How to Install a USB Printer on macOS

Introduction

This article provides instructions for installing a Star Micronics USB printer on macOS using the CUPS driver.

Supported Printers: Star Desktop USB Printers
Supported Interfaces: USB
Supported Environments: macOS

Before you begin

• Ensure the printer is powered on and has paper loaded.
• Have a USB cable available to connect the printer to the Mac.
• Do not connect the USB cable to the Mac until instructed.

This installation consists of two steps:

1. Install the CUPS Driver
2. Add the Printer to macOS

If the CUPS driver is already installed, skip to Add the Printer to macOS.

1. Install the CUPS Driver

The most current version of the CUPS driver can be found HERE

NOTE: If you are using macOS 27, Rosetta 2 may be required to install the CUPS driver. If you experience an issue when opening or installing the driver package, see How to Install Rosetta 2 on macOS for instructions.

1. Click the link above and click Download. Select I Agree, then click Download.

2. Locate the downloaded ZIP file, commonly found in the Downloads folder, and open it.

3. Open the extracted folder, then open the Driver folder. Run the .pkg file.

4. Click Continue.

5. Click Install.

6. Enter your Mac credentials, then click Install Software.

7. Wait for the installation to complete.

8. Click Close.

Enable CUPS Web Interface

The CUPS Web Interface is required to enable a cash drawer and configure additional settings on macOS, such as paper size and print density.

1. Open a web browser and enter localhost:631 in the address bar. If the CUPS Web Interface is disabled, continue to the next step.

NOTE: If prompted, enter your Mac username and password.

2. Open Finder, select Applications and open Utilities.

3. Open Terminal.

4. Enter the following command in Terminal and press Return:

cupsctl WebInterface=yes

5. Return to the browser and reload the page. The CUPS Web Interface is now enabled.

2. Add the Printer to macOS

1. Connect the printer’s USB cable to the Mac. The printer is automatically added to Printers & Scanners.

2. To test the printer, select the Apple menu, then click System Settings.

3. Select Printers & Scanners in the sidebar. Select the printer, then click Printer Queue.

4. In Print Centre, select Printer from the menu bar, then click Print Test Page.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed a Star USB printer on macOS.

See also

How to Enable a Cash Drawer on macOS
How to Configure Margins and Paper Size on macOS
How to Install a Bluetooth Printer on macOS
How to Install an Ethernet or Wi-Fi Printer on macOS