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, using Mac OS X, how do I connect to my RTC's network 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 and later
• Mac OS X 10.4

Mac OS X 10.5 and later

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

1. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences... . In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Print & Scan or Print & Fax.
   
   
2. Click the + (plus sign) to add a new printer, and in the new window that opens, click IP.
   
   
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've 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 "Use:" or "Print Using:", select Select Printer Software... or Select a driver to use... , and then choose 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. Your computer may download and install your printer's software. Once it's done, a sheet of installable options will appear. Make adjustments here if you need to, and then click OK or Continue.
   
   
8. When your printer is installed, it should appear in the Print & Scan or 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've 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.