Changing Printers in MacOS X

This article describes how to add a new printer and change the default printer in MacOS X. This process is analogous to one of the uses of the MacOS 9 program “Chooser”.

On OS 10.3 and 10.4 workstations, you can add a printer to a computer’s options by using Printer Setup Utility.

• Login to a MacOS X computer.
• Open Macintosh HD → Applications → Utilities.
• Open “Printer Setup Utility“.
• Click on the “Add” button in the window.
• Follow the promptings until you have selected and added the printer that you wish to access.
• Quit Printer Setup Utility.

You can now use the new printer in any program capable of printing.

The new printer is also your new default setting. Please keep this in mind and remember that the next person to use the computer may not know about this. Therefore, you should probably set the default printer to be the old printer, as described below.

On OS 10.5 workstations, the Printer Setup Utility application has been made a part of System Preferences.

To add a new printer in OS 10.5, do the following:

• Run an Application that allows printing, such as Safari, Pages or Microsoft Word.
• Bring up the Print screen, either by selecting “Print...” from the File menu or pressing Apple+p.
• Cick on the pulldown menu to the right of where is says “Printer:”, and select “Add printer...”.
• Select the printer that you wish to use.

• Login to a MacOS X computer.
• Open Macintosh HD → Applications → Utilities.
• Open “Printer Setup Utility“.
• In the “Printer List” window, select (i.e. single-click) the printer that you want to use the most often.
• Click the “Make Default” button in the bar at the top of the window. If the button is missing, select Printers → Make Default in the menu bar.

This printer is now the default. Please keep in mind that this effects anyone using that computer. Try to use a setting that makes the most sense for the most people.

• Login to a MacOS 10.5 computer.
• Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner, and select System Preferences
• Click on the Print & Fax icon.
• If the printer you want set as your default is on NOT on the list, please see the instructions above for adding a printer in OS 10.5.
• Hold down the ctrl key and click on the printer you wish to make your default.
• When a small menu appears, select Set default printer.