In Mac OS X, how do I print over TCP/IP (the Internet)?

At Indiana University Bloomington, UITS provides a printer utility for Mac OS X that will automatically install Student Technology Center (STC) and Residential Technology Center (RTC) printers. For more, see How do I obtain and use the IU printer finder utility?

Alternatively, if you are an IUB campus housing resident and prefer to manually connect your Mac OS X computer to your RTC's networked printer, see In IUB campus housing, how can I print to my RTC's printer?

To set up your Mac OS X computer to print to a networked printer over TCP/IP, change your settings as described below.

On this page:

• Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
• Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
• Mac OS X 10.3 and earlier

Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

To configure your Print & Fax preferences in Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6:

1. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... . In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Print & Fax.
   
   
2. Click the + (plus sign) to add a new printer, and in the new window that opens, click the IP icon.
   
   
3. Next to "Protocol:", select the protocol your printer uses. If you're not sure, try the default option.
   
   
4. In the "Address:" field, type the hostname or IP number of the printer. As you type, your computer will search for printers with that number. Once you have finished, "Valid and complete address" will appear below the "Address:" field.
   
   
5. To print to a specific queue, type its name in the "Queue:" field.
   
   
6. Give the printer a descriptive name and location in the appropriate fields. Your Mac may guess what your printer is automatically, but if it doesn't, from the pull-down list beside "Print Using:", select Select a driver to use... and then your network printer's model or series. If your printer is not on the list, contact its manufacturer and see if drivers are available for it.
   
   
7. Click Add. An "Installable Options" menu will appear. You may make adjustments here, and then click Continue.
   
   
8. When your printer is installed, it should appear in the Print & Fax window. To select a default printer if you have more than one installed, choose a printer from the list in the menu next to "Default Printer:".

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

To configure the Printer Setup Utility for Mac OS X 10.4:

1. In the Applications folder, go to the Utilities subfolder and open the Printer Setup Utility.
   
   
2. From the Printer List that appears, click Add.
   
   
3. In the sheet that appears, from the menu at the top, select IP Printer.
   
   
4. Next to "Protocol:", select the protocol your printer uses. If you're not sure, try the default option.
   
   
5. In the "Address:" field, type the hostname or IP number of the printer. As you type, your computer will search for printers with that number. Once you have finished, "Valid and complete address" will appear below the "Address:" field.
   
   
6. To print to a specific queue, type its name in the "Queue:" field.
   
   
7. Click Add to continue. You will be prompted to enter additional options for the printer, but you can leave the settings as they are and click Continue. The printer's port number will then appear in your Printer List.

Mac OS X 10.3 and earlier

To configure the Printer Setup Utility or Print Center utility for Mac OS X 10.3 and earlier:

1. In the Applications folder, go to the Utilities subfolder and open the Printer Setup Utility or Print Center utility. (This is its normal location, but your utility could be located elsewhere.)
   
   
2. From the Printers menu, select Add Printer... .
   
   
3. In the sheet that appears, from the pop-up menu at the top, select IP Printing or LPR Printing using IP.
   
   
4. In 10.3, next to "Printer Type:", select the protocol your printer uses. If you're not sure, try the default option.
   
   
5. In the field next to "Printer Address:", "Printer's Address:", or "LPR Printer's Address:", type the domain name or IP number of the printer.
   
   
6. In 10.3, to print to a specific queue, type its name in the "Queue Name:" field. In 10.2 and earlier, deselect Use Default Queue on Server: , and then type your queue's name next to "Queue Name:".
   
   
7. In Mac OS X 10.3 or 10.2, from the pop-up menu next to "Printer Model:", select your printer's maker. From the list that appears, select the individual printer. In earlier versions of Mac OS X, from the pop-up menu next to "Printer Model:", select your printer's model.

   If your printer is not listed but you have a copy of its PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file on your computer, select Other... , and then navigate to the file on your computer. If you don't have a PPD file for your printer and it doesn't match any on the list, choose Generic.

8. Click Add.

Your printer will now be available from any application native to Mac OS X.

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