While upgrade from macOS Catalina to Big Sur has been effortless for most users, some users have witnessed certain issues. Printer related problems are one such issue that affected many users. Now if your printer has stopped working after upgrading to macOS Big Sur, then you need to follow the steps mentioned in this article to fix this issue.
Why has the printer stopped working?
The primary reasons behind printer problems on macOS Big Sur include:
- Connection has lost between your printer and Mac. Possibly the printer has lost its connection to your Wi-Fi network.
- The driver software needs to be updated to work with macOS Big Sur.
How to fix printer not working in macOS Big Sur?
There are different steps you should follow to fix printer not working in macOS Big Sur. Let’s discuss some of these quick solutions.
1. Try a different application to print
You should start with the simplest solutions first. Try printing using different application as there could be some issue with the application you are using to print. If you are able to print fro another application and still want to print from the original application, then try these steps:
- From the Print dialog box in the app, click Save as PDF.
- Tap Save.
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Simply print the PDF document from Preview.
To fix the problem with the existing application try to get the latest version of the app. If you are running the latest version already, then try to reinstall it.
2. Try printing as a different user
The next solution you can try to fix printer problems on Big Sur is to try printing as a different user. For this, you should have an account set up already. If you are able to print from a different user account, then the problem is some corrupt files that lie in your main user account. You can clean those junk files using the best Mac cleaner software like CleanMyMac X. It is a comprehensive Mac cleaner & optimization tool that helps you free up GBs of disk space while boosting your overall system performance.
3. Make sure the printer is connected properly
If the printer is connected by a USB cable, check if it is connected properly. You can unplug and replug it to see if it works. If you have a wireless printer, then you should check the connectivity using control panel. You should check if the printer and Mac are connected to the same wireless network. You can check the printer’s instruction manual to fix this if you have any confusion on how to do it. Also make sure your Mac is connected to Wi-Fi.
4. Check the printer is selected
You need to check that the printer is selected in System Preferences. To do this, follow these steps:
- Select Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Choose Printers & Scanners. Here, check that the printer is displayed in the sidebar and selected.
- If not, press ‘+’ to add it.
- That’s it.
5. Reinstall the driver software
If you are unable to add printer from System Preferences, drivers might be at fault. It is possible the driver software isn’t compatible to the latest macOS Big Sur. You need to check the system requirement for the driver to make sure it supports Big Sur. To reinstall the latest driver software, follow these steps:
- Launch Safari and navigate to the printer manufacturer’s website.
- Open driver download section and download the latest driver version for your printer compatible to Big Sur.
- From the installer, double-click to launch it and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
- Now that you have the latest printer drivers on your system, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and add your printer.
Conclusion
Printing problems are as old as the printers themselves. Try steps mentioned above to fix printer not working or printer problems on macOS Big Sur. Do share your experience in the comments below.
