Try these fixes on how to connect a printer to a Mac when it is not showing up.
When a Mac cannot find a printer, the cause is usually network discovery, a disconnected printer, an outdated driver, or a stuck print system. Work through the checks below before resetting everything.
1. Check the printer itself.
Make sure the printer is powered on and not showing a paper, ink, toner, cover, or maintenance error. If it has gone into deep sleep, press the power or wake button and wait a minute.
2. Check the network.
For a wireless printer, confirm that the printer and Mac are connected to the same Wi-Fi name. A Mac connected to a guest network may not see a printer on the main network.
Restart the printer and router. If your router combines 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks under one name, the printer should normally still work, but older models may need their manufacturer’s setup process.
3. Remove and add the printer again.
Open System Settings → Printers & Scanners, select the problem printer, and remove it. Then choose Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax and add it again.
This can remove an outdated queue or incorrect connection address.
4. Try AirPrint or the official driver.
If macOS offers AirPrint, try it first for standard documents. If you need scanning or advanced colour settings, install software only from the printer maker’s official website.
Avoid installing several competing drivers for the same printer. They can create duplicate queues and confusion.
5. Fix a stuck print queue.
Open the printer in Printers & Scanners and review the queue. Cancel documents that are paused or showing an error, then send a small test page.
If a document remains stuck, restart the Mac and printer before resetting the entire printing system.
6. Reset the printing system only as a last resort.
macOS provides a reset option in the Printers & Scanners area. It removes printers and queues, so use it only after recording the printer model and downloading any required official software.
After the reset, restart the Mac and add the printer again.
When to contact the manufacturer
Contact the printer manufacturer if the device cannot connect to Wi-Fi, shows a hardware error, needs firmware recovery, or works from another device but not after a clean Mac setup.
Check whether another device can print
Try printing from a phone or another computer on the same network. If no device can find the printer, the problem is probably the printer’s Wi-Fi connection, router configuration, or hardware. If other devices work but the Mac does not, focus on the Mac’s printer entry, VPN, firewall, or driver.
Some offices and schools intentionally block device-to-device discovery for security reasons. In that case, ask the network administrator for the approved printer address or print server rather than changing router settings yourself.
Final verdict
Start with power, network, and printer-queue checks. Re-add the printer before resetting macOS printing, and use official software only when AirPrint does not provide the features you need.
Keep the setup simple.
Do not add the same physical printer several times unless the manufacturer specifically requires separate queues. Duplicate entries can make it difficult to know which driver, paper tray, or colour profile a print job is using. Keep one clearly named default queue and remove old entries when you replace a router or printer.
