How to Set Up a Wireless Printer on a Mac

By Bennett Gavrish

i Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images

Wireless printers can be used in a home office or business office so that one printer can service many computers. With a wireless printer, you can print documents from a Mac computer without directly connecting the computer to the printer. This is helpful in offices where network wiring does not exist or in temporary offices where you don't want to invest the time and money to install a wired network. You also may want a wireless printer in your home so that all family computers can print to just one printer without cluttering up your home with cables.

Step 1

Select your Wi-Fi network using the printer's built-in controls. You may be prompted to enter your network username and password if it is a secured network.

Step 2

Install on your Mac the necessary printer driver from the CD that came with your printer. If no CD came with your printer, go to the manufacturer's website and download the software for your printer model.

Step 3

Select "System Preferences" from the Dock.

Step 4

Select the "Print & Fax" control panel in the Hardware section.

Step 5

Click the "+" icon on the left side of the control panel.

Step 6

Select the "IP" tab at the top of the pop-up window and choose "Internet Protocol IPP" from the list of available protocols.

Step 7

Type in your wireless printer's IP address and queue name.

Step 8

Select the correct printer driver from the "Print Using" drop-down menu.

Step 9

Click the "Add" button to finish setting up the wireless printer. The printer will now show up as an available device the next time you print a document.

References

Writer Bio