How to Print in Black and White on a Mac

Printing in black and white follows the same path as printing in color, but you specifically have to instruct your Mac to tell the printer to print in black ink only. Most programs print in the same fundamental way. To print in black and white, use these basic steps.

How to Create a Black and White Printing Preset

If you intend to print regularly in black and white, you can save yourself the hassle of fiddling with options every time you open the Print feature. Save a preset, which stores the particular settings you choose. You can quickly recall the preset when you print in the future. Here’s how you save a preset for black and white printing.

How to Troubleshoot Printing in Black and White on a Mac

Even if you have a printer that you know can print without color, you might not see the option to print in black and white. In that case, one thing you can do to troubleshoot this problem (and many others) is to delete the printer using System Preferences and then set it up again on your Mac. In most cases, reconnecting your printer is sufficient for your Mac to recognize and add it. However, if problems occur, you may need to take other steps. Additional troubleshooting steps include:

Download a software update from the printer manufacturer’s website. Connect your wireless printer to the Mac using a USB cable. Return to the Printers & Scanners preferences window and click the Add (+) symbol to add your printer manually. Reset the printer.