Zebra label printers are widely used in warehouses, retail, healthcare, and offices because of their speed and reliability. However, mac users often find setting up and printing to a Zebra printer slightly confusing, since most Zebra printers don’t have the usual drivers available to download
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to connect, install, and print labels from a Mac to your Zebra printer—whether you’re using a USB, Wi-Fi, or network connection.
Can You Use a Zebra Printer with a Mac?
Zebra printers are compatible with macOS, but not in the conventional way. Usually, a printer needs to have drivers downloaded to work with your PC; however, Zebra label printers use CUPS drivers, which are built into Apple macOS systems.
What Do I Need?
Most of the items needed to connect your mac to a Zebra printer are included in box, the only thing you may need is a USB-B to USB-C cable. Or a USB-A to USB-C adapter
You will need:
- Zebra Label Printer
- MacBook. or iMac
- Power Cable
- USB-B to USB-A Cable
- Or, USB-B to USB-C Cable
Guide To Connecting A Zebra Label Printer To Mac
Connect Your Zebra Printer to Your Mac
- Connect your Zebra printer to the WiFi, network or USB port on your PC
- Open System Settings, or search the Spotlight for “Printers and Scanners”
3. Click “Add Printer or Scanner”
4. In the “Use” section, choose“ Select Software”
5. Now select your preferred driver’s language. If you’re unsure which to select, use “Zebra ZPL Label Printer”
6. Click “Add” to complete the setup
How To Log Into The CUPS Interface
- To successfully set the CUPS printer settings, search: http://localhost:631/printers in your Safari browser
- If you need to authenticate, enter your mac Account Credentials
3. To enable CUPS Control, select and copy cupsctl Webinterface=yes
4. Next, open “Terminal” which is in your App screen, or can be searched from Spotlight
5. Once in Terminal, paste cupsctl Webinterface=yes and press “Enter”
6. Now, you should be able to go to “http://localhost:631/printers/“ and see all of your installed printers
Changing Printer Settings In CUPS
- Open your Safari Web Browser and search for http://localhost:631/printers/
2. Go to the “Printers” tab
4. Choose “Set Default Options” from the “Administrator” drop-down menu
5. Adjust the settings you need changing, such as Media size, Resolution, Media Tracking and Media Type
6. Click “Set Default Options” to save changes
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- If asked to “Sign in to localhost:631”, the Username and password will be the same login credentials used on your mac
Printing A Test Page
- Open your Safari Web Browser
- Search for http://localhost:631/printers/ and go to the “Printers” tab
3. From the drop-down menu, press “Print Test Page”
Troubleshooting Zebra Printing on a Mac
Some common issues Mac users face include:
Labels printing blank – Usually caused by incorrect driver selection.
Text or barcodes cut off – Check label size settings.
Printer not detected – Try reconnecting via USB or deleting and adding the printer again under Printers & Scanners.
If you’re using thermal transfer Zebra printers, make sure the ribbon is loaded correctly—otherwise your labels won’t print.
Verdict
Printing to a Zebra label printer from a Mac is straightforward once you’ve installed the right driver and chosen the right label software. While Zebra printers are built with business efficiency in mind, macOS users can still take full advantage of their speed and reliability with just a few setup steps.
Whether you’re shipping parcels, managing stock, or printing barcode labels, Zebra and macOS work well together—once properly configured.
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