Printer disappeared after the macOS 26 Tahoe update (Local Network permission)
Recent macOS releases require apps to be granted Local Network permission before they can talk to devices on your own network, and printer discovery depends on exactly that traffic. After upgrading, an app that has not been granted the permission simply finds no printers, even though nothing about the printer changed. Existing queues may also stop working from within specific applications.
What causes it
- The app you print from has not been granted Local Network permission
- The permission prompt appeared during the upgrade and was dismissed
- A vendor scanning or setup utility was reinstalled and lost its permission
- The printer queue was created before the upgrade and now resolves nothing
- A VPN or content filter installed alongside the upgrade is intercepting local traffic
How to fix it, in order
Work down the list and stop when the printer recovers. The steps are ordered from most likely and least invasive to last resort.
Grant Local Network permission
Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network and switch on every app you print or scan from, including your browser, Preview, and any manufacturer utility. If an app is already on but still failing, toggle it off, wait a few seconds and toggle it back on to force the permission to be re-evaluated.
Restart the app after granting permission
Quit the application completely with Command-Q and reopen it, since the permission is checked when the app starts its network access. Printing from a still-running app that was denied earlier in the session often continues to fail until it is relaunched.
Re-add the printer
Go to System Settings › Printers & Scanners, remove the printer, then click Add Printer and pick it from the Default list. With permission granted, discovery should now populate the list. Choose AirPrint in the Use menu unless you specifically need a vendor driver.
Confirm the printer is on the same network
Print a network configuration page from the printer and compare its IPv4 address with the Mac's under System Settings › Network › Wi-Fi › Details. Matching first three groups mean the same subnet. If they differ, permission is not the issue and the network is.
Add the printer by IP as a fallback
In Add Printer, switch to the IP tab, enter the printer's address, set Protocol to AirPrint or Line Printer Daemon, and complete the setup. A queue created by address does not depend on discovery, so it survives permission quirks.
Check for a VPN or filtering profile
Disconnect any VPN and check System Settings › General › VPN & Device Management for profiles that route or filter traffic. Several VPN clients block local network access by default, which produces symptoms identical to a missing permission.
Reset the printing system if queues remain broken
Control-click in the printer list in Printers & Scanners and choose Reset printing system, then add the printer again. This clears queues created before the upgrade that still hold stale discovery state.
Stopping it happening again
When it is not worth fixing yourself
If you would rather not work through this alone, a printer specialist can take a look with you on a screen-share and tell you honestly whether the machine is worth saving.
Frequently asked questions
Why did an OS update break my printer?
It did not break the printer. It added a privacy control that blocks local network traffic until you approve it per app.
Which apps need the permission?
Anything that discovers or talks to the printer directly, including browsers, Preview and manufacturer utilities.
Is it safe to grant?
For apps you trust and actually print from, yes. It only allows communication with devices on your own network.
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