macOS says the printer software was installed incorrectly
macOS found the driver files for the printer but could not use them, so it refuses to set up or run the queue. This usually follows a macOS upgrade, a migration from an old Mac, or an interrupted driver installation. The printer itself is generally fine.
What causes it
- Driver files carried over from an older Mac by Migration Assistant
- A macOS upgrade left a driver in place that is no longer compatible
- The vendor installer did not finish or was blocked by security settings
- Two versions of the same driver are installed
- Files in the printing library folders have incorrect permissions
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.
Add the printer using AirPrint instead
Open System Settings › Printers & Scanners, remove the failing printer, then click Add Printer, select it from the Default list, and set the Use menu to AirPrint or Secure AirPrint. This avoids the broken vendor driver entirely and works on nearly all network printers made in the last decade.
Run the manufacturer's uninstaller
If the vendor supplies an uninstall utility, run it before doing anything else, then restart the Mac. Removing the driver properly is far more reliable than deleting files by hand, and it clears the registrations that produce this message.
Reset the printing system
Control-click inside the printer list in System Settings › Printers & Scanners and choose Reset printing system, then confirm. All printers, queues and settings are removed. Add the printer back afterwards and the stale registration is gone.
Install only a driver listed for your macOS version
Check the manufacturer's support page for a driver explicitly listed for your current macOS release. Installing an older package intended for a previous version reproduces this error immediately, so it is worth confirming before downloading.
Allow the installer in Privacy & Security
If the installer was blocked, open System Settings › Privacy & Security, scroll down and click Open Anyway or Allow next to the blocked item, then run the installer again. A partially blocked install leaves exactly the half-configured state this message describes.
Update macOS
Open System Settings › General › Software Update and install everything offered. Apple ships printer support updates through the system, and a missing update can leave the printing system unable to load a driver it would otherwise accept.
Test in a new user account
Create a second user in System Settings › Users & Groups, sign in and add the printer there. If it works, the fault lies in your user's printing preferences rather than in the system-wide driver, which points at resetting those preferences instead of reinstalling.
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
Do I need the manufacturer's driver at all?
For printing, usually not, as AirPrint covers it. For scanning and some finishing options, the vendor software may still be needed.
Why did this start after moving to a new Mac?
Migration Assistant copies old driver files that may not run on the newer macOS version, and the printing system rejects them.
Will resetting the printing system delete my documents?
No. It removes printers, queues and their settings only.
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