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Set Up Printers in MacOS

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ShipStation Content Team

Updated

Before you start to print documents in ShipStation, you must ensure the printers are configured correctly for the documents you wish to print (labels, packing slips, etc).

Printer Setup for Windows

If you need to set up printers for Windows, please see our Set Up Printers in Windows article.

The setup process for printers on your Mac includes four general steps:

  1. Connect the printer via USB to the Mac you want to use as your printer workstation. 

  2. Download the appropriate printer driver (not required for all printer models).

  3. Add the printer to your Printers & Scanners System Preferences.

  4. Configure the printer preferences in CUPS.

The exact steps to configure your printer will vary depending on the printer's make and model. This article provides setup instructions for the most common thermal label printer brands - Zebra, DYMO, Citizen, DPD 4x4, and Rollo - as well as the basic steps for a standard desktop printer like an inkjet or laser printer. 

You do not need to add your printers in ShipStation. Once your printer is added to your macOS device, the printer will be visible in ShipStation settings and available to send print jobs to.

Connect & Configure Printers for MacOS

Click the tab for the type of printer you wish to configure.

Zebra

Once you connect your Zebra label printer to your Mac, you can add it right away to your Printers & Scanners System Preferences. You can configure the printer defaults in CUPS.

In most cases, Zebra printers do not require you to install a driver when connected to a Mac. 

Zebra ZSB Wireless Printers

Zebra has recently introduced the ZSB series of wireless label printers, which can connect to ShipStation Connect. There are few additional setup steps for ZSB printers before following the steps below. If you have a ZSB series printer:

You can also watch Zebra's instructional videos for how to print with your ZSB series printer from ShipStation Mobile or from your desktop workspace.

Please note that since the ZSB series relies on wireless communication there may be a slight delay (around 3 seconds or more) before a print job starts.

Add to Printers & Scanners System Preferences

  1. Open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.

    Mac main menu (apple icon) open with System Preferences option selected.

  2. Click the Add (+) button to set up a printer.

    The Add Printer button (plus sign icon) is highlighted in the Printers and Scanners window.

    Choose Add Printer, if prompted.

  3. Select your Zebra printer from the list of printers in the Add pop-up screen.

    Zebra printer selected in MAC Add Printer menu.

  4. Click the Use drop-down menu and choose Select Software.

  5. Type Zebra into the Filter bar of the Printer Software pop-up and select the correct printer option (EPL1, EPL2, or ZPL) from the list. 

    Most Zebra printers will use either the Zebra EPL1 or EPL2 driver. EPL2 is the most common and used for ZP series printers and older GK series printers. Some newer models, like the GX series and refurbished GK series, as well as those ending in the letter Z, also support the Zebra ZPL driver.

    Check your printer model's documentation on the Zebra Support site if you are unsure which to use. If you select the wrong driver, you can change the selection in CUPS, which is explained in the Set Default Options section below. 

  6. Click OK , then click Add. 

This short GIF shows the process:

Click plus sign in Mac Printers and Scanners. Select Zebra printer, select driver from Use menu, and click Add button.

Your Zebra is now added to your Printers & Scanners system preferences. You can now set the printer's default options in CUPS.

Set the Zebra Default Options in CUPS

CUPS is the term used for the printer utility on a Mac that you access through a browser like Chrome or Firefox. In CUPS, you will set your media size and type so labels print in the correct size and with the best quality.

  1. Open your internet browser (i.e., Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc).

  2. Copy and paste (or type) the following text into the URL field and press Enter:

    http://localhost:631/printers

    If you see a list of your printers, you have successfully accessed CUPS and can move to Step 3.

    If you receive a web interface error, that means your Mac is not yet configured to allow access to CUPS. You must enable CUPS in the Terminal utility app before you can proceed to Step 3. See the Enable CUPS section below for instructions.

  3. Click the name of the Zebra printer you wish to edit.

    This example uses the Zebra LP2844.

    CUPS list of available printers to connect. Red arrow points to Zebra LP2844.

  4. Click the Administration drop-down menu and choose Set Default Options.

    CUPS Administration dropdown menu with Set Default Options selected.

    You should now be in General Options.

    If you see an Authentication Required pop-up, enter your MacOS admin username and password.

  5. Set the following options:

    • Media Size: 4.00x6.00

    • Resolution: This should match the requirements of the specific Zebra printer. Most will be 203dpi, but some Zebra printers use 300dpi. Check your printer documentation for details. 

    CUPS Media Size menu with 4x6 option selected. After selection, click Printer Settings tab. Do not click Set Default Options.

  6. Click Printer Settings and adjust the following settings:

    • Darkness: 25

    • Print Rate: 2 inches/sec.

    You can adjust these settings as needed to create the best quality label. The general rule is the slower the print rate, the better the print quality. Test which combination of settings suits your workflow and produces the label print quality. 

  7. Click Set Default Options.

Your printer defaults are now configured and you can start printing!

Set Printer Options success screen says, "Printer Zebra_LP2844 default options have been set successfully."

Print a test label from CUPS to ensure everything works well. Click on the Printers tab in the CUPS screen. Go to the Maintenance drop-down menu and choose Print Test Page.

CUPS Maintenance dropdown menu open with Print Test Page option selected.
DYMO

Once you've connected your DYMO LabelWriter to your Mac, you can add it right away to your Printers & Scanners System Preferences. However, you may need to install the DYMO LabelWriter 4XL or 5XL driver since it is not preinstalled in the macOS.

Download and Install the DYMO Driver

  1. Download the latest DYMO Label driver for your OS:

  2. Open the downloaded package (.pkg) from your downloads folder. This will open the installer.

  3. Follow the instructions in the installer.

    You will need to enter your macOS administrator name and password during this process.

Once the installer is complete, eject the disk image and put the downloaded installer in the trash. 

Add to Printers & Scanners System Preferences

  1. Open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.

    Mac main menu (apple icon) open with System Preferences option selected.

  2. Click the Add (+) button to set up a printer.

    The Add Printer button (plus sign icon) is highlighted in the Printers and Scanners window.

    Choose Add Printer, if prompted.

  3. Select your DYMO LabelWriter from the list of printers in the Add pop-up screen.

    MAC Add Printer menu with DYMO LabelWriter 4XL printer selected.

  4. Make sure the DYMO LabelWriter 4XL is the driver selected in the Use drop-down.

    If it is not, click the Use drop-down menu and choose Select Software. You can then select the correct DYMO driver from the list. 

  5. Click the Add button to install the printer driver for your printer.

This short GIF demonstrates the process:

Click plus sign in Mac Printers and Scanners. Select DYMO printer and click Add button.

Your DYMO is now added to your Printers & Scanners System Preferences. You can now set its default options in CUPS.

Set the DYMO Default Options in CUPS

CUPS is the term used for the printer utility on a Mac that you access through a browser like Chrome or Firefox. In CUPS, you will set your media size and type so labels print in the correct size and with the best quality.

  1. Open your internet browser (i.e., Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc).

  2. Copy and paste (or type) the following text into the URL field and press Enter:

    http://localhost:631/printers

    If you see a list of your printers, you have successfully accessed CUPS and can move to Step 3.

    If you receive a web interface error, that means your Mac is not yet configured to allow access to CUPS. You must enable CUPS in the Terminal utility app before you can proceed to Step 3. See the Enable CUPS section below for instructions.

  3. Click the name of the DYMO LabelWriter you wish to edit. 

    CUPS Printers menu shows available printers to connect. Red arrow points to DYMO LabelWriter 4XL.

  4. Click the Administration drop-down menu and choose Set Default Options.

    CUPS Administration dropdown menu with Set Default Options selected.

    You should now be in the General settings screen.

    If you see an Authentication Required pop-up, enter your macOS admin username and password. 

  5. Set the Media Size drop-down to the 4 in x 6 in option. 

  6. Set Print Quality to Barcodes and Graphics.

  7. Click Set Default Options.

    General default settings for DYMO label printer.

Your printer defaults are now configured and you can begin to print!

Set Printer Options success screen says, "Printer DYMO_LabelWriter_4XL default options have been set successfully."

Print a test label from CUPS to ensure everything works well. Click on the Printers tab in the CUPS screen. Go to the Maintenance drop-down menu and choose Print Test Page.

CUPS Maintenance dropdown menu open with Print Test Page option selected.
Citizen

The Citizen CL-E303 and CL-S700 label printers are both commonly used with ShipStation. The CL-E303 is a more compact printer that is great for tight spaces. The CL-S700 is a larger industrial unit that is great for high-volume shippers.

The peeler or dispenser is a significant feature of the CL-S700.  For large-scale operations that print many labels in batches, this feature will expedite the process when you apply labels to packages. Instead of printing one long continuous sheet, the labels will print one at a time. As each prints, the peeler separates the label from its adhesive-protection backing.

Download and Install the Citizen Driver

Before you connect your Citizen printer to your Mac printer workstation, download the Citizen CUPS driver. (The driver is the same for both printer models.) Once you have installed the driver, you can then connect the printer, add it to your System Preferences, and configure the settings.

  1. Download the driver from the Citizen Support Page onto your printer workstation.

  2. Open the zip file and then open the driver disk image, ctzcls-cups-1.1.0-0.dmg.

    CUPS Mac Driver folder open. Zipped file open with red arrow pointing to open box icon to unzip file.

  3. Open the installer (ctzcls-cups-1.1.0-0.pkg) and follow the on-screen instructions.

    Once installed, choose Move to Trash to place the installer into the trash.

  4. Plug the printer into a USB port on your printer workstation.

Add to the Printers & Scanners System Preferences

  1. Open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.

    Mac main menu (apple icon) open with System Preferences option selected.

  2. Click the Add (+) button to set up a printer.

    The Add Printer button (plus sign icon) is highlighted in the Printers and Scanners window.

    Choose Add Printer, if prompted.

  3. Select the Citizen printer (CL-E303 or CL-S700) from the printer list.

    MAC Add Printer menu with Citizen CL-E303Z printer selected.

  4. Select the CITIZEN Barcode Printer driver under the Use drop-down menu, if not already selected.

    Mac System Preference Printer Software menu open with Citizen printer selected.

    Note

    If this option is not visible, choose Select Software from the Use menu. Then select the CITIZEN Barcode Printer option from the list.

  5. Click Add.

Your Citizen printer is now added to your Printers & Scanners system preferences. You can now set its default options in CUPS.

Set the Default Options in CUPS

The options you set in CUPS will differ, based upon which printer model you use.

CL-E303

  1. Open your internet browser (i.e., Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc).

  2. Copy and paste (or type) the following text into the URL field and press Enter:

    http://localhost:631/printers

    If you see a list of your printers, you have successfully accessed CUPS and can move to Step 3.

    If you receive a web interface error, that means your Mac is not yet configured to allow access to CUPS. You must enable CUPS in the Terminal utility app before you can proceed to Step 3. See the Enable CUPS section below for instructions.

  3. Select the CITIZEN CL-E303 printer from the list of printers.

  4. Click the Administration drop-down and choose Set Default Options .

    CUPS Printers screen Administration drop-down menu with red arrow pointed to Set Default Options.

  5. Set the default options in the General tab as follows:

    • Media Size: Width 4, Height 6. Units Inches

    • Resolution: 300 dpi

      Do not select 203 dpi. The labels will print too small.

    CUPS Administration menu with General tab highlighted and arrows pointing to Media Size and Resolution settings.

  6. Select the Printer Settings tab.

    Set Print Speed to the maximum: 6 inches/sec. Leave everything else as the default selection.

    CUPS Administration menu with Printer Settings tab highlighted and arrow pointed to Print Speed.

  7. Click Set Default Options.

  8. Click the Maintenance drop-down and and select Print Test Page to create a test label.

    CUPS Printers menu with Maintenance dropdown highlighted and arrow pointing to Print Test Page.

    Note

    Two labels will advance before your test label prints. This happens as the printer calibrates to ensure the label roll is installed properly.

CL-S700

  1. Open your internet browser (i.e., Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc).

  2. Copy and paste (or type) the following text into the URL field and press Enter:

    http://localhost:631/printers

    If you see a list of your printers, you have successfully accessed CUPS and can move to Step 3.

    If you receive a web interface error, that means your Mac is not yet configured to allow access to CUPS. You must enable CUPS in the Terminal utility app before you can proceed to Step 3. See the Enable CUPS section below for instructions.

  3. Select the CITIZEN CL-S700 printer from the list of printers.

  4. Click the Administration drop-down and choose Set Default Options .

    CUPS Printers screen with Administration drop-down menu highlighted and arrow pointed to Set Default Options.

  5. Set the default options in the General tab as follows:

    Media Size

    Width 4, Height 6. Units Inches

    Resolution

    203 dpi

    Media Sensor

    See Through (Web sensing)

    Print Method

    Direct Thermal
    General tab in CUPS Set Printer Options screen shows default settings for Citizen CL S700Z printer.

  6. Select the Printer Settings tab.

    Set the default options as follows:

    Print Darkness

    Printer Default

    Print Speed

    6 inches / sec

    Vertical Position

    Printer Default

    Function Select

    Cutter (Job End Only)

    If not selected, the job will not auto feed a batch because of the “Peel-off” setting.

    Paper Position

    Printer Default

    Upside Down Printer

    Normal

    Page Order

    Front to Back
    Printer Settings tab highlighted by red box in CUPS navigation menu.

  7. Click Set Default Options and enter in the MacOS Admin credentials to save the configuration.

  8. Click the Maintenance drop-down and select Print Test Page to create a test label.

    CUPS Printer menu with Print Test Page highlighted in dropdown menu.

    Note

    Two labels will advance before your test label prints. This happens as the printer calibrates to ensure the label roll is installed properly.

    Tip

    Set the printer setting to Tear, otherwise the label top will tear off:

    MENU > After Print > Enter Function > SEL Function > Tear

    See Chapter 2, Printer Operations in the Citizen Printer User's Guide to learn how to navigate the Menu buttons.

DPD 4x4

To configure your DPD-issued Citizen 4x4 printer, you must install a specific printer driver from TSC Printers. Next, you must set specific default printer options in CUPS.

Download and Install the Print Driver

  1. Download the DA Series 4-Inch Performance Desktop Printer driver from the Resources tab.

  2. Open the zip file, then double click TSC-1.22-install.pkg to install the driver.

  3. Click Continue.

    Mac Install TSC Printer Driver wizard. Continue button highlighted.

  4. Click Install.

    Mac Install TSC Printer Driver wizard. Install button highlighted.

  5. If prompted, enter your MacOS username and password to allow the driver installation.

  6. Click the Close button once the installation completes successfully.

    Mac Install TSC wizard message reads, "The installation was successful. The software was installed." Close button highlighted

Add the Printer to Printers & Scanners System Preferences

  1. Open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.

    Mac main menu (apple icon) open with System Preferences option selected.

  2. Click the Add (+) button to set up a printer.

    The Add Printer button (plus sign icon) is highlighted in the Printers and Scanners window.

    Choose Add Printer, if prompted.

  3. Select the printer model for your printer from the list of available printers. Then, select Other... from the Use drop-down menu.

    Printer model selected on Add Printer screen. Use dropdown menu shows "Other" option selected.

  4. Select the correct PPD file for your model printer from the list of files located at /Library/Printers/TCS/PPDs. Then, click the Open button.

    PPD file associated with printer model selected from file explorer and Open button highlighted.

  5. Click the Add button to install the printer driver for your printer.

    Mac Printers and Scanners screen with new printer successfully added and available to print.

Set the Default Options in CUPS

The steps below use a Dymo printer for example purposes. Please be sure to select your DPD 4x4 printer when you complete the process.

  1. Open your internet browser (i.e., Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc).

  2. Copy and paste (or type) the following text into the URL field and press Enter:

    http://localhost:631/printers

    If you see a list of your printers, you have successfully accessed CUPS and can move to Step 3.

    If you receive a web interface error, that means your Mac is not yet configured to allow access to CUPS. You must enable CUPS in the Terminal utility app before you can proceed to Step 3. See the Enable CUPS section below for instructions.

  3. Click the name of the printer you wish to edit. Be sure to select your DPD 4x4 printer.

    CUPS Printers menu shows available printers to connect. Red arrow points to DYMO LabelWriter 4XL.

  4. Click the Administration drop-down menu and choose Set Default Options.

    CUPS Administration dropdown menu with Set Default Options selected.

    You should now be in the General settings screen.

    If you see an Authentication Required pop-up, enter your MacOS admin username and password. 

  5. Set the Media Size drop-down to the 4.00 in x 4.00 in option. 

    This is equal to the 105mm x 102mm option.

  6. Set Print Quality to Barcodes and Graphics.

  7. Click Set Default Options.

    General default settings for DYMO label printer.

Print Size / Scaling

If prompted when you print, ensure that print size is set to Actual Size or to 100% and disable any scaling options.

Brother QL-1100

Before you connect your Brother printer to your Mac workstation, download the Brother driver linked in this article. Once you install the driver, you can connect your Brother QL-1100 printer

Download and Install the Brother Driver

  1. Go to the Brother Downloads page and select your operating system.

  2. Download the Printer Driver or Full Software Package.

  3. Open the downloaded package file and follow the installer instructions.

    You will need to enter your macOS administrator name and password during this process.

Add to Printers & Scanners System Preferences

Connect your printer to your Mac via USB, then do the following:

  1. Open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.

    Mac main menu (apple icon) open with System Preferences option selected.

  2. Click the Add (+) button to set up a printer.

    The Add Printer button (plus sign icon) is highlighted in the Printers and Scanners window.

    Choose Add Printer, if prompted.

  3. Select your printer from the list of printers in the Add pop-up screen. 

  4. Check the Use drop-down menu to see if your Mac has auto-selected the correct driver.

  5. Click the Add button to install the printer driver for your printer.

Set Brother Default Options in CUPS

  1. Click the name of the Brother QL-1100 printer you wish to edit.

  2. Click the Administration drop-down menu and choose Set Default Options.

    Brother printer admin dropdown menu with set default options selected

    You should now be in General Options.

    Note

    If you see an Authentication Required pop-up, enter your MacOS admin username and password.

  3. Set the following options:

    • Media Size: 103 mm x 163 mm (4.07" x 6.4")

      Please note: The default size of 102 mm x 153 mm (4" x 6") may cause the error Printer Job Failed, paper size mismatch.

    • Halftone: For general labels containing images

    Brother printer administration menu with General tab and fields highlighted

    The other settings can be adjusted as needed to create the best quality label required. The general rule is the slower the print rate, the better the print quality. Test which combination of settings suits your workflow and produces the label print quality you need. 

  4. Click Set Default Options.

Rollo

Before you connect your Rollo printer to your Mac printer workstation, you must download the most recent Rollo driver. Once you have installed the driver, you can then connect the printer, add it to your System Preferences, and configure its settings. 

Rollo Printers Not Supported With ShipStation Connect

Currently, Rollo printers do not work consistently when you print via ShipStation Connect.

You can continue to print with a Rollo printer if you use the PDF or View in Browser print methods. The label layout, printer preferences, and other document options will still apply regardless of which print method you choose.

Download and Install the Rollo Driver

  1. Download the latest driver for MacOS from the Rollo support website.

  2. Open the disk image, Rollo-Mac-Latest.dmg, from your downloads folder.

  3. Open the driver .pkg file. This will open the installer.

  4. Follow the instructions in the installer.

    Rollo provides a Mac Installation Guide in the disk image for additional assistance.

Once you have completed the installation, connect the Rollo printer to your Mac via USB and move on to the next section. 

If this is your first use of the Rollo printer, be sure to follow the setup instructions for first use on the Rollo Support site. 

Add to Printers & Scanners System Preferences

  1. Open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.

    Mac main menu (apple icon) open with System Preferences option selected.

  2. Click the Add (+) button to set up a printer.

    The Add Printer button (plus sign icon) is highlighted in the Printers and Scanners window.

    Choose Add Printer, if prompted.

  3. Select Printer ThermalPrinter from the list of printers in the Add pop-up screen. 

    MAC Add Printer menu with Rollo Thermal Printer selected.

    You can then edit the Name of the printer in the Name field. This is the name that will display in the System Preferences and during your printer selection processes. 

  4. Click the Use drop-down menu and choose Select Software. 

    Mac Add Printer screen open for Rollo printer. "Use" menu open with Select Software option highlighted.

  5. Select Rollo Printer from the list and click OK.

    Mac System Preference Printer Software menu open with Rollo printer selected.

Your Rollo is now added to your System Preferences and is available to print.

Print a Rollo Test Label

We recommend you print a test label to ensure your Rollo printer functions as expected. Rollo includes a test label PDF in their installer disk image for just this purpose.

  1. Open the Sample-Label.pdf file from the Rollo-Mac disk image in your preferred PDF viewer (like Preview or Adobe Acrobat). 

  2. Choose Print.

  3. Set the paper size to 4" x 6" if using imperial units, or 100mm x 150mm if using metric units.

  4. Print the sample label.

Set the Rollo Default Options in CUPS

  1. Open your internet browser (i.e., Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc).

  2. Copy and paste (or type) the following text into the URL field and press Enter:

    http://localhost:631/printers

    If you see a list of your printers, you have successfully accessed CUPS and can move to Step 3.

    If you receive a web interface error, that means your Mac is not yet configured to allow access to CUPS. You must enable CUPS in the Terminal utility app before you can proceed to Step 3. See the Enable CUPS section below for instructions.

  3. Click the name of your Rollo printer in the list of printers.

    CUPS Printers menu shows available printers to connect. Red arrow points to Rollo Label Printer.

  4. Click the Administration drop-down menu and choose Set Default Options.

    CUPS Administration dropdown menu with Set Default Options selected.

    You should now be in the General settings screen.

    If you see an Authentication Required pop-up, enter your MacOS admin username and password.

  5. Set the Media Size drop-down menu to 4.00 x 6.00" (if using imperial units) or 100mm x 150mm (if using metric units).

  6. Click Set Default Options.

Your printer defaults are now configured and you can begin to print from your Rollo.

Set Printer Options success screen says, "Printer Rollo_Label_Printer default options have been set successfully."
Standard

Use the following information to determine if a standard desktop printer is "plug and play" with your Mac.

  • The make and model of the printer, 

  • If the printer requires a driver, and

  • If that driver is pre-installed on your Mac or not.

The setup procedure below will indicate at what point you may need to install a driver for your device.

Add to Printers & Scanners System Preferences

Connect your printer to your Mac via USB, then do the following:

  1. Open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.

    Mac main menu (apple icon) open with System Preferences option selected.

  2. Click the Add (+) button to set up a printer.

    The Add Printer button (plus sign icon) is highlighted in the Printers and Scanners window.

    Choose Add Printer, if prompted.

  3. Select your printer from the list of printers in the Add pop-up screen. 

  4. Check the Use drop-down menu to see if your Mac has auto-selected the correct driver.

    Note

    If the name of the driver does not match the model of your printer, you may need to install a printer driver before you proceed. Check the documentation for your make and model of printer on the manufacturer's website, then download and install the correct driver for your printer.

    Once installed, your Mac should then auto-select the correct driver in the Add pop-up screen. 

  5. Click the Add button to install the printer driver for your printer.

Your standard printer is now ready to use. In most cases, the default settings do not need to be adjusted on standard printers to accommodate printing in ShipStation. If you want to check and adjust the printer defaults for your standard printers, you should do so through the Mac CUPS option. 

Your next step is to ensure your ShipStation label format is set correctly. Review the ShipStation Print Settings article for details. 

Set Up a Multi Tray Printer

If your standard desktop printer contains multiple trays, you can add another instance of your printer to your printer workstation System Preferences and use CUPS to assign a specific tray to each instance. In this way, you can use different types of paper for different documents and set ShipStation to automatically print selected documents with the paper used in each tray. 

For example, in Tray 1 you might use Avery half-sheet labels to print 2 labels per page and in Tray 2 use standard letter or A4-sized paper to print your packing slips. Or you may have integrated labels in Tray 1, to print the label and packing slip for a shipment on a single sheet, and a different color of standard paper in Tray 2 to print pick lists. 

Whatever your scenario, you'll need to take the following actions:

  1. Add another instance of your printer to your System Preferences.

  2. Assign a tray to each instance using CUPS.

  3. Name each instance of the printer (optional). 

Add a New Printer Instance

To differentiate between trays on a single printer, you must add another instance of the printer to your Printers & Scanners System Preferences. 

  1. Open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.

    Mac main menu (apple icon) open with System Preferences option selected.

  2. Click the Add (+) button to set up a printer.

    The Add Printer button (plus sign icon) is highlighted in the Printers and Scanners window.

  3. Select your printer from the list.

    Your Mac should auto-select the correct driver. 

  4. Click the Add button to install the printer driver for your printer.

    A message should appear that states "Printer Name already exists. Would you like to create a new printer?" 

  5. Click Continue. 

    The second instance of your printer should appear in the printer list with the number 2 after it. 

Next, you'll access CUPS and assign trays to each instance of the printer. 

Assign Tray in CUPS

To assign a tray in CUPS: 

  1. Open your internet browser (i.e., Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc).

  2. Copy and paste (or type) the following text into the URL field and press Enter:

    http://localhost:631/printers

    If you see a list of your printers, you have successfully accessed CUPS and can move to Step 3.

    If you receive a web interface error, that means your Mac is not yet configured to allow access to CUPS. You must enable CUPS in the Terminal utility app before you can proceed to Step 3. See the Enable CUPS section below for instructions.

  3. Click the name of the printer you wish to assign a tray to. 

  4. Click the Administration drop-down menu and choose Set Default Options.

  5. Click the Media Source drop-down menu and select which tray you wish to assign to this instance of your printer.

    CUPS General Settings screen with Media Source menu open and arrow hovering over Tray 1 option.

  6. Click Set Default Options.

  7. Repeat steps 1-4 for any additional instances of the printer and assign the appropriate tray.

Each instance of the printer will appear in ShipStation (and other apps you print from) as a unique printer.

Modify Printer Names

You may want to customize the names of the printers so it is more obvious to your warehouse staff which printer is which.

To modify your printer names, stay in CUPS and do the following: 

  1. Click Printers in the top toolbar. 

    This should return you to your list of printers. 

  2. Select the printer you'd like to rename.

  3. Click the Administration drop-down menu and choose Modify Printer.

    CUP Maintenance menu with Modify Printer option highlighted.

    The following screen displays your connections to your local and network printer. Do not make any changes here. 

  4. Click Continue.

  5. Enter your custom name into the Description field. You can also enter a location for the printer in the Location field.

    CUPS Modify Printer settings with Description and Location fields filled in.

  6. Click Continue, then click Modify Printer on the next screen without making any additional changes.

Repeat the above steps for any printer you wish to rename. The description is how the printer name will display in your Printers & Scanners System Preferences as well as in your ShipStation print screens. 

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Enable CUPS

If CUPS is not yet enabled on your Mac, you'll receive a web interface error when you attempt to access it. Follow these steps to enable CUPS, then return to the Set Default Options instructions to complete your printer setup.

To enable CUPS on your Mac:

  1. Open the Terminal applications on your Mac.

    Terminal is located in Applications > Utilities, or you can use your Mac's Spotlight Search. 

    Mac desktop search icon highlighted with "terminal" typed in search bar. Terminal application highlighted in search results.

  2. Copy and paste the following command into the Terminal window after the $ prompt:

    cupsctl WebInterface=yes

  3. Press Return on your keyboard. 

    The cursor will move to a the next line in Terminal. So, as long as you don't get any errors you are good to go! Quit Terminal and return to your browser.

  4. Reload the browser with the http://localhost:631/printers address in the URL.

Change Printer Driver in MacOS

In most cases, your MacOS will automatically select the correct driver for the printer you have connected to your workstation. When this is not the case, you'll need to select the driver manually. You can do this both in the MacOS System Preferences and in CUPS.

MacOS displays the printer driver selection in the Printers & Scanners System Preferences.

Zebra printer selected in Mac Printers and Scanners window. "Kind" field highlighted.

Change Printer Driver in System Preferences

  1. Open the Printers & Scanners System Preferences.

  2. Click the + (add) button.

  3. Select your printer from the list.

    Be sure to check the Kind column to ensure you are selecting the printer connected via USB.

  4. Click the Use drop-down menu and choose Select Software.

  5. Select your model printer from the list and click OK.

    If your model printer is not in the list, you must first install the driver.

  6. Click Add to complete.

Here is a short demo of the process:

Mac Printers and Scanners. Open Add Printer window, select printer, select driver from Use menu, and click Add button.

Change Driver CUPS

  1. Go to the CUPS Printers dashboard.

  2. Click your printer in the Printers list.

  3. Choose Modify Printer from the Administration drop-down menu.

  4. Click Continue in the following two screens.

  5. Select the driver that matches your model printer from the Model list.

    The currently selected driver will be at the top of the list.

  6. Click Modify Printer.

Here is a short demo of the process for a Zebra printer:

CUPS Modify Printer screen accessed from Administration dropdown menu. Click continue, click continue again, select Zebra model, then click Modify Printer.

Notes for MacOS Printer Setup

Review the following notes to ensure optimum printer configuration:

  • The options available in CUPS will depend on the printer model and driver installed. In addition to paper size, some printers have settings for graphics, darkness, offset, and speed. To address print quality issues, adjust these settings in CUPS using a trial and error method to find which settings produce the best results for your specific setup.

  • The print format and dpi selected in ShipStation's Label Document Options should always match the paper size and dpi of the printer used to print labels. If these values do not match, the label could print too large or too small.

  • ShipStation is not compatible with tabbed labels. Labels must be a single, continuous sheet to work properly with ShipStation. Because part of the postage label will print on the detachable portion, paper labels that include detachable tabs will not print correctly.

  • ShipStation support can assist in getting your printer(s) set up and help address questions and issues you may have in your printing process. If any printing issues are traced to hardware or driver-related problems, ShipStation support will provide the information you need to get further assistance from the printer manufacturer's support team.

  • For printer troubleshooting guidance, please review our Printer Troubleshooting help articles.

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