I have a MacBook Air M3 running Sequoia 15.5. I am finding it difficult to find a compatible printer
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Macbook Air M3 - Compatible Printers
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.5
Look for one that supports AirPrint. AirPrint builds enough support into a printer that a Mac can print to it even if the printer manufacturer does not provide, or stops updating, separate drivers.
... just a pity that we returned the printer today.
Good. You dodged a bullet by returning the HP printer. Buy almost anything else — as long as it is AirPrint-compatible.
HP's Mac support is and always has been abysmal.
I highly recommend reading MrHoffman's User Tip Which Printer Should I Buy? - Apple Community.
All you need a a printer that says it is AirPrint compatible, which is just about every printer on the market today. Manufacturers are moving away from providing drivers for specific OS support, and that is a good thing, since that was the weakest link in maintaining compatibility with the printer after the OS was updated.
The issue you experienced is due to the HP Printer driver being installed on your Mac and the printer was set up to use it. That is common with the HP Printers not printing in color, although the solution is easy. That is why printing from the iPad worked correctly because there are no printer drivers installed on those devices.
Here is what I would have advised if you had not returned it or run into the issue again with an HP Printer. Go to > System Settings > Printers & Scanners, tap on your printer, then choose Remove Printer. Now back to > System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click the button to add a printer. You should see the printer show up in the list and I think it may say Bonjour as the Kind of printer. You can choose to name the printer something different if you wish, then just press Add.
For HP Printers, you usually need to use the HP Smart app to connect the printer to your Internet connection, but that is all you need it for. Once it is connected to the internet, then you just need to add the printer as described above by choosing Add Printer in your Mac settings, selecting it in the window as it will show as an available printer that is connected to your Wifi, then just click the Add button. If you continue on using the HP Smart App, it will continue to download the HP Printer drivers to install on your Mac, and that is not necessary or even wanted.
I have installed several HP Printers on Macs and have ran into the same issue when using the HP Printer Drivers. The printer is AirPrint compatible and that is why printing from your mobile devices worked without a problem. You just need to add the printer to your Mac using AirPrint instead of the HP Drivers.
I have found it easier to use the HP Smart app from a mobile device to get the printer connected to your internet connection and that will get printing working for your mobile devices first and will not prompt to install drivers since the mobile devices do not even allow printer drivers to be installed. Then you do not need to run the HP Smart app on your Mac and can just add the printer on your Mac like recommended above.
No problem, those printer brands are just fine. The key is to first connect your printer to your WiFi Network. That really is all that is needed for printing to work on your Mobile Devices. On the Mac, choose Add Printer in Settings and if the printer is already connected to your WiFi, it will appear in the list and you just need to select it and click add. No need to install any software.
The HP Printers just don't have controls on the printer that lets you choose the WiFi network from there and that is why you must use the HP Smart app to connect it to the WiFi network. I think most of the other brands allow you to choose the WiFi network on the printer and that does make it easier. In any case, we are here to help when it comes time to add that new printer.
The details on the printer will clearly say if is AirPrint compatible. The list of printers is quite extensive and available here. The document shows it was last updated on June 13th 2025, so it should be accurate as far as new printer models go.
About AirPrint - Apple Support
Thanks Servant of Cats and Mac Jim, your advice is very much appreciated. My situation is that I purchased a new HP Smart Tank 581; set up was as easy as it gets. However, although the embedded set-up test page printed in both black and colour when I tried to print a spreadsheet that contained red and blue coloured elements it only printed the black and colour turned into grayscale. As a test I then prepared a short MS Word document with sections in black, red, blue and yellow but once again the printer only printed in black and grayscale; the ‘interesting’ follow up print request using the same document but sent from both my iPad and my wife’s iPad printed in glorious colour! HP Customer Support were helpful but could not resolve the issue so I have returned the printer to the supplier, hence I am back at square one. In my on-going search I will ensure that AirPrint is included in the specifications. Once again, thanks for your advice. Best Regards. Bill
Mac Jim. Many thanks for the detailed follow up; just a pity that we returned the printer today. I now have to select an appropriate replacement printer such as Epson, Canon etc. Should I have a similar problem I will follow your process as outlined in your reply. It will probably take a few days so no chance to do anything before next week; I will let you know how I get on. Best Regards. Bill
Just to round things off I would like to say a final ‘thank you’ to everyone who took time to advise and guide me in resolving my printing problems. I have purchased a Canon Pixma desktop printer and it worked straight out of the box, thereby solving my issue. Job done.
Best Regards to all. Bill
Thanks for the update. I have had a Canon Pixma myself and it is a fantastic printer. HP does have that odd install process of having to use their app to connect the printer to a network connection and the requirement on many models that they must remain connected to the internet for them to push their automatic ink refill service by monitoring your print usage. They have also had issues in the past where the printer would not work if you did not install genuine HP Print Cartridges. If you can get past those hangups with HP, their printers do work as expected, but I think you made a good choice with your Canon.
Mac Jim ID wrote:
HP does have that odd install process of having to use their app to connect the printer to a network connection and the requirement on many models that they must remain connected to the internet for them to push their automatic ink refill service by monitoring your print usage. They have also had issues in the past where the printer would not work if you did not install genuine HP Print Cartridges. If you can get past those hangups with HP, their printers do work as expected, ...
At least for a while. My last experience with their printers and their Apple support was such that I swore them off forever. Never, ever again.
Looking back on it now, all my Brother printers have been 100% trouble-free, both laser and inkjet. The oldest of them has been in constant daily use for well over a decade. They are the Energizer Bunny of printers.
The only printers older than them still in daily use were made by Apple and they discontinued them three decades ago. They also cost about 10x as much as any comparable printer today.
How can I find a compatible printer for my MacBook Air M3?
