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How to Add a Printer in MAC OS X Mountain Lion
Learn about adding a printer and printing in OS X Mountain Lion and OS X Lion.
Important
How to add a printer
Before adding a printer to your Mac, check the following:
Connect the USB printer to the Mac, and a print queue will be automatically created for it. If the Mac already has current software for the printer, the print queue is created for you in the background.
Note: If the printer is an AirPrint-enabled printer, OS X Mountain Lion will add it without downloading and installing any printer software.
Tip: If software is needed, OS X Mountain Lion or OS X Lion will automatically prompt you.
If prompted, follow the onscreen software install instructions to complete the process.
Add nearby printers
With OS X Mountain Lion and OS X Lion, you can quickly add a nearby printer. This includes:
Note: If the printer is an AirPrint-enabled printer, OS X Mountain Lion will add it without downloading and installing any printer software.
Tip: If software is needed for the printer, OS X Mountain Lion or OS X Lion will automatically prompt you.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
Add a printer via the Print & Scan system preference pane
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences… Then choose View > Print & Scan.
Note: If the Print & Scan lock icon is locked, click the lock icon and, when prompted enter an administrator name and password to unlock it.
Click and hold the + (plus) icon below the Printers pane on the left and select the "Nearby Printer" you would like to add.
If there are no "Nearby Printers" on the home network, select "Add Other Printer or Scanner…"
Tip: To directly open the "Add Printer" dialog box, click the plus (+) icon.
From the Add Printer toolbar there are these choices:
Important
- OS X Mountain Lion and OS X Lion systems will have the necessary printing software already installed, or will automatically download and install software when the printer is connected or configured. Do not install software that came with the printer as it may be out of date, and do not connect the printer to your Mac yet. Follow the instructions that came with the printer to unpack, install ink or toner, and insert paper. Finally, use the instructions in this article to connect the printer to your Mac.
- Make sure the printer model is listed in Printer and scanner software, which is a comprehensive list of all printer models that have compatible software for OS X Mountain Lion and OS X Lion.
How to add a printer
Before adding a printer to your Mac, check the following:
- Run Software Update to retrieve the latest information about printer software provided to Apple by the printer vendors. Note: If you do not run Software Update before attempting to connect a new printer, you may see that software is not available.
- Make sure the printer is powered on, has paper, and doesn't have any issues such as a paper jam, low ink, or alerts displayed on its control panel. Note: If the printer has an issue that can't be cleared, contact the printer vendor for support.
- If the printer is a Wi-Fi printer and it is connecting to a Wi-Fi network, make sure it is properly connected to the Wi-Fi network first. The printer may have to be connected to the Mac initially via USB. See Overview on how to connect a Wi-Fi printer to your Wi-Fi network for details.
- Adding, managing, or removing print queues and software may require an administrator account name and password--make sure you know one for the Mac. Note:Any applications that are open before adding a printer will need to be quit and re-opened, in order to see all the features of the new printer.
Connect the USB printer to the Mac, and a print queue will be automatically created for it. If the Mac already has current software for the printer, the print queue is created for you in the background.
Note: If the printer is an AirPrint-enabled printer, OS X Mountain Lion will add it without downloading and installing any printer software.
Tip: If software is needed, OS X Mountain Lion or OS X Lion will automatically prompt you.
If prompted, follow the onscreen software install instructions to complete the process.
Add nearby printers
With OS X Mountain Lion and OS X Lion, you can quickly add a nearby printer. This includes:
- Nearby Wi-Fi printers or wired network-based printers that are on your local network and support Bonjour.
- A printer connected to the USB port of a Time Capsule or AirPort base station on the home network.
- A printer that is being shared by another Mac on the home network.
Note: If the printer is an AirPrint-enabled printer, OS X Mountain Lion will add it without downloading and installing any printer software.
Tip: If software is needed for the printer, OS X Mountain Lion or OS X Lion will automatically prompt you.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
Add a printer via the Print & Scan system preference pane
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences… Then choose View > Print & Scan.
Note: If the Print & Scan lock icon is locked, click the lock icon and, when prompted enter an administrator name and password to unlock it.
Click and hold the + (plus) icon below the Printers pane on the left and select the "Nearby Printer" you would like to add.
If there are no "Nearby Printers" on the home network, select "Add Other Printer or Scanner…"
Tip: To directly open the "Add Printer" dialog box, click the plus (+) icon.
From the Add Printer toolbar there are these choices:
- Default – Used to get a list of all printers the Mac can see via USB, Bonjour, and so forth. Select the printer and click "Add".
- Tip: If there is a long list of printers, use the search field in the top-right.
- Fax – Used to add a queue for a third party Fax device connected to the Mac.
- Note: Apple's USB Fax modem is not compatible with OS X Lion or later. Contact a third party Fax vendor for support and to make sure their product is compatible with the version of OS X that you are using.
- IP – Used to add a network printer that does not use Bonjour and or is on another network. Printers that support the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), Line Printer Daemon (LPD), and HP JetDirect (Socket) can be added in this manner. See How to connect to an IP-based printer or AppleTalk printer via IP for details about how to connect an IP based printer.
- Windows – Used to add a printer that is shared via the Windows printer sharing protocol (CIFS/SMB). Tip: See File Sharing for details about how to add a Mac to a Windows Workgroup. This is often needed to see Windows printer shares.
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