Printers: Install a Network Printer on a macOS Computer

Printers are managed by Active Directory groups. You need to be added to the proper group to see and access a given printer. If you have not been added to the proper group, the printer will not appear in Self Service.

Requesting Access to a Printer
Adding a Network Printer using Self Service (Preferred Method)
Manually Adding a Network Printer
Additional Information

 Requesting Access to a Printer

Note: This will only work on University managed devices. For instructions on adding printers to personal devices, use Manually Adding a Network Printer.

Complete the Printer Access Request form to gain access to a network printer or contact Technology Help if you need assistance or are facing one of the following situations:

  • The person who needs access to the printer does not populate into the request form
  • The printer you are looking for is not listed in the request form
  • Adding a large group, Department or Unit to a printer

 Adding a Network Printer using Self Service (Preferred Method)

For centrally managed devices, many of these printers are also available through the Self Service application without an admin account or configuration. You should be able to add printers using Self Service after receiving confirmation that your printer access request has been completed.

Follow these steps to add printers to your computer using Self Service:

  1. Click on the Gomenu on your computer's toolbar, then click Applications.
  2. Open the Self Service  application.
  3. Click Log in on the bottom left side of the screen, enter your internet ID credentials and press the return key.
  4. Open the Browse menu on the left side of the window, then open Printing underneath it. A list of available printers should show up on the right side of the window.
  5. Click Install on any printers that you'd like to have installed on this computer. A progress wheel should appear and you should get a Done notification once the printer has been installed.

For more assistance with this, refer to Using the Self Service application on macOS Computers.

 Manually Adding a Network Printer

Note: You may need to have administrative access on your computer and the printer's IP Address to perform these tasks. If you cannot find this information on the printer or do not have administrator privileges on your computer or access to Make Me Admin for temporary privileges, please contact your local IT support or Technology Help.

  1. From the Apple menu, click on Systems Settings (System Preferences for older versions of MacOS).
    1. Choose Printers & Scanners.
      Picture of System Settings showing Printers & Scanners at the bottom of the list
       
  2. Once in Printers & Scanners, click the Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... button.  (For older versions of MacOS, click the + icon.)
  3. On the Add screen click on the IP icon.
  4. You are brought here
    Add window with the IP tab open
  5. On this page you will want to fill in:
    1. Address: (IP or hostname) for the printer you would like to install.
    2. Protocol: Line Printer Daemon - LPD is the recommended option for most larger devices, while Internet Printing Protocol - IPP is typically best with smaller devices.
    3. Insert the Name of the printer. This will be what your printer shows up as on your computer.
    4. Add the Location of the device. This is a note that will tell you where this printer is.
  6. Once you enter the IP Address, Name and Location detail, you will need to select a Printer Driver by clicking the drop down menu next to Use
    1. Note: You should NOT need an admin account to add a printer this way.
  7. Click the drop down arrow next to the Use field.
  8. Choose Select Software..
  9. On the Printer Software screen
  10. You can filter your search by typing the type of printer you are looking for in the Filter field. In this example we are filtering for "Toshiba" and choosing the "Toshiba e-ST4511/451c Series P5" which happens to be the driver to e-Studio281c and 451c printers. If the printer is not listed, you will need to go to the manufacturer's website and download the drivers.
  11. Once selected, click OK
    The Printer Software window is open with 'Toshiba' written in the search bar an example printer highlighted.
  12. Once you have selected the driver to "Use", you are brought back to the Add screen to complete the "Add" of the printer.
  13. To complete the "Add" you need to click the Add button. To move to next the step of the install.
    Add window with the IP tab open and example information added to the fields
  14. Printer setup will begin.
  15. Modify your printer options as needed. This example does not have additional options to change. This set up shown would be accurate and you would click OK to move to next step
    Example of the Setting up 'printer' page with Cancel and Ok buttons at the bottom
  16. You are nearly done. From here you will want to double left click on the [Name of the Printer] to test the printing and set the device to be your default printer if you would like to.
  17. From here you can print a test page by left clicking on the Printer drop down menu for the device and choosing the Print Test Page option
    Printer is selected in the menubar at the top of the screen and in the dropdown Print Test Page is selected.
  18. The test print page should flash on the screen like the image here and then go away.
    Test print window with a document titled testprint loading
  19. If you click on the Printer dropdown, you can choose to set the printer as Make Default, check additional settings etc
    Printer is selected in the menubar and it shows a dropdown menu with these choices in order. Pause, Make Default, Settings, Supply Levels, Print Test Page, Network Diagnostics, Error Log, and Printer & Scanners Preferences.

     Additional Information

    For instructions on how to set up network printers on a Windows PC refer to Printers: Windows add printer - print server.

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    TDX ID

    5619