To install printer on Mac, you will need to set it up using Printers and scanners preferences. There are different types of printers that you can install, such as, Local printer, Bluetooth printer, network printer and so on.

Install Printer on Mac the easy way – AirPrint

First of all, let’s see how you can install a USB printer to your mac. It is very easy to set up most USB printers on a Mac. All that you need to do is update the software on your system and then connect the printer to your Mac. When you connect your printer to the system, macOS automatically detects the manufacturer and the model of the printer and searches for the necessary software. If in case, it does not happen, you will need to follow the following steps.

Step 1: Update your software. Go to Apple Menu and click on App Store. On the app store, you will need to click Updates and then install any software updates that are listed. This step is necessary to ensure that your OS has all the latest patches, fixes, information and software that can be downloaded from the official Apple site. Failure to update your OS might cause you to miss out on any software that is already present for your printer.

Step 2: Connect your printer. Unbox your printer and connect all the wires in the appropriate places. Make sure that you have unpacked the printer, installed the ink, toner, cartridges and everything else. Also, make sure that paper is inserted into the input tray, andare no error messages are being displayed on the printer.

After your printer is switched on and properly wired, connect the USB cable of your printer to your Mac. If you had already downloaded the latest software, you will not be asked to download anything else. In case you are prompted to download a new software, go ahead and download it. Once you have downloaded the software, it will install, and you are ready.

If you have a network printer or a Bluetooth or wireless printer, you can follow a different installation process. MacOS uses AirPrint by default for all printers to make it easier to connect with the most popular printers. If you are using AirPrint, you don’t need to download any extra software for your printer.

If your printer isn’t AirPrint-enabled, macOS will download the latest software that is required to run your printer automatically. You can go to the Apple support website to see a list of devices which are supported by AirPrint. Simply connect your printer via a USB cable or connect to it wirelessly and let AirPrint do all the work.

Step 3: Add to available printers. Once the set-up is done, you will need to add the printer to the list of available printers. Go to Apple Menu and select System Preferences. From the preferences menu, click on Printers and Scanners. You should see your printer on the list. If not, click on the + button at the bottom of the list. A few minutes later, all the available devices on the local network will load. Select your printer and click Add.

Congratulations! You just learned how to install printer on Mac.