Connect a printer to your network using an AirPort Time Capsule or AirPort base station
If you connect your printer to an AirPort Time Capsule or AirPort Extreme Base Station, any Mac on your network can use the printer, whether they connect to the network wirelessly or with a cable.
Note: Connecting a printer to an AirPort Time Capsule or an AirPort base station doesn’t make it an AirPrint-enabled printer.
On your Mac, update your printer software: Check with your printer’s manufacturer to see if any updates are available for your printer model.
If you have an AirPrint printer, you don’t need to check for software updates.
Prepare your printer: Use the instructions that came with your printer to unpack the printer, install ink or toner, and add paper. Turn on the printer and make sure it’s not displaying any errors.
Test your printer: Temporarily connect the printer to the USB port on your Mac, then print a test page.
Tip: You can quickly print a test page for a printer using Print Centre, which you can find in the Utilities folder. When Print Centre is open, select the printer in the sidebar, then choose Printer > Print Test Page. See Manage printers and print jobs with Print Centre.
Connect your printer: Plug in the printer to your AirPort Time Capsule or AirPort base station.
If your printer has an Ethernet port, connect your printer to one of your base station’s Ethernet ports.
Otherwise, connect your printer to the USB port on the AirPort Time Capsule or AirPort base station.
If you’re setting up an AirPort Express for the first time, connect the printer to the AirPort Express before setting up the base station.
Print a document: Open a document, then choose File > Print. Click the Printer pop-up menu, then choose the printer from the menu.