How To Install A Printer On Macbook

The thought of setting up a printer intimidates most people. But once you know the steps, it's adequately easy to do. Whether you just need to add 1 printer to your abode computer, or lots of printers to a business network, here's how to add a printer to a Mac desktop or laptop.

How to Connect a Wireless Printer to Mac

You can connect your printer wirelessly through a Wi-Fi Protected Set-up (WPS) or a Bluetooth connection. Follow the steps below depending on how you want to connect your printer.

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How to Add a Printer to a Mac via WPS

Connecting via WPS would usually crave you to printing the "Wireless" or 'Wi-Fi" button on your printer, followed by the WPS push on your router. Yet, steps will vary depending on which printer and router y'all have, so check your printer and router user guides for specific instructions. One time you've gear up WPS, you can proceed to the steps beneath.

Click the Apple tree icon in the meridian-left corner your screen.
Become to System Preferences.
Click on Printers and Scanners. On older Mac models, this will appear as Impress & Scan under Hardware.
Click the + sign below the list of printers. For older Mac models, you might take to click Add together Printer or Scanner subsequently yous click on the + sign. You might besides encounter printers detected past your Mac under Nearby Printers in the Add Printer or Scanner submenu.
Note: If you cannot click on the + sign, you might have to click the Lock icon at the lesser of the window. Type on your password to make changes in the Print & Browse menu.
Select the printer y'all would similar to add. In the Default tab, your Mac displays a listing of discoverable printers on the network.
Choose the printer's software or commuter in the Use field. You tin can choose from the following:
- AirPrint, Apple tree's native printing technology which lets you print from AirPrint-compatible printers via Wi-Fi on Airprint-compatible printers. However, if your printer is not AirPrint-uniform, y'all would need to install the commuter from Apple's servers or the manufacturer's website.
- Your printer'south ain print driver, if you have that installed
- Auto Select if you lot don't have the print driver merely y'all want your computer to download the right one when it updates
Finally, click Add together. The new printer will be added to the list of printers. You volition be able to encounter this on the left-mitt side of the Print & Scan window.

How to Add a Printer to Mac via USB

Printers that practice not have networking capabilities can merely be added through a USB or wired connection. Some printers, though capable of wireless press, still need to exist continued to USB as office of the set-upwards procedure. Hither's how to add a printer via USB.

Plug your printer's USB into your Mac laptop or desktop.
Notation: Your Mac will automatically detect printers continued by USB and download the required software. If it does non auto-detect, go along to the adjacent step.
Click the Apple tree icon.
Go to System Preferences.
Click Printers and Scanners. On older Mac models, this will appear equally Impress & Scan under Hardware.
Click the + sign below the list of printers.
Select a printer to add. In the Default tab, your Mac will motorcar-populate a list of printers on the network. Look for a printer name with USB listed under the column for Kind.
Click Add. The printer will be added to the listing of printers. You volition be able to meet this on the left-paw side of the Impress & Scan window.

How to Add a Printer via IP Accost

If y'all add a printer using this step, you would need to know your printer's IP address. Here's how yous tin can find your printer'southward IP address. Once you know this information, yous would merely take to get to System Preferences then add the printer from the Printers & Scanners menu. Here'due south how y'all can practice this step by step.

Click the Apple tree icon.
Open to Arrangement Preferences.
Click on Printers and Scanners.
So click on the + sign beneath the list of printers.
Click on the IP icon. This volition look like a blue earth icon.
Type your printer's IP address in the Accost field. Your Mac volition try to gather data about the printer.
If you don't know your printer'south IP address, cheque out our previous commodity on how to notice your printer'south IP address.
Rename the printer if you lot want to.
In the Use field, choose the print driver y'all would like to use.
Click Add together.