OS X Lion: Set up a printer to print wirelessly

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Set up a printer to print wirelessly

If your printer has built-in Bluetooth or wi-fi, you can print to it wirelessly. And you can also print wirelessly to any printer you can connect to your Time Capsule or AirPort base station.

Set up a printer with built-in wi-fi

If you’re setting up a printer with built-in wi-fi, you don’t need to connect it to your Mac, Time Capsule, or AirPort base station.

  1. Follow the directions that came with the printer to set it up and connect it to your wi-fi network.
  2. Open a document to print, and then choose File > Print.
  3. Choose the printer from the Printer pop-up menu.

    It may be in the Nearby Printers pop-up menu.

    For more information on setting up a printer with built-in wi-fi, see this article:

    Apple Support article: How to connect a wireless-capable printer to your AirPort network

Set up a Bluetooth printer

If your printer is Bluetooth enabled, you can print to it wirelessly.

  1. Follow the instructions that came with the printer to set it up.
  2. Open a document to print, and then choose File > Print.
  3. Open the Printer pop-up menu, and choose Add Printer.
  4. Select your printer, and then click Add.

    If your printer doesn’t appear in the Add Printer dialog, Bluetooth may not be enabled on your computer. You can turn it on in Bluetooth preferences.

Set up a printer connected to a Time Capsule or AirPort base station

Using an AirPort Extreme Base Station, AirPort Express Base Station, or Time Capsule, you can share a printer with other computers on your network, whether they connect to the network wirelessly or with a cable.

For more information, see this help topic:

Set up a printer connected to a Time Capsule or AirPort base station

Last Modified: Oct 30, 2013
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