How to Set Up a Printer on Mac (macOS Sequoia & Sonoma)
Modern versions of macOS leverage Apple AirPrint technology, allowing you to print and scan without downloading bloated third-party driver bundles in most cases. This guide covers adding wireless and USB printers, configuring duplex settings, and resetting the CUPS printing subsystem when printers fail to respond.
Step-by-Step macOS Setup Walkthrough
Ensure your Mac and printer are connected to the exact same Wi-Fi router network. AirPrint uses Apple Bonjour (mDNS) multicast packets to discover printers. If your Mac is on a 5GHz band and your printer is on a 2.4GHz guest network with client isolation, AirPrint will not discover the device.
1. Click Apple Menu () > System Settings.
2. Scroll down the left sidebar and click Printers & Scanners.
3. Click the Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... button on the right.
4. Wait for Bonjour to scan the local subnet. When your printer appears, click its name.
5. In the Use: drop-down at the bottom, ensure AirPrint or Secure AirPrint is selected (avoid selecting generic PCL or PostScript).
6. Click Add.
If your Mac continually says "The printer is not responding" or print jobs hang at 0%:
1. Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Right-click (or Control-click) anywhere in the empty space or printer list, and select Reset printing system....
3. Enter your Mac administrator password to confirm. This clears all corrupted CUPS daemon queues and resets preferences.
4. Re-add the printer cleanly by clicking Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax....
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Mac Printing Assistance?
Our independent technicians can configure AirPrint permissions, Bonjour multicast settings, and CUPS printing queues on macOS Sequoia and Sonoma.
Request Mac Support See Transparent Pricing