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wifi printer setup for a non-mac user (kbin.social)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

8 comments fedilink hide all child comments

someone's bringing me their imac, a new brother wifi-capable mfc printer, and their dsl modem/wifi router combo unit. in theory, i should be able to hook up the printer to the wifi (the mac should already be configured for it) and set it up here, even without the modem part connected to the internet (its wifi and local lan will still work)--and they take it all back home, reconnect, and everything 'just works'.

i haven't used a mac day-to-day since the se/30 days. any tips? or is it as simple as connecting the printer to the wifi (manually via the printer's panel) and running the installer from brother's web site (carried over to the mac via a fat32 usb flash drive)? or is there something else i'll need to know? the mac has os13.6. thanks!

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Mostly printing just works on Mac. If not go to Settings (click the apple icon in the menu bar), Printers, and yet to manually add the printer. Macos usually grabs the driver's and everything for you.

If you're using a brother wireless and it acts weird with the mac, update the printer firmware. That usually resolves issues (it's very rare I have any issues though).

I've been a Mac user for 15 years and my printer is over 10 years old now but still works perfectly. It gives my wife's PC hell though...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

You don’t need to install anything. I bought a new Brother printer and went from opening the box to printing wirelessly in a literally few minutes. Use the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button on the router (two arrows curving toward each other) to connect the printer to the router. In the Mac, go to Printer & Scanners in the Settings app. Click the add printer button and select the printer, which it will automatically find. It’ll take a few seconds and then it’s setup and ready to print. This whole process is super easy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

without having to download drivers from some mysterious repository? i won't have outbound internet available, as i can't hook up their modem to my dsl line. their pppoe credentials won't work here.. they're bringing it so the local network looks the 'same' here or there, just no functional internet on it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Should be fine, Apple has all standard drivers preloaded. Brother included.

Yes, local LAN setup will transfer to their home if it is there same router local net.

Good luck!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

well, it's working! ty all for your help and input. the whole bit is now back at 'home' and printing.

i did have to use drivers off brother's web site, macos's settings did not find a printer on the lan, but brother's installer did right away. it was a painless process, aside from not having an admin login and needing to track down the person that had that password.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I used to use mine on a LAN only router with no issues.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

This is the way. Do not install their crappy bloatware, the macOS drivers are king

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

When I got my MacBook I was blown away at how much easier it was to print from than my windows laptop. Did not have to install drivers or anything, it just printed.