Remove your printer from the Mac and add it again

Why it happens

Your Mac keeps a saved entry for each printer, with the software it uses to talk to it. That entry can get damaged, or point at old software after a macOS update, and then jobs fail or the printer shows as offline. Removing it and adding it again builds a fresh, clean entry. Your documents aren't affected.

How to fix it

1. Turn the printer on and let it finish starting up. Note its name as it appears on your Mac, so you can spot it again.

2. Choose Apple menu > System Settings and click Printers & Scanners. On macOS 26, select the printer, click the minus (−) button under the list and confirm. On macOS 27, select the printer and choose Remove Printer… (Control-click it if you don't see it), then click Remove Printer to confirm.

   Printers & Scanners

3. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax… and wait a few seconds for the list to fill in.

   Printers & Scanners

4. Click your printer. If Use offers AirPrint, keep it: it needs no extra software. Click Add.

5. Print a test page from any app with Command-P to check it works.

Removing a printer looks different. On macOS 26 you select the printer and click the minus (−) button. On macOS 27 the minus button is gone: select the printer and choose Remove Printer…, then click Remove Printer to confirm. Adding the printer again works the same on both.

Still not fixed?

1. Printer missing from the Add list? Check it's on the same Wi-Fi as your Mac, or plug its USB cable straight into the Mac. You can also add it by IP address on the IP tab of the same window.

2. If AirPrint isn't offered, install the latest Mac software for your exact model from the printer maker's website. Then add the printer again and choose that software in the Use menu.

3. Restart the printer, then your Mac, and try again. A printer that has been on for weeks can stop answering.

4. As a last resort on the Mac, reset the printing system. Control-click the printer list and choose Reset Printing System…. It removes every printer and waiting job, so add your printers again afterwards.

   Printers & Scanners

5. If the printer won't print from any device, even after a fresh setup, contact its maker, as it may need a repair. If it prints from other devices but never from this Mac, contact Apple Support.