Printer Stopped Working after macOS Update? 4 Fixes That Work

If your reliable desktop printer suddenly halted after a macOS update, you are not alone. Many Mac owners find that older USB printers from Canon, HP, Brother, Epson, and Samsung stop communicating with their computer, displaying errors stating that the software is not compatible with this device.

Here is why your printer stopped working, along with practical steps to get your hardware running again without buying a new machine.

Why this happens

Printers generally outlive the software built for them. A high-quality laser or inkjet printer can easily run for ten to fifteen years, but manufacturers rarely maintain software drivers beyond five to seven years.

When major macOS updates arrive, Apple updates security protocols and deprecates legacy runtime environments. Many older vendor drivers were compiled exclusively for Intel x86 processors or depend on legacy architecture that modern versions of macOS no longer execute.

When macOS detects an unsupported, 32-bit, or deprecated Intel kernel extension or background filter, it blocks the software from running. The physical printer hardware is completely functional, but your Mac lacks a native driver to convert documents into commands your printer can understand.

Fixes to try

Follow these troubleshooting steps in order, starting with standard macOS utilities before turning to open-source driver replacements.

1. Reset the Mac printing system

Corrupted printer queues and conflicting background tasks often occur right after a system upgrade. Resetting the macOS printing system removes all configured printers, clears the print spooler, and lets you re-add the device with fresh default settings.

1. Open the Apple menu () and select System Settings.
2. In the sidebar, scroll down and click Printers & Scanners.
3. Hold down the Control key and click inside the printer list area on the right (or right-click an existing printer name).
4. Select Reset Printing System… from the contextual menu.
5. Confirm the prompt when asked for your administrator password.
6. Unplug the printer’s USB cable from your Mac, wait ten seconds, and plug it back in directly (avoid unpowered USB hubs).
7. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax…, select your printer, and test a single test page.

2. Switch to a Generic PCL or PostScript driver

If macOS detects the printer hardware over USB but fails to locate an official driver, you can often bypass manufacturer software by using Apple’s built-in generic page description languages.

1. Go to Apple menu () > System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax….
3. Highlight your connected USB printer in the list.
4. Look at the bottom of the window at the Use dropdown menu.
5. Instead of letting macOS search automatically, click the menu and choose Generic PCL Printer or Generic PostScript Printer.
6. Click Add and attempt a print job from TextEdit or Preview.

Note: Generic drivers provide basic black-and-white or standard-resolution color printing. Advanced features like double-sided duplexing, tray selection, and photo paper optimization may not be available under generic profiles.

3. Install community open-source Apple Silicon drivers

If your printer does not support generic PCL/PostScript commands, you need a driver built specifically for Apple Silicon. Because manufacturers abandon older models, open-source developers package modern Gutenprint drivers into notarized macOS installers designed to restore support for thousands of legacy Canon, Epson, Lexmark, and HP devices.

1. Disconnect your printer’s USB cable from your Mac.
2. Visit an established open-source driver repository, such as the Apple Silicon Printer Drivers project (based on Gutenprint and CUPS).
3. Download the latest .pkg installer and verify that your specific printer model is included in their supported database.
4. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Once installation finishes, plug the printer USB cable back into your Mac.
6. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click Add Printer, and check the Use menu—it should now automatically populate with the native Gutenprint driver for your model.

4. Re-share the working USB printer as an AirPrint device

Once you restore basic printing functionality on your Mac, you can share the device across your local network so your iPhone and iPad can print to it, even if the printer never natively supported wireless AirPrint.

1. Ensure your Mac is connected to your home Wi-Fi network and your printer is powered on via USB.
2. Open Apple menu () > System Settings > General > Sharing.
3. Locate Printer Sharing, click the small info icon (ⓘ), and toggle Printer Sharing to on.
4. Check the box next to your newly configured printer to make it visible to other devices.
5. Under Everyone Can, select Print.
6. On your iPhone or iPad, open a document in Safari or Notes, tap the Share button, select Print, and your vintage printer will now appear under available printers as long as your Mac is awake.

If nothing works

If your printer continues to throw communication errors or fails to register in macOS:

• Check hardware connections: Older USB-B cables often degrade. Try a different USB cable and use a genuine Apple USB-A to USB-C adapter rather than an unpowered multi-port dock.
• Verify scanner limitations: If you own an all-in-one printer/scanner combo, community drivers generally restore printing only. To scan documents, use Apple’s built-in Image Capture utility in your Applications folder, or evaluate third-party scanning software like VueScan.
• Contact Apple Support: If the Mac refuses to recognize any USB devices connected to its ports, contact Apple Support or schedule a visit to the Genius Bar to rule out an I/O controller failure on your Mac’s logic board.

FAQ

Why does my printer manufacturer say my device is obsolete?

Hardware makers stop updating driver software when supporting an old architecture becomes cost-prohibitive. When Apple shifts platform requirements or transitions from legacy execution layers, vendors prefer selling newer AirPrint-compatible hardware rather than recoding drivers for discontinued models.

Will resetting the printing system erase my saved documents?

No. Resetting the printing system only removes printer queues, custom presets, and temporary print cache files. It does not touch your personal files, downloads, or documents saved on your Mac.

Can I use these fixes on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. Resetting the print queue, testing generic PCL/PostScript options, and running updated Gutenprint-based packages work across both Intel Macs and Apple Silicon (M1 through M4) systems running current versions of macOS.