Unable to reset printing system on my MacBook Air M1 running macOS 15.5

Suddenly my MacBook Air M1 runing 15.5 (24F74) will not connect to my Epson ET 2850. I deleted the printer but I can't reinstall it. I wanted to try the print system reset but on following Apple instructions -


  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Printers & Scanners  in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
  2. Control-click the printer in the Printers list on the right, then choose Reset Printing System.
  3. Note: If no printers appear in the Printers list, you can Control-click the empty list and choose Reset Printing System.
  4. After you reset the printing system, the list of printers in Printers & Scanners settings is empty.


When I click on printers in the side bar, nothing happens I don't get the dialogue box to click 'reset'.

Can anyone help please I'm tearing my hair out having spent hours trying to print


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: I can't reset printing system

Posted on Jul 17, 2025 7:36 AM

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3 replies

Jul 17, 2025 8:18 AM in response to Maggsfromsomerset

A couple of other options.


You can use Print Center in Utilities, File -> Reset Printing System…


If all else fails, you can reset the printing system from the command line:


  • Stop the CUPS daemon with the following command:

sudo launchctl stop org.cups.cupsd

  • Rename the old CUPS configuration file:

sudo mv /etc/cups/cupsd.conf /etc/cups/cupsd.conf.backup

  • Restore the default settings file:

sudo cp /etc/cups/cupsd.conf.default /etc/cups/cupsd.conf

  • Rename the printers file:

sudo mv /etc/cups/printers.conf /etc/cups/printers.conf.backup

  • Restart CUPS:

sudo launchctl start org.cups.cupsd


Hope this helps.


Jul 17, 2025 8:22 AM in response to Maggsfromsomerset

+1 see > Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem - Apple Support

Then Add the printer > Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac - Apple Support


If the Mac and other devices are no longer seeing the Printer on your local Wi-Fi network..?

Go to the Epson printers on-screen menu and

1) make sure that it is connected to your local Wi-Fi network.

2) then if connected or after reconnecting, check for a Firmware update.

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Unable to reset printing system on my MacBook Air M1 running macOS 15.5

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