How to Add a Printer on Mac: AirPrint and Driver Setup

Start with AirPrint or IPP Everywhere

On a Mac, the easiest way to add a printer is to do almost nothing. When the printer and the Mac are on the same network, macOS can often find the printer automatically. That automatic method is based on driverless network printing. The Printer Working Group's IPP Everywhere standard is designed to let personal computers and mobile devices find and print to networked and USB printers without vendor-specific software. macOS is listed among the popular IPP Everywhere clients.

Driverless IPP printers advertise their capabilities over the network, including media sizes, duplex printing, photo printing, and finishing options such as stapling, punching, and folding. The Printer Working Group says 98% of all printers sold today support IPP/2.0 and DNS-SD. If your printer is AirPrint compatible, you usually see it in the Mac print dialog with no extra setup. For most current home and small office printers, automatic discovery is the right first step.

To add a printer this way: put the printer on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac, or connect it to the same router with Ethernet; open the printer list in System Settings, or Printers & Scanners in older macOS versions; wait while macOS scans for printers, then select your model and click Add. The AirPrint and Mopria guide explains how AirPrint fits into the wider driverless printing picture.

Add by IP address when discovery fails

If the Mac does not see the printer, the next method is to add it by IP address. You need the printer's network address, which is usually available from the printer's control panel or a network configuration page. The printer IP address guide explains where to look, and the network protocols guide explains the options you will see in the Add dialog.

In the Add dialog, choose the IP tab, enter the printer's address, and select IPP Everywhere or IPP as the protocol when it is available. IPP Everywhere is the same driverless standard, so you keep the benefits of automatic capability discovery even when you add manually. If your printer only supports an older protocol, macOS can still use it, but IPP is preferred on current systems. For an office network, a stable address for the printer makes the queue more reliable.

Install a manufacturer driver when you need more than printing

The same PWG standard that powers automatic printing also means you may not need a manufacturer driver for basic output. IPP Everywhere printers are designed to work without special software from the manufacturer. In practice, a Mac can print text, graphics, and photos to most modern printers without a download. But all-in-one printers often expose scanner controls, fax features, status monitors, and maintenance routines through their own software. If those tools matter to you, install the driver and companion applications from the manufacturer's support page.

Older printers are another case. A printer released before driverless printing became common may need a Mac-specific driver. Visit the manufacturer's support page and choose the driver that matches your macOS version. If no driver is offered for your current macOS, or the installer will not run, use the IPP method instead. The manufacturer driver versus generic driver guide and the driver languages guide can help you decide what the setup dialog is actually asking for.

Set defaults, test the page, and save energy

After the printer appears in the print dialog, set it as the default printer so you do not accidentally send jobs to a fax device or another printer. The default print settings guide explains the option in more detail. Print a test page to confirm that colors, duplexing, and paper trays are configured the way you expect; the test page guide covers common checks.

This is also a good time to check energy settings. ENERGY STAR notes that certified imaging equipment is required to use power management features and automatic duplexing on many models. Leaving those factory settings enabled saves more energy, and printing in draft quality for internal documents saves ink or toner. ENERGY STAR says certified imaging equipment can save up to 35 percent versus conventional equipment. If your printer has a secure-print or release feature, use it to prevent pages from sitting unclaimed at the output tray. The energy star guide explains the label in more detail.

If you are replacing an old printer, recycle the old unit through a local electronics recycling program. The EPA's used electronics page collects guidance for donation and recycling. That keeps the setup clean and avoids a second trip to find a disposal point.

Troubleshoot connection and driver problems

If an added printer goes offline, check the physical network first. The printer must be on the same network as the Mac, awake, and free of paper jams. The fix offline printer guide walks through the common causes, and the connect printer to Wi-Fi guide covers wireless setup.

When discovery fails, remember that IPP Everywhere relies on DNS-SD, the same discovery technology macOS uses under the name Bonjour. Some routers isolate client devices on separate Wi-Fi bands or guest networks, which can hide printers. If the printer and Mac are on the same network, try restarting both. You can also check for a firmware update through the printer's web interface.

Near the end of the setup, use the right driver. If a manufacturer driver conflicts with an automatically added IPP queue, remove one of the two entries in the printer list, and if needed use the printer software uninstall and reinstall guide to clean up a broken setup.

If you print from other devices

Mopria covers Android, Windows, Chromebook, and Fire devices. For Macs, the equivalent path is AirPrint or IPP Everywhere. A printer that supports both standards is easier for a household with mixed devices. The AirPrint and Mopria guide compares the two ecosystems and explains when each one is the better path.

For scanning, Mopria also describes scan-to-Android and scanning with Windows and Chromebook. If your all-in-one printer is Mopria certified, its mobile scanning profile can be just as useful as the Mac-side scanning tools. Keep in mind that adding a printer on a Mac does not automatically install the same companion software on a Windows PC or an Android phone. Each platform uses its own discovery path, though they all rely on the same network-printing standards.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Does a Mac need a printer driver?

For many modern printers, no. IPP Everywhere printers are designed to work without vendor-specific software, and macOS is a popular IPP Everywhere client. You still may want a manufacturer driver for scanning, fax, or maintenance tools.

What is the difference between AirPrint and a manufacturer driver?

AirPrint is the automatic, driverless path built into Apple's print system. It relies on IPP-style discovery. A manufacturer driver adds brand-specific dialogs for utilities, scan functions, and special media. Both can exist on the same Mac.

Can I add a printer on a Mac using its IP address?

Yes. Use the IP tab in the printer list, enter the printer's address, and choose IPP Everywhere or IPP when available. On the printer side, make sure the address is stable; a static or reserved address avoids repeated setup changes.

My printer has AirPrint but the Mac still says offline. What should I check?

Confirm both devices are on the same network, the printer is awake, and there is no paper jam. Restart the printer and the Mac, then remove and re-add the printer in the printer list. The offline printer guide runs through the full checklist.

What if my printer is Mopria certified but not AirPrint?

Mopria certification covers Android, Windows, Chromebook, and Fire printing and scanning. On a Mac, a Mopria-only printer may still appear if it also supports IPP Everywhere, since many drivers use the same protocol. If it does not appear, use an IPP queue by address or add it with a manufacturer driver.

Should I set a static IP address before adding a printer on a Mac?

For home use, not always; DHCP often works. For a busy office, a reserved address in the router's DHCP settings or a static address on the printer can make the queue more reliable. See the find printer IP guide for details.