How to Connect MacBook to Printer?

How to Connect MacBook to Printer? – Overview

Printing has been around for several decades, and you couldn’t possibly count how many articles, documents, photos, and spreadsheets have been printed.

It’s relaxing to know that even in this age of wireless printing, you can still physically connect your desktop or laptop to a printer and print your documents offline.

To connect a MacBook to a printer, you need to master a couple of steps depending on the approach you’re taking. You can connect your MacBook to a printer via an IP address, USB, and WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). Let’s look at these three methods in detail.

Connecting MacBook To Printer Via WPS

Connecting a MacBook to a printer via WPS requires you to press and hold the Wi-Fi switch on your printer, followed by the WPS switch in your router. However, the steps will vary depending on the printer or router you own.

Therefore check your printer and router instruction manuals for the specific guidelines. Once you’ve configured WPS, you can proceed with the steps illustrated below.

Click on the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Next, click on ‘System Preferences.’

How To Connect MacBook To Printer

Then click on ‘Printers and Scanners.’ If you have an older MacBook or haven’t updated the software on your newer MacBook, this option will appear as ‘Print & Scan.’

Next, click on the plus (+) sign under the list of printers. You might need to click on ‘Add Printer or Scanner for older MacBooks after pressing the plus (+) sign. You could also see the printers discovered by your MacBook under the ‘Nearby Printers’ tab.

Note that if you can’t click on the plus (+) sign, you might need to click on the ‘Lock’ logo at the bottom of the tab then enter your passcode to adjust the ‘Print & Scan settings.’
Next, click on the printer you want to add. Your MacBook will display a rundown of discovered printers on your Wi-Fi network if you have several of them.

Select the printer’s driver or software in the ‘Use’ field; options available include:

AirPrint: This is Apple’s native printing tech that allows you to print wirelessly using AirPrint-ready printers. But, if your printer isn’t AirPrint-ready, you’ll need to download and install its drivers from Apple’s servers.
The printer’s print software if you have downloaded and installed it.
Auto-select: Click on this option if you haven’t downloaded the print driver and you’d like your MacBook to download the suitable ones when it’s updating.

Finally, click on ‘Add.’ Now, your printer will be added to the list of printers. You can see the added printer on the left-hand side of the ‘Print & Scan’ tab.

Connecting MacBook To Printer Via IP Address

If you’re using this step to connect your MacBook to a printer, you need to know your printer’s IP address. Once you’ve gotten this information to follow the steps illustrated below.

Start by clicking on the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Next, click on ‘System Preferences.’

Then click on ‘Printers and Scanners.

Next, click on the plus (+) sign under the list of printers.

How To Connect MacBook To Printer

Then click on the IP icon. This icon looks like a blue globe.

Next, enter your printer’s IP address in the Address field.
Select the printer software you want to use in the’ Use’ field.

How To Connect MacBook To Printer

Next, click on ‘Add.’ Your MacBook will try to establish a link with the printer. Again, you need to be calm because it can take a couple of minutes to do this.

If all goes according to plan, your printer has been set up on your MacBook, and you can adjust its settings by clicking on ‘Options and Supplies.’

Connecting MacBook To Printer Via USB

Start by connecting your printer’s USB cable to your MacBook.
Click on the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Next, click on ‘System Preferences.’

Then click on ‘Printers and Scanners.

Next, click on the plus (+) sign under the list of printers.

Choose the printer you’d like to add.
Finally, click on ‘Add.’ Now, your printer will be added to the list of printers. You can see the added printer on the left-hand side of the ‘Print & Scan’ tab.

How To Connect MacBook To Printer

Note: Sometimes your MacBook might not establish a connection with a printer could be a number of issues such as corrupt drivers or loose cables. To fix this, try restarting your MacBook and changing the connection cable.

Final Thought

Now you know the various methods of connecting a MacBook to a printer. However, if you’re in the process of acquiring a new printer, we recommend you get an AirPrint-ready model. This will help you save time on the setup process and avoid downloading printer drivers.