Whether you just bought your first Mac or found a great deal on the best printer for your budget, you’re going to want to connect the two.
It's relatively easy to add a printer to your Mac, but a preview of what to do and where to go can be helpful. In the last few years, macOS updates, have changed the location of printer settings and altered the way things look. We'll give you step-by-step instructions with screenshots so you can follow along and connect your printer to your Mac without any surprises.
Of course, you need your printer to be set up and powered on. You can add a printer connected to Wi-Fi, attached via a cable, or shared on a Windows PC. If you have any trouble, check out our guide to get your printer connected and solve the most common problems. When it's ready to use, here's how to add a printer to a Mac.
How to add a printer to a macOS
Like most settings on macOS, you’ll find those for adding a printer in System Settings.
Step 1: Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings, or choose the System Settings icon in your Dock.
Step 2: On the main screen, open Printers and scanners. You’ll see any connected printers listed on the left. So, if you plug a USB printer into your Mac, you should already see it listed and ready for use.
If you don’t see the printer you need, select the Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... button at the bottom of the list to add it.
Step 3: You can then connect your Mac to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth printer, a network printer, or a printer connected to Windows. Select one of the sections below per your printer type.
Add a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth printer
If you want to connect a printer that's available on your local Wi-Fi network or that can connect via Bluetooth, you can add it to your list in a few steps.
Step 1: On the Default tab at the top of the Add printer window, select the printer you want from the list of Wi-Fi printers or use the Search box at the top to locate it.
Step 2: macOS usually fills in the printer name and driver automatically, but you can rename it, give the physical location (the room it's in), and select a different printer driver if you wish.
Step 3: When you're finished, select the Add button.
Add a network printer with its IP address
If you have a network printer, but it doesn't appear in the list of printers in macOS, you can add it using its IP address. It's four numbers separated by periods that's usually in your printer's network menu. If you need help, we have a guide that shows you how to find your printer's IP address.
Step 1: Choose the IP tab at the top of the Add printer window, and enter your printer's IP address in the Address field.
Step 2: Optionally, you can change the protocol, name a specific printer queue, rename the printer, specify a location, and choose a different printer driver.
Step 3: Select Add to connect to your network printer.
Add a printer connected to Windows
If you plan to use a printer connected to a PC, it has to be set up properly. If you need help, we have a step-by-step tutorial about how to share a Windows printer. While you're on your PC, note the workgroup name as well as the username and password if required.
Step 1: Choose the Windows tab at the top of the Add printer window.
Step 2: Select Workgroup on the left, then choose the Windows workgroup and printer you want to add. If prompted, enter the username and password.
Step 3: If you don't see your printer, check if printer sharing is enabled on your Mac. It's a toggle switch in the General tab under Sharing.
Step 4: macOS will automatically fill in the name, but you might need to select or add a printer driver with the Use menu. You can rename the printer and specify what room it's in to help identify it.
Step 5: Select Add to use your Windows printer from your Mac.
Finish setting up the printer
Once you've add your printer to the list, it should be ready to use. While you have the Printers & Scanners window open, you can adjust more settings.
If you have more than one printer, it's a good idea to choose a Default printer and ensure the Default paper size matches what you print most often. For example, if you use a photo printer, that might be glossy photo paper instead of the standard US Letter size that macOS selects.
Select any printer in the list to check supply levels change settings specific to that printer.
If you also own one of Apple’s mobile devices, learn how to print from your iPhone or iPad, too!
