Share the printer plugged into your Mac with other computers

Why it happens

A printer plugged into your Mac by cable can only be used from that Mac until you share it. Printer Sharing lets other computers on the same network send their pages through your Mac to the printer. It's off by default, and your Mac has to be on and awake for it to work.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click General, then Sharing.

2. Click the info button next to Printer Sharing.

   General›Sharing›Printer Sharing

3. Turn on Printer Sharing and tick each printer you want to share. You can also choose which people may use it, then click Done.

4. On another Mac, open Printers & Scanners, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax…, and choose your shared printer from the list.

   Printers & Scanners

Still not fixed?

1. Shared printer shows as offline? Wake the Mac it's plugged into. To keep a MacBook reachable, turn on Wake for network access in Battery options; on a desktop Mac it's in Energy.

   Battery›Options…›Wake for network access

2. Printer missing on the other computer? Check both are on the same network, and print a test page from your own Mac first to make sure the printer itself works.

3. Remove the shared printer on the other computer and add it again. That clears out an old or broken setup.

4. Sharing says Printer Sharing: Blocked by Firewall? Keep the firewall on. Open Firewall, click Options…, and turn off Block all incoming connections, so services you've chosen to share can get through.

   Network›Firewall›Options…›Block all incoming connections

5. If the printer works from your Mac but never from other computers, contact Apple Support or the printer's maker for help.