With paper usage having lessened in recent years, the price of printers has dropped dramatically. You can now pick up a decent all-in-one model for less than $50 and a quality laser printer for under $100.
But more things being done digitally doesn't make printers any less important — physical documents still need to be sent, photos need printing, and many businesses prefer hard copies of invoices. Then there's the need to print things like concert tickets, shipping labels, and boarding passes.
What we're getting at is that printers aren't going anywhere any time soon.
Use the printer IP address to perform a ping test, the printer IP can be located by selecting the wireless icon on the printer display. The wireless status menu on your Mac should also give us quite a lot of information that would help us identify the issue. We've made it easy to download HP printer software to set up your printer. Enter your product name and we'll get you the right printer setup software and drivers. We support all major desktop and mobile operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Country/Region: United States.
In this article, we're going to walk you through how to put a printer to work. We'll look at: Download os x for pc.
- How to connect a printer to your Mac
- How to find a printer IP address on a Mac
- How to print wirelessly from your Mac
Before we get into setting up a printer, though, it's best if you remove any unused printers from the Mac you're using.
Note: If there no printers previously installed on your system you can skip this next section and jump straight into how to connect a printer.
Removing an unused printer
Only printers that you'll be using need to be connected to your Mac. Unused printers take up unnecessary space and might conflict with any new device that you install. You can remove a printer manually from within Printers & Scanners or with a tool like CleanMyMac X. The latter is the preferred option but we'll run you through both methods.
Removing an unused printer manually
Printers can be deleted manually in the following way:
- Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
- Select the printer from the list and click on the - button.
Removing a printer with CleanMyMac X
While the manual method is straightforward, it does not guarantee that all of the files associated with a printer are removed from your system. Files and documentation can be left behind, taking up space that new printers should be occupying.
CleanMyMac X removes every trace of a printer from your Mac. So, remove a printer from the list in Printers & Scanners, then give CleanMyMac X a run through to rid your computer of any files that are left behind.
The easiest way to do this is with a System Junk clean. This scans your system for broken and outdated files for removal.
- Download CleanMyMac X (for free!).
- Launch the app and select System Junk from the sidebar.
- Hit Scan and wait while CleanMyMac X scans your system.
- Hit Clean.
You're all done and ready to add a fresh printer to your system.
How to connect a printer to your Mac
How you connect a printer to your Mac really depends on what kind of printer you're using. If the printer is a newer model there's every chance that it supports AirPrint, in which case you can be set up and printing in moments. If not, you'll need the printer drivers, which you'll have to find on your system or download from the Web.
How to add a Wi-Fi printer
Before you can set up a printer on your Mac you'll need to connect it to the Wi-Fi network. If the printer has a built-in display, use this to enter the name and password of the Wi-Fi network (you'll find these details on the bottom of your main router).
If the printer uses Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), you'll need to refer to the router's documentation for details on how a WPS printer can be added. If the router is an AirPort Base Station, follow these instructions from Apple:
1. Open AirPort Utility, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
2. Select your base station in AirPort Utility, then enter the base station password, if prompted.
3. From the menu bar, choose Base Station > Add WPS Printer.
4. Select either 'First attempt' or 'PIN' as the type of WPS connection to allow. Then click Continue.
If you selected 'First attempt,' push the WPS button on the printer. When the printer's MAC Address appears in AirPort Utility, click Done.
If you selected 'PIN,' enter the printer's PIN number, which should be listed in the printer's documentation. Then click Continue. When the printer's MAC Address appears in AirPort Utility, click Done.
5. Quit AirPort Utility.
Once your printer is hooked up to the Wi-Fi, connecting it to your Mac is easy:
- Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, then click the + button at the bottom of the list.
- Leave the Default tab selected and let your Mac search for printers connected to the WiFi network.
- Click on your printer from the list. If the printer supports AirPrint it will show opposite Use.
- Click on Add Now.
If the printer doesn't support AirPrint, you'll need to install the necessary drivers.
- Click on the name of the printer in the list.
- Click Add to download the drivers from Apple's servers.
- Click Add again to add the printer.
If the drivers you need aren't available on Apple's servers you'll need to download them from the manufacturer's website. Once installed, you'll be able to add the printer from the Printers & Scanners window.
How to add a network printer
You can add a network printer in the same way that you add a wireless printer. If the printer is connected by Ethernet or Wi-Fi your Mac will make it available to add from the Default tab in Printers & Scanners.
If there isn't an Ethernet or Wi-Fi option, connect the printer to a Mac on the network or directly into the router via USB and add it from Printers & Scanners that way.
How to find a printer IP address on a Mac
If a printer doesn't show up in the Default tab of Printers & Scanners you might have to connect it via the IP tab. To do this you'll need to find the printer IP address.
The IP can be found by going to any networked Mac that is configured to the printer and using the Bonjour Browser. This should be enabled by default in Safari. If not, you can enable it by going to Preferences > Advanced and select either 'Include Bonjour in the Bookmarks menu' or 'Include Bonjour in the Favourites bar.'
You can also open up the Safari browser and go to http://localhost:631/printers/ to see a list of all printers.
Once you have the IP, enter it in the Address field in the IP tab in Printers & Scanners. Give the printer a name, select the printer from the drop-down list, then click Add.
How to print wirelessly from your Mac
To start printing to a wireless printer you'll need to configure the printer settings. You can do this by going to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and clicking on the printer from the list. From here, you'll be able to set the printer as default and choose the paper size.
To print, simply go to File > Print or press Command+P. Choose your printer from the pop-up menu and configure the number of copies and specific pages.
Hitting the Print button will send your prints to the print queue, which automatically go to the printer. By going to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and selecting your printer, you can open the print queue and pause, resume, or delete jobs. Here is where you can also keep an eye on ink levels.
Top Tip: Before going all in with a multiple page print, test your printer by creating a test document in TextEdit.
Such is the simplicity of Mac that adding and removing printers and performing printing tasks is a straightforward task. But remember: when removing a printer from your system, use CleanMyMac X to ensure all files linked to the printer are completely removed from your system to avoid conflict. CleanMyMac X is a leading Mac utility tool developed to help you rid your system of old and outdated files in a few clicks.
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A reliable printer is a must for any office or home. Laser printers are a great option when you need to print in large volumes or need high-quality documents, photos, etc. Although the upfront cost may be more than an inkjet printer, it is still a valuable investment for anyone who needs to print things routinely. Take your pick from these best laser printers for Mac.
1. Canon Imageclass MF445dw – Best for Business Use
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Here's an excellent printer designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It balances speedy performance with minimal maintenance. The 5″ color touchscreen delivers an intuitive user experience and can be customized to help simplify many daily tasks.
You can also add an extra paper tray. It supports duplex printing and comes with a three-year warranty. Further, you can save 10% on all ink reorders with Dash Replenishment. Upon activation, your printer measures ink levels and places smart reorders when you are running low.
Features:
- Print up to 40 ppm
- Print up to 8-1/2″ X 14″
- 900-Sheet maximum paper capacity
Price: $239.00
2. Brother Compact Monochrome Laser Printer – Best for B&W Printing
If you don't need color printing, check out this compact and efficient monochrome printer. It is conveniently equipped with a flatbed scan glass for quick copying and scanning.
Moreover, it is compatible with AirPrint, Google Cloud Print 2.0, Brother iPrint and Scan, Mopria, and Cortado Workplace. This makes it a smart and ideal fit for professional users.
Features:
- Handles both letter and legal sized paper
- 250 sheet paper capacity
- Wireless and cloud-based print
Price: $169.99
3. HP Color LaserJet Pro M182nw – Best for Color Printing
Enjoy brilliant color printers with this multifunctional printer that offers print, copy, and scan versatility. It can operate at up to 17 pages per minute and has an intuitive control panel and numeric keypad.
You can save time with customizable shortcuts and organize documents 50% faster directly from your mobile device using exclusive office features in the HP Smart app. Use imac as security camera.
Features
- Supports a wide range of paper sizes
- Remote Printing with HP Smart App
- Built-in security essentials
Price: $329.00
4. Epson Expression Premium XP-6100 – Best for Photos
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Bring your memories to life with this slim yet powerful printer for Mac that boasts 5-color inks for dazzling photos up to 8″ x 10″. It can print 4″ x 6″ photos in as fast as 15 seconds or documents at speeds of 15.8 ISO ppm (black) and 11.3 ISO ppm (color).
Further, it features hands-free, voice-activated printing for various jobs, plus built-in USB and memory card slots, a 2.4″ color LCD, and dedicated photo/DVD trays.
Features
- Superior photo quality with 5-color inks
- Auto 2-sided printing, built-in USB and memory card slots
- Hands-free, voice-activated printing
- Fast print speeds
Price: $149.00
5. Brother HL-L2300D Laser Printer – Best Budget
If you're looking for the best budget laser printer for your Mac, here's a reliable choice for both the home and office. It's compact and has a capacity of up to 250-sheets.
It connects to your computer via the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface and prints crisp black and white documents up to 27ppm. Further, automatic duplex printing helps save paper and costs.
Features
- Duplex printing
- Toner saver mode
- Print speed of up to 27ppm.
Price: $99.99
6. Xerox Phaser 6510/DN Color Printer – Speedy All in One Option
Check out this compact and dependable printer that supports letter and legal-sized paper. The powerful productivity tools and essential features are designed to minimize interruptions to make running and growing your business easier and more efficient than ever.
Further, it has an optional second paper tray that lets you load an extra 550 sheets at one time for extended interruption-free printing. It boasts color-approved solid-color simulations and Xerox color correction technology that produces high-quality prints.
Features
- Monthly duty cycle of 50,000 pages
- Print speeds up to 30 ppm.
- Latest security features
Price: $262.00
7. Pantum M7102DW Laser Printer – Best for Duplex Printing
How To Connect Wireless Printer To Mac
Get fast and high definition printing up to 33ppm(A4) / 35ppm(Letter) in black and white. It supports multiple media sizes and a media weight of up to 200g. The starter cartridge capacity is 1500 pages.
It's got an easy one-step wireless installation. And you can connect it with high-speed USB 2.0, network, and WIFI. It also supports mobile device printing through the Pantum app.
Features
- Fast and high definition printing up to 33ppm(A4) / 35ppm(Letter)
- Auto Duplex Printing
- Mobile app support
Print: $145.99
8. Lexmark B3340dw – Full-Spectrum Security
Get your first page in as fast as 6.2 seconds, and power through challenging jobs with a 1 GHz dual-core processor and 256 MB of memory. Connect via Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet to give your whole team access.
It gives an impressive speed of up to 40 pages per minute without being too pricey. Further, the security features help keep your information safe—in the document, on the device, over the network, and at all points in between.
Features
- Monochrome Laser
- Duplex printing
- Print Speed: Up to 40 ppm
- Monthly Page Volume: 500 – 5000 pages
Mavericks os download iso. Price: $169.98
Pick the Right Laster Printer for You
So, did this help you find the best laser printer for your Mac? Let us know your pick in the comments below. You can also check out our guide to printing from iPhone and iPad.
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Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com who has a keen eye for news, rumors and all the unusual stuff that happens around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting contents on social media.
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