Install and configure the printer on a MacBook

The fact that many modern devices, accompanied by operating systems, to convince someone is unlikely to be needed. This information is owned even by a small child. However, among users there is such a category that remains in absolute certainty that computers, laptops and other modern gadgets are equipped only with an operating system such as Windows. It is such a delusion that after the acquisition of the MacBook, there is a stupor. The person does not understand what the new device is, the system installed on it, how it works. Moreover, it is difficult for him to navigate how to install a diskless printer on such an OS.

You can easily connect and configure a printer to your MacBook.

We hurry to assure you that your panic is unfounded. Everything is not as difficult as a violent fantasy can draw in the minds of uninformed users. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the recommendations on how a printer is connected to a MacBook.

Ways to connect devices

The process of connecting peripherals to a MacBook is not accompanied by difficulties, although they can be imagined for those who have been an active user of modern Windows-based gadgets for a long time. The interface of these operating systems is completely different, so it is important to learn how to navigate through the new menu options. To facilitate such a process of “adaptation” to a new operating system, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the algorithm for connecting a printer to a MacBook.

With USB

If you have the opportunity to connect a printer to your device using a USB cable, consider yourself lucky, because it makes it much easier to do all the things.

So, connect the USB cable to your MacBook, and then to the printer. Now on the Dock panel located at the bottom of the screen, find the “System Settings” parameter, go to this menu. In the window that opens, you will find the “Printers and scanners” parameter that is important for us. Of course, we not only needed to find this parameter, but also enter it.

In the new window, those peripheral devices that you have previously connected to your MacBook will be displayed. Of course, if you are trying to configure access to a printer for the first time, you will not find anything in this window. Accordingly, if you have decided to connect a specific printer to a MacBook, click on the button with the image of a plus sign.

A window will open in which you will be prompted to indicate which particular device you wish to connect. To ensure correct operation of the printer, you will need to download and immediately install the appropriate software. Let you be pleased that you do not need to worry about this, you just need to follow all the recommendations that will arise on the screen.

In particular, the system will ask to connect to the Internet, if you forgot to do it earlier. After connecting to the network, the system will automatically find all the necessary drivers automatically, install them all by itself. After this process is complete, the printer will be fully ready for printing.

Connecting a shared device

If you have a printer that is connected directly to the computer, we do not recommend that you pull the USB cable out of the PC every time, insert it into the MacBook to follow the path we described above. You can do a little differently. Initially, make changes to the settings of your printing device connected to the PC, making it accessible over the network.

After that, re-enter the "System Settings", proceed to the item "Printers and Scanners", but now notice that there are four tabs in the upper part. You need at this moment to go to the fourth tab "Windows".

Wait a small amount of time for your device to have time to scan the network. After that, information will appear in the window regarding:

  • the names of the available working group;
  • PC name;
  • available network printer.

Now we need to take care of the printer software. In the bottom part, find the “Use” parameter, click on it to open the drop-down list.

Now do not allow any haste, as several options will be offered, among which we will have to choose only one, respectively, in order to make the right choice, you need to understand their distinctive features and purpose. It is recommended to select the “General PostScript Printer” option only in the most exceptional cases when you have no other option left.

TIP. If you have saved software downloaded in advance from official sources for your printer on your device, you should use the “Other” parameter.

The developers strongly recommend choosing the “Select Software” option in cases where the drivers have already been previously installed on the MAC OS. You can also choose a parameter such as "Shared PCL printer", which was developed specifically by Hewlett-Packard.

After selecting the desired parameter, you will need to click on the "Add" button. Now you can try to make a test printout of the document. Just keep in mind that the system will ask you to enter the name of the PC and the password for the account. To exclude permanent such requests, after entering the requested information, tick the checkbox next to the "Remember ..."

Connecting a network device

You can connect a printer that is assigned an IP address on your network. To do this, the initial steps will be identical to those described above. Only after the plus sign is pressed, four tabs will appear in the window, this time you will need to switch to the third tab “IP”. Now you will need to enter the IP address of the desired printer. If you do not know it, it does not matter, just go to the settings of the device itself and select the option "Print network settings".

The next fields to be filled in are “Protocol”, “Queue”. Despite the fact that the system has offered you to fill them in, you can ignore this request and leave these lines blank.

At the bottom you will need to select the appropriate software again. The principle of choice remains unchanged. After making these changes, click Continue. After a few minutes, you will verify that the printer has been added to your MacBook, so that you can print from this point on.

So, you could make sure in a clear example that there is nothing complicated when you connect a printer to a MacBook, that you can print successfully without limiting yourself to anything.