If your printer stopped working after a macOS update, it probably wasn't a bug. Apple deliberately removed the software your printer needed to work. Here's what's actually happening, why Apple is doing it, and what your options are.
What Apple Did
Starting with macOS Ventura in 2022, Apple began removing third-party printer driver extensions from macOS. These are the software packages that printer manufacturers like HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother wrote to make their printers work with Mac.
With each subsequent release — Sonoma, Sequoia, and beyond — Apple removes more drivers. This isn't a one-time cleanup. It's an ongoing process that affects more printers every year.
Why Apple Is Doing This
Apple has been pushing macOS toward a more locked-down architecture for years. Printer drivers were one of the last holdouts from the older system extension model.
The Technical Reason
Traditional printer drivers used kernel extensions (kexts) or system extensions that run with elevated privileges. Apple considers these a security risk and has been deprecating them across macOS.
The Replacement: Driverless Printing
Apple's vision is driverless printing using open standards:
- AirPrint: Apple's own wireless printing protocol
- IPP Everywhere: An industry standard for network printing without drivers
- Mopria: An alliance standard similar to IPP Everywhere
The idea is that modern printers should announce their capabilities over the network, and macOS should be able to print to them without model-specific software.
The Problem
This works great for printers designed with these standards in mind. It doesn't work for:
- Printers manufactured before these standards existed
- Printers that support these standards partially but need a driver for full features
- USB printers that don't use network protocols
- Printers with advanced features (duplex, multiple trays, color management) that need specific driver support
What Happens to Your Printer
When Apple removes your printer's driver, one of four things happens:
Scenario 1: It Keeps Working (Lucky)
Your printer supports AirPrint or IPP Everywhere natively. macOS uses driverless printing. You may not even notice the change. This is most common with printers manufactured after 2020.
Scenario 2: It Works, But Worse
Your printer partially supports driverless printing. Basic printing works, but you lose features:
- No duplex (two-sided printing)
- No paper tray selection
- Limited or no color management
- No custom paper sizes
- No toner or ink level reporting
This is the most frustrating scenario because your printer technically "works" but is crippled.
Scenario 3: It Uses a Generic Driver
macOS falls back to a generic PostScript or PCL driver. Your printer can handle basic print jobs, but it's like driving a car in first gear only. Everything technically functions, but you're not getting what you paid for.
Scenario 4: It Stops Working Entirely
The worst case. Your printer doesn't support driverless printing at all, and the vendor driver was the only way it could communicate with macOS. The printer either disappears from your Mac or shows as unavailable.
Which Printers Are Affected?
Most Affected
- Canon PIXMA inkjets (pre-2019 models)
- HP LaserJet (older models without AirPrint)
- Epson EcoTank and WorkForce (pre-2020 models)
- Brother HL and MFC laser printers (pre-2019)
- Lexmark (most consumer models)
- Samsung printers (all — Samsung exited the printer business)
Least Affected
- Printers sold as "AirPrint compatible"
- Printers with "IPP Everywhere" or "Mopria" certification
- Most printers manufactured after 2020
- High-end enterprise printers from recent years
The Irony
Many of the affected printers are still perfectly functional hardware. Ink and toner are available, the mechanical components work, and the printers themselves may have years of life left. The only thing that stopped working is the software bridge between the printer and macOS.
Your Options
Option 1: PrintCast Driver (Recommended)
PrintCast Driver is a printer driver replacement for macOS. It provides the translation layer between your printer and macOS that Apple removed. 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
- Download PrintCast Driver from printcast.app
- Install and launch from your menu bar
- PrintCast lists the printers it finds and marks the ones it can drive
- Printing is restored
Why This Approach Works
Apple removed individual vendor drivers, but the underlying printing protocols (PostScript, PCL, IPP) still work in macOS. PrintCast Driver prints in PostScript or PCL and sends each job straight to your printer, without relying on the system extension architecture Apple deprecated.
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.
Ready to fix your printer?
PrintCast Driver gets your printer printing again in minutes.
Free 7-day trial. No credit card required.
Option 2: Updated Manufacturer Drivers
Some manufacturers have released macOS-compatible driver updates:
- HP: HP Smart app covers many newer models
- Brother: Provides updated driver packages for some models
- Canon: Offers driver downloads for select models
- Epson: Epson Driver packages available for some models
The downside: not all models are covered, and these drivers may break again with the next macOS update.
Option 3: Stay on Your Current macOS Version
If your printer works now and you don't want to risk breaking it, you can delay updating macOS. This buys time but isn't a long-term solution — Apple stops providing security updates for older macOS versions, and some apps eventually require newer versions.
Option 4: Buy a New Printer
This is the most expensive option, but if your printer is already old and you're due for a replacement, look for models that explicitly support:
- AirPrint
- IPP Everywhere
- Mopria
These will work with macOS without any driver, now and in the future.
Is Apple Going to Reverse Course?
No. Apple has been moving in this direction for years, and the trend is accelerating. The shift away from kernel extensions is part of their broader security architecture (the same reason they introduced System Integrity Protection, notarization requirements, and the move to Apple Silicon).
Expecting Apple to bring back third-party printer drivers would be like expecting them to bring back 32-bit app support. The architecture has moved on.
What About Printer Manufacturers?
Printer manufacturers are in a difficult position:
- They can't use the old driver architecture anymore
- Rewriting drivers for Apple's new extension model is expensive
- Many affected printers are older models with thin margins
- The business case for supporting a 7-year-old printer on the latest macOS is weak
Some manufacturers (notably HP and Brother) have been better than others at providing updates. But even their coverage is incomplete, and there's no guarantee of ongoing support.
Timeline: How We Got Here
| Year | macOS Version | What Changed |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Big Sur | Apple announced kext deprecation |
| 2021 | Monterey | First warnings about driver changes |
| 2022 | Ventura | First wave of driver removals |
| 2023 | Sonoma | Additional drivers removed |
| 2024 | Sequoia | Continued removals, stricter enforcement |
| 2025+ | Future releases | Expect more removals each year |
The Bottom Line
Apple removing printer drivers is not a temporary setback. It's a permanent architectural change in macOS. The drivers are not coming back, and more will be removed with future updates.
The good news: your printer hardware is fine. The mechanical parts, the ink or toner system, the paper handling — none of that changed. What changed is the software layer, and that's replaceable.
PrintCast Driver fills the gap Apple created. It drives the printers on your Mac that use PCL5 or PostScript, licensed per printer, and it is actively developed with compatibility updates as macOS evolves.