Your printer still prints, but something's off. The duplex option is gone. Paper tray selection disappeared. Color settings are limited to basic choices. You open Printers & Scanners and see "Generic PostScript Printer" or "Generic PCL Printer" where your printer's model name used to be.
Your Mac is using a generic driver, and you've lost most of your printer's features.
What Is a Generic Printer Driver?
A generic driver is macOS's fallback when it can't find the specific driver for your printer. Think of it as a universal remote that can turn on your TV but can't access the smart features, input selection, or picture settings.
Generic drivers support two standards:
- Generic PostScript: Handles PostScript-capable printers (most lasers, many inkjets)
- Generic PCL: Handles PCL-capable printers (common in HP and Brother models)
Both can send a basic print job. Neither knows anything about your specific printer's hardware capabilities.
What You Lose With a Generic Driver
| Feature | Specific Driver | Generic Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Duplex (two-sided) printing | Available | Usually missing |
| Paper tray selection | All trays listed | Single tray or manual only |
| Print quality settings | Multiple modes | Basic only |
| Color management | Full control | Limited or none |
| Custom paper sizes | Supported | Often unavailable |
| Borderless printing | If printer supports it | Never available |
| Toner/ink levels | Displayed | Not reported |
| Secure/PIN printing | If printer supports it | Not available |
| Printer-specific features | All available | None |
If any of these features matter to you, a generic driver isn't going to cut it.
Why Your Mac Switched to a Generic Driver
There are three common causes:
1. macOS Update Removed Your Driver (Most Common)
Apple has been removing third-party printer drivers from macOS with each release since Ventura. When your specific driver is removed during an update, macOS automatically falls back to a generic driver so your printer doesn't disappear completely.
This is by far the most common cause. If your printer was working fine before a macOS update, this is almost certainly what happened.
2. The Printer Was Added Without Its Driver
If you added a printer when its specific driver wasn't installed, macOS may have selected a generic driver. This can happen on a fresh macOS install or a new Mac.
3. The Driver Became Corrupted
Rare, but possible. A failed update, disk issue, or permission problem can corrupt the printer driver, causing macOS to fall back to generic.
How to Check Which Driver You're Using
- Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners
- Click your printer
- Look for "Driver," "Use," or "Kind"
Specific driver: Shows your printer's brand and model (e.g., "Canon PIXMA MG3620" or "HP LaserJet Pro M404")
Generic driver: Shows one of these:
- "Generic PostScript Printer"
- "Generic PCL Printer"
AirPrint: Shows "Secure AirPrint" or "AirPrint" (without your model name). The printer already prints through AirPrint, and PrintCast Driver lists it as already working with macOS.
Fix 1: PrintCast Driver (Recommended)
PrintCast Driver replaces your missing model-specific driver with one that speaks PCL5 or PostScript to your printer and reads its capabilities. On a generic driver, a printer that supports AirPrint only needs to be re-added with the AirPrint option: PrintCast Driver is for a printer without AirPrint.
How It Works
PrintCast detects your printer model and restores duplex, print quality, color, and the Letter, A4, and Legal paper sizes, where your printer reports them. It works with printers from Canon, Epson, Brother, HP, Lexmark, Samsung, and others that use PCL5 or PostScript.
Setup
- Download PrintCast Driver from printcast.app
- Open the downloaded installer and follow the steps
- PrintCast Driver launches automatically in your menu bar
- PrintCast marks the printers it can drive and restores printing on the ones you install
After setup, open the print dialog and you should see the options your printer reports: duplex, quality settings, color management.
PrintCast is independent software and is not affiliated with any printer manufacturer — results vary by model, and the free trial lets you confirm your printer.
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PrintCast Driver gets your printer printing again in minutes.
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Fix 2: Download Your Manufacturer's Driver
Your printer manufacturer may have an updated driver for your macOS version.
Where to Look
- HP: hp.com/support
- Canon: usa.canon.com/support
- Epson: epson.com/support
- Brother: brother.com/support
- Lexmark: lexmark.com/support
Steps
- Find your exact printer model number
- Visit your manufacturer's support page
- Search for macOS drivers for your model
- Download and install
- Remove and re-add your printer in System Settings
The Catch
Not all models have updated drivers. If your manufacturer hasn't released one for your macOS version, this approach won't work.
Fix 3: Select a Better Driver Manually
macOS may have a better driver available that it didn't automatically select.
Steps
- Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners
- Remove your printer
- Click + to add it again
- When the "Use" dropdown appears, click it
- Select Select Software...
- Search for your printer brand or model
- If a specific driver appears, select it
When This Works
This works when macOS has the driver installed but didn't select it automatically. It's less likely to work after a macOS update that removed drivers, but worth trying.
Fix 4: Check for Apple Printer Software Updates
macOS can download additional printer software from Apple.
- Open System Settings > General > Software Update
- Look for optional printer software updates
- Install any that relate to your printer brand
Or via Terminal:
softwareupdate --list
Apple's collection has been shrinking, but it's a quick check.
Fix 5: Reset and Start Fresh
If the printer configuration itself is corrupted:
- Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners
- Right-click in the printer list
- Select Reset printing system
- Re-add your printer
- Check if macOS offers a specific driver this time
Warning: This removes all configured printers.
How to Tell If a Feature Is Missing vs. Not Supported
Sometimes a feature isn't available because your printer genuinely doesn't support it. Here's how to tell the difference:
- Check your printer's spec sheet: Search your model online for its specifications
- Compare with the generic driver options: If the spec sheet says "automatic duplex" but the print dialog doesn't show a duplex option, you're missing a driver feature
- Print a configuration page from the printer itself: Most printers can print their own configuration page using buttons on the printer. This shows what the hardware actually supports
If the hardware supports a feature but your Mac's print dialog doesn't show it, you need a proper driver.
The Bottom Line
A generic driver means your Mac can see your printer but doesn't understand it. It's like speaking to someone through a basic translator that only handles simple phrases — you can communicate, but you're missing all the nuance.
PrintCast Driver gives macOS the vocabulary it needs to use the features your printer reports. One install, no need to track down model-specific drivers.