How to Print on Mac

It's easy to print documents using your Mac computer. It is also important to know this because printing is an essential part of our lives. You use it for work, school, businesses, and many more. Learn how to print on the Mac by scrolling down to step 1.

Steps

Printing Via USB Cable

Install the printer software. An installation disc should have been included with the purchase of your printer. Depending on the provider, you may also be able to download the proper software online. Put the disk into your computer and follow the instructions for installation.
Obtain a compatible USB cable. Your printer should have come with a USB cable. You will need it to connect your printer to your Mac.
Connect your printer and Mac. Plug each end of the USB cable into the compatible ports on either device. You will need to locate the USB port on your Mac: on a laptop it will be on the side, on a computer it will be on the back. Make sure your printer is plugged in and turned on.
Navigate to the printer menu. Click on the apple icon in the upper left hand corner of your screen. Click on the "Printers and Scanners" option.
Add your printer to your Mac. Click on the + button below the box labeled "Printers." A window will appear - your printer should be listed in the box shown. Click on it, then click Add.
Open the document you wish to print. Then click "File" on the Menu bar.
Select "Print" at the bottom of the drop-down window. The Print window will appear.
Choose a printer. Click the first drop-down menu on the Print window. Select the printer you will be using. In most cases, the default printer should already be selected. In this case the printer you just added.
Enter the number of copies to be printed. Under the Copies and Pages section, enter the number of copies on the Copies field.
Select the pages to be printed. Under the Copies field, tick the radio box to select which pages to be printed.
- Select “All” to print all pages.
- Tick “From” to print certain pages only. Simply enter the page number you would like to print on the field.
Click the blue "Print" button to begin the printing process.
- If you want, you can print the document as a PDF by clicking the PDF button below and selecting "Save as PDF."

Printing Through a Wireless Connection

Connect your printer to a Wi-Fi network. Plug your printer into an electrical outlet and turn it on. In order to print using a wireless connection, your Mac and printer must be on the same wireless network. Refer to your printer's instruction manual to see how to connect to your wireless network.
- You will most likely need to access your printer's main menu, then navigate to the wireless set up wizard. Have your Wi-Fi name and password ready to enter.
Update your OS X. Make sure the software on your Mac is up to date. To double check, click on the apple icon in the top left hand corner of the screen. Click on Software Update. The App Store will open - if you need to update your OS it will prompt you to do so now.
Add the printer to your computer. Navigate to System Preferences, then to the Printer and Scanners options. Click the + button below the dialogue printer's box. Click on the printer you just set up on the wireless network.
Locate the document you want to print. Once you have found it, double click to open.
Print the document. Click on File in the upper left hand corner, and click the print option. A window appear with a list of options. Make sure the printer selected is the one you just set up. Configure the features in the menu to fit your needs. Click on the Print button.