Published 2024-02-20 by TechNet New England
Adding a network printer on a Mac is straightforward. macOS supports most printers natively through AirPrint, and for those it does not, you can add them by IP address. ## Method 1: AirPrint (Automatic) If your printer supports AirPrint (most modern HP, Canon, Brother, and Epson printers do), your Mac may find it automatically. 1. Open **System Settings** (click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select **System Settings**). 2. Click **Printers and Scanners** in the sidebar. 3. Click the **Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax** button (the "+" button). 4. Your Mac will search the network. If the printer appears in the list, select it and click **Add**. 5. macOS will download and install the driver automatically. ## Method 2: By IP Address If the printer does not appear automatically: 1. Open **System Settings > Printers and Scanners**. 2. Click the **"+"** button. 3. In the Add Printer window, click the **IP** tab (the globe icon). 4. In the **Address** field, enter the printer's IP address. For example: `192.168.1.100` 5. The **Protocol** field should be set to **IPP (Internet Printing Protocol)** for most printers. If that does not work, try **HP Jetdirect (Socket)** or **Line Printer Daemon (LPD)**. 6. macOS will attempt to identify the printer and select a driver. If it says "Generic PostScript Printer," try selecting the correct manufacturer and model from the **Use** dropdown. 7. Click **Add**. ## Method 3: Download the Manufacturer Driver If neither method works cleanly, download the driver directly from the printer manufacturer: **HP:** [support.hp.com](https://support.hp.com) **Canon:** [usa.canon.com/support](https://usa.canon.com/support) **Brother:** [support.brother.com](https://support.brother.com) **Xerox:** [support.xerox.com](https://support.xerox.com) Download the macOS driver for your exact model. Run the installer. Then go back to System Settings > Printers and Scanners and the printer should appear or be selectable when adding by IP. ## Finding the Printer's IP Address Print a configuration page from the printer's built-in menu. Look for the IPv4 address under network settings. Alternatively, check your router's connected device list or ask your IT provider. ## Troubleshooting **Printer shows as offline:** Make sure the printer is powered on, connected to the same network as your Mac, and not in sleep mode. Try removing the printer from System Settings and adding it again. **Wrong driver selected:** In Printers and Scanners, select the printer, click the minus button to remove it, then add it again. When adding, make sure the **Use** dropdown shows the correct model, not "Generic PostScript Printer." **Print jobs stuck in queue:** Open the printer queue (System Settings > Printers and Scanners > select printer > Open Print Queue). Delete stuck jobs and try again. If jobs keep getting stuck, the driver may need to be reinstalled.