Modern office It's impossible to imagine a desktop or home workspace without wireless technologies that allow you to instantly print documents and photos. For Apple ecosystem users, the issue of peripheral integration is especially pressing, as macOS has its own unique drivers and network protocols. In this article, we'll take a detailed look at how to set up printing from iMac without the use of unnecessary wires, ensuring a stable connection and high-quality output.
The connection process may vary depending on the printer model and the operating system version installed on your computer. Wireless network The router must be configured correctly, and the devices must be within range of the router's signal. We'll cover both standard methods via AirPrint and more complex options involving installing specialized software from manufacturers.
Before we get into the technical details, make sure your router is dual-band or at least supports the 802.11n/ac standard. Connection stability This is critical for transferring large files or high-resolution photos. If you've just purchased a new printer, the first step should always be setting it up using the device's control panel.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure your iMac and printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Users often encounter issues when the computer is connected to a guest network or VPN, but the printer is on the main local network.
Equipment preparation and compatibility testing
The first step is to physically prepare the devices and check their technical capability to operate wirelessly. Not all older printer models have built-in Wi-Fi module, so a visual inspection or study of the model specifications HP LaserJet, Canon PIXMA or Epson EcoTank Required. If the device has an antenna icon or a wireless network button on its body, it's ready to use.
You'll need to know your wireless network name (SSID) and password to access it. In some cases, especially for printers without a display, a temporary USB connection may be required to transfer network settings. Drivers For macOS, they are usually installed automatically, but for advanced scanning functionality, it is better to visit the manufacturer's website in advance.
- 📡 Make sure your router is broadcasting at 2.4 GHz, as many printers do not support 5 GHz networks.
- 🔌 Check that the printer is turned on and that it is not in deep sleep mode, which is blocking network requests.
- 📱 Make sure your iMac is running the latest version of macOS for Bonjour to work properly.
It's important to note that corporate networks with complex authorization systems (Captive Portal) may block printer connections. In such cases, network administrator must provide the MAC address of the device to be whitelisted. For home users, this step is usually quick and painless.
Setting up a printer to work on a Wi-Fi network
The printer setup process itself depends on whether it has a touchscreen. If you have a modern model with display, For example, Brother MFC or Canon TR series, you need to go to the settings menu, select "Network" or "Wireless," and run the setup wizard. The device will search for available networks, and all you need to do is select yours and enter the password.
For models without a screen, such as many budget series HP DeskJet, using the WPS method or temporarily creating an access point with the printer itself. You can press the wireless button on the printer, after which the printer will create a network that you need to connect to from your iPhone or Mac to share your home router settings. This is called Wi-Fi Direct or Smart Setup.
If automatic setup doesn't work, you can use a temporary USB connection. Connect the cable between your iMac and the printer, run the driver installer from the official website, and follow the on-screen instructions. During the installation, the wizard will prompt you to switch the connection to wireless, after which the cable can be removed.
☑️ Checking printer readiness
⚠️ Attention: When entering the Wi-Fi password on printers without a full keyboard, be extremely careful with capitalization. A single character error will prevent the device from connecting to the network, and you'll have to start the process over again.
Adding a printer to macOS via AirPrint
The easiest and most preferred way for Apple users is to use technology AirPrintIt allows you to print without installing additional drivers, as all the necessary components are already built into the macOS operating system. To check whether your printer supports this standard, simply add it to the system.
Open System Preferences (or System Preferences in newer versions of macOS) on your iMac. Go to the Printers & Scanners section. Click the "Add a printer, scanner, or fax machine" button. The system will automatically search for devices on the local network using the protocol. Bonjour.
When your printer appears in the list (usually with the model name, for example, Epson L3150 Series), select it. In the "Use" field, the system should automatically select the "Secure AirPrint" or "AirPrint" driver. Click "Add," and in a few seconds, the device will be ready to use.
| Printer model | AirPrint support | Connection type | Required drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP LaserJet Pro | Yes | Wi-Fi / Ethernet | Not required |
| Canon PIXMA G | Yes | Wi-Fi | Not required |
| Brother HL-L | Yes | Wi-Fi | Not required |
| Old Epson models | No | Wi-Fi | Installation from the website is required |
If the system has found the printer but cannot automatically detect the driver, try selecting the manufacturer from the list on the left and the model on the right. However, for modern devices, this is rarely necessary. The AirPrint protocol provides the best compatibility and stability with Apple devices, minimizing software conflicts.
Installing drivers and software
In cases where the standard macOS tools are not enough to use all the device functions (for example, duplex printing, scanning to PDF, managing ink levels), you need to install full-fledged driverManufacturers often release packaged solutions such as HP Easy Start, Canon IJ Network Tool or Epson Software Updater.
Download software only from official manufacturers' websites. Using third-party resources may result in the installation of malware or incorrect driver versions that are incompatible with your version. macOS Sonoma or VenturaAfter downloading, open the .dmg file and follow the installer instructions.
During installation, the program may require connecting the printer via USB for initial network setup. After the settings are transferred, the installer will prompt you to complete the process. Make sure the device appears as "" in the printer list in System Preferences.Ready", not "Disabled".
Sometimes, after updating your operating system, old drivers may stop working. In this case, remove the printer from the device list, right-click an empty space in the printer list, and select "Reset Printing System." This will clear all print queues and settings, after which you'll need to add the printer again.
⚠️ Attention: The "Reset Printing System" function will remove all added printers and saved queue settings. Use this method only if other troubleshooting steps have failed, and be prepared to reconfigure all devices.
What to do if the driver is not installed?
If the installer reports a compatibility error, check whether macOS Gatekeeper is blocking the program from launching. Go to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy, and if there's a blocking message, click "Allow Anyway." Also, try launching the installer by holding down the Control key and selecting "Open" from the context menu.
Solving common connection problems
Even with proper configuration, situations may arise where the iMac "sees" the printer but doesn't print. Often, the problem lies with IP addresses. If the router assigns new addresses to devices after a reboot, and the printer was added via a static IP, the connection will be interrupted. Use a protocol Bonjour, which dynamically updates addresses to avoid this.
Another common cause is a frozen print queue. Open Activity Monitor or simply the printer queue window and try clearing the list of documents. If a document shows "Paused" or "Error," delete it and try printing a test page. Reboot router and printer often solves 90% of connectivity problems.
Check your power saving settings. Some routers and printers can turn off their Wi-Fi module to save power if there's been no activity for a certain period of time. You can try assigning an IP address to the printer in your router settings (DHCP Reservation) so it's always accessible via a single network address.
- 🔄 Restart the chain of devices: router → printer → iMac (in that order).
- 🔍 Check if Do Not Disturb mode or access control profiles blocking the local network are enabled on your iMac.
- 📶 Make sure that the printer has not switched to Wi-Fi Direct mode by disconnecting from the router's main network.
If all else fails, try creating a new user on your Mac and adding the printer under their profile. This will help you determine whether the issue is in the system settings for a specific user or in global settings. operating system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to connect a printer directly to an iMac without a router?
Yes, this is possible using Wi-Fi Direct technology if your printer supports it. In this case, the printer creates its own wireless network to which the iMac connects. However, in this mode, the computer may not be able to access the internet if it only has one Wi-Fi module.
Why doesn't macOS see my printer in the list of available printers?
Most often, the devices are on different networks (for example, one on a guest network, the other on the main network) or on different frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), which are isolated from each other by the router settings. Also, check if Bonjour is enabled.
Do I need to buy a separate Wi-Fi adapter for my old printer?
Yes, if your printer doesn't have a built-in module, you can purchase a dedicated Wi-Fi adapter (Print Server) that connects via USB or LPT. However, setting up such devices on macOS is often complicated and requires manually entering IP addresses and ports.
How do I print from my iPhone if the printer is already connected to my iMac?
If the printer supports AirPrint, it will be visible to the iPhone directly, regardless of whether the iMac is currently connected. The computer acts as a network client, not a print server, so the iMac may be turned off.
What should I do if a driver is missing after updating macOS?
Remove the printer from the system, reset the printing system, and re-add the device. macOS will attempt to download the latest driver from its updates. If this doesn't help, download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website, marked as compatible with your OS version.