Fix Printer Not Working After Upgrading Mac to macOS Catalina
Is your printer not working after upgrading your Mac to Catalina? Do not worry you are not the only one. There are multiple Mac users who are having a hard time with the printer on Catalina. Let’s start with a real-life scenario.
Scenario 1: Printer Problem with Catalina
I just downloaded Catalina and right the following moment, the PRINTER is not printing… can’t find which devil pushed me to download Catalina, but this is a disaster for my office. I have to print right now and I cannot. Who is the guy responsible for this?
Source: Apple Community
Scenario 2: Can’t Print with Catalina
I installed Catalina on my Mac mini and now I cannot print on my Epson workforce 845 printers. Drivers are up to date. The mac software seems to think the printing executed just fine, but the printer doesn’t budge. I can still print fine from my iPad and my MacBook Air. Any ideas?
Source: Apple Community
Like the above two users, there are multiple Catalina users who are facing printer issues. Please follow the steps mentioned below, one of the steps should help you resolve the issue.
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Fix Printer Not Working After Upgrading Mac to macOS Catalina
Table of Contents
Get the Right Printer Driver
With the introduction of Catalina, 32-bit apps may no longer work. So in order to get the printer working you will need a 64-bit driver. So in case, your printer needs a driver on your Mac then please install the 64-bit driver from your printer manufacturer’s website. Go to the Drivers and Download page of your printer manufacturer website and install the right driver for your printer. Many users were able to fix the printer issue just by installing the right driver on Mac.
Steps to Perform For AirPrint Enabled Printer
Please visit this Apple link to confirm if your printer is AirPrint enabled or not.
For AirPrint enabled printer make sure that printer and mac both are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Most of the time restarting your Mac and printer fix the issue.
- Shut down your Mac and the router.
- After a few seconds and restart the router.
- Once the router is up and running, restart your Mac.
- Please ensure that the printer, router, and Mac is close to each other.
Update Mac
macOS Catalina Users
- Go to the Apple menu> System Preferences> click on Software Update to check for updates.
- Click on Update Now to install the updates.
For Earlier macOS prior to macOS Catalina
Go to the App Store.
Click on Updates in the App Store toolbar and click on the Update to get the updates.
Uninstall and Reinstall Printer
- Go to the Apple menu> System Preferences> Printers and Scanners.
- Select your printer from the list, click on the minus sign to delete the printer.
- Now Restart your Mac.
- Again go to the Apple menu> System Preferences> Printers and Scanners. Now click on the plus sign > select Add to add Printer or Scanner and select your printer.
- Select the Use or Print using the menu, select the name of your printer and click Add.
Now start to print.
Steps to Perform for Non-AirPrint Enabled Printer
Visit this link to go through the list of Non-AirPrint Enabled Printer
- If you are using a USB cable to connect Mac to your printer, then please unplug the USB cable.
- Power off your printer.
- Updates your Mac (steps are provided above to update your Mac)
- After the update, plug in the printer USB cable to your Mac.
- Power on your printer, wait for a few seconds so that the startup process is complete.
- Go to the Apple menu > select System Preferences > click on Printers & Scanners.
- Locate your printer from the list, click on the plus + sign to add your printer if your printer does not show in the list.
Please follow the steps below in case your Printer is connected via WIFI.
- Shut down your Mac and the router.
- After a few seconds and restart the router.
- Once the router is up and running, restart your Mac.
- Please ensure that the printer, router, and Mac is close to each other.
Reset the Printing System
To reset the printing system follow the below steps
- Go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > click on Printers & Scanners.
- Press and hold the Control key on your keyboard, click anywhere in the list of devices on the left side.
- Click on the Reset printing system when you see a pop up to reset the printing system.
Restart your Mac and add your printer again.
Delete Printer Drivers
If the issue still persists even after resetting the printing system, then remove the current printer drivers. This step is not applicable to AirPrint printers.
- From the menu bar in the Finder, select Go > Go to Folder. Type in /Library/Printers/ and click on Go.
- This will open the Printers folder. Select Edit > Select All, this will select all the items in the Printers folder.
- Select File > New Folder with Selection, this will keep all of the selected items in a new folder which is named New Folder With Items. Now delete this folder.
Create a New Admin Account
- Go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > click on Users & Groups.
- Click on the lock icon to unlock it, enter your administrator name and password.
- Hit Add or Plus icon to create new account
- Click the New Account pop-up menu, select type of user i.e. Standard or Administrator user. Enter all the necessary details and then click on Create User.
Now use the printer, if the printer works without any issue, then continue using the current profile.
Conclusion
I hope this post helped you to get the printer working on macOS Catalina. Please contact printer manufacturer in case the issue still persists.
