and check the list of connected devices. There you will find the IP address. Completed?
2. Open System Settings and go to Printer and Scanner. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax.
3. Click the Earth icon at the top of the window and enter the printer's IP address in the address box.
4. Select protocol: If the printer supports it, select AirPrint; otherwise, select Internet Printing Protocol.
5. Wait for the printer to appear, click the Use menu, and select the appropriate driver.
6. Finally, click Add to complete the setup.

Please read also:

• Best USB C hub for Mac
• Fix Wi-Fi not configured on Mac
• How to check your internet speed
• Connect Bluetooth headset to Mac

Delete unused printers

Now you have learned everything about how to set up a printer on your Mac. But what if you want to disconnect a printer that is not in use?

Here is how to delete an unused printer:

1. Open System Settings > Printer and Scanner
2. Find the printer you want to delete. Click on it. Then click the minus button.
3. Confirm that you want to delete the printer.

When you disconnect an unused printer from your Mac, remember that the residual files are still retained on the disk. These files take up valuable space and slow down your Mac. If you want your Mac to run smoothly (I know you want it), it is crucial to remove these residues. I'm using CleanMyMac to solve this problem.

Please follow these steps:

1. Open CleanMyMac and go to Cleanup > System Junk Files.
2. Click Scan to find unwanted printer files on your Mac.
3. After the scan is complete.
4. In the System Junk Files window, click Clean to delete unnecessary files.

How to add a printer on your Mac: The Final Thought

In this article, we introduce four simple ways to add a printer on your Mac. That is, we learned how to install printers onto a Mac via Bluetooth, USB, and IP addresses. Most MacBook users find the Wi-Fi method the easiest and most convenient. However, not all printers support Wi-Fi. Sometimes, Wi-Fi connections don't work properly. In this case, you can try one of the four methods I described above.

For wireless printers, I recommend you try NetSpot to select the correct location for the printer. For Bluetooth printers, you might like ToothFairy as a convenient connection switching tool. Of course, whenever you disconnect an old printer, don't forget to use CleanMyMac to delete system junk files. It will keep your Mac clean and in its best condition. The best part? You can install all of these apps from Setapp, a platform that offers over 250 Mac, iOS and web apps that can meet almost any task you can think of. Trial each app for free with the seven-day trial.

Frequently Asked Questions about Printers on Mac

Why can't I add a printer to my Mac?

You cannot add a printer to your Mac due to possible connection issues. For example, when the printer is not on the same Wi-Fi network as the Mac. Additionally, the printer may be turned off. Or you may not have updated your Mac to the latest macOS.

How to get my Mac to recognize my printer?

To help your Mac recognize your printer, check that the printer is turned on and connected to the same network as your Mac. For USB printers, check that the cable is securely connected. We also recommend that you restart your Mac and printer. Also, go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners to see if your printer is displayed there. If not, you may need to add it manually.

How to find printer settings on your Mac?

To find printer settings on your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Settings and select Printers & Scanners. There you can check all connected printers. Select the printer to configure. You will find options to change settings such as paper size, print quality, and other preferences. You can also access the printer's specific settings by clicking on options and supplies.

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