macOS PPD features missing via AirPrint-only — “Use: Select Software” full driver setup

Joe B.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: macOS printing, AirPrint, PPD drivers, IPP Everywhere, Enterprise print queues

Fix missing macOS PPD features — AirPrint-only queue vs vendor driver, “Use: Select Software”, full options

Technician

Hey! We’ll get your macOS printer showing all the features it actually supports — not just the limited AirPrint-only options.
Right now macOS likely auto-added the device as Use: AirPrint or Secure AirPrint, so advanced PPD features like stapling, hole-punching, booklet, duplex unit, extra trays, secure PIN print, or color controls are missing.
We’ll switch it to the correct PPD or vendor driver using the “Use: Select Software” flow in System Settings → Printers & Scanners. First, tell me:
• Printer brand & model (e.g. HP PageWide, Canon iR-ADV, Ricoh, Kyocera, Brother, Epson).
• Connected via IP, Bonjour/AirPrint, or a print server/Queue?
• Which options are missing — duplex, tray selection, stapler/finisher, A3, secure print?

Customer

macOS Sonoma auto-detects our Canon office copier and sets it as AirPrint. It prints, but there’s no stapler, no extra trays, can’t pick the finisher, and secure print isn’t there. On Windows everything shows up; on Mac it’s super basic. I don’t see any PPD options.

Technician

That matches exactly what we see in many offices.
Newer macOS versions prefer AirPrint / IPP Everywhere because it’s driverless and secure, but the generic AirPrint driver often hides device-specific PPD features: advanced finishing, mailbox, booklet, saddle stitch, punch, secure PIN release, department codes, etc.
The fix is to:
1) Add or edit the printer so it uses the correct vendor PPD via “Use: Select Software” or “Use: [Vendor Name]” instead of Use: AirPrint.
2) Enable installed options (duplexer, finisher, trays) inside the macOS driver.
3) For network/IP queues, ensure you use a stable hostname or IP that matches the device’s capabilities.
I’ll walk you through the step-by-step.

Customer

On Sonoma, I only see the printer like “Canon xxx @ AirPrint”. Where exactly do I switch from AirPrint to “Select Software” so macOS uses the proper PPD and unlocks all features?

Technician

Step 1 — Remove the AirPrint-only queue
1) Go to System Settings → Printers & Scanners.
2) Select the existing printer that says “Kind: AirPrint” or “Secure AirPrint / IPP Everywhere”.
3) Click Remove Printer — we’ll recreate it with the correct PPD / driver.

macOS defaulting to Use: AirPrint is great for simple home printers, but for enterprise MFPs it causes the classic “macOS PPD features missing via AirPrint-only” problem you’re seeing.

Customer

Removed. Now when I click “Add printer”, it detects the device again and still wants to use AirPrint. I see the “Use:” dropdown, though. What next?

Technician

Step 2 — Add the printer using “Use: Select Software” (PPD mapping)
When adding the printer:
• If you’re using a hostname or IP, choose the device in the list or click “IP” and enter its address (IPP or Line Printer Daemon as recommended by the vendor).
• At the bottom, open the “Use:” dropdown:
  – Do not accept “AirPrint”.
  – Choose “Select Software…”.
• In the software list, search for your exact model or series. Pick the closest official PPD / driver (e.g. Canon iR-ADV, HP LaserJet, Ricoh MP, Kyocera TASKalfa).
• Click Add.

This forces macOS to use the full PPD-based driver instead of the generic AirPrint queue, restoring many missing features in the print dialog.

Customer

I see multiple similar models in the Select Software list. How important is picking the exact one? And what if our model isn’t listed at all?

Technician

Great question — it matters for finisher, trays, and color support:
• If your exact model appears, choose it. That PPD exposes the correct feature set.
• If not, choose a series or “(PS)” / “(PCL)” driver recommended by the manufacturer as compatible; avoid random generic drivers.
• If nothing matches, download the latest macOS printer driver package from HP/Canon/Brother/Ricoh/Kyocera/Epson, install it, then repeat “Use: Select Software”; new PPDs will appear.

Using a near-match PPD is usually enough to fix macOS missing duplex, no stapler option, incorrect page sizes, or loss of secure print when stuck on AirPrint-only.

Customer

After switching to the Canon driver, I can see duplex again, but still no stapler or additional trays. Is that another macOS issue?

Technician

You’re close — now we need to tell the PPD which hardware options exist.
Step 3 — Turn on finisher & trays in macOS
1) In System Settings → Printers & Scanners, select your printer.
2) Click Options & Supplies (or Options depending on macOS version).
3) Under Options / Driver / Installable Options, enable:
  • Duplex unit,
  • Stapler/finisher,
  • Hole punch,
  • Additional paper cassettes / LCT / A3 tray,
  • Punch/Booklet modules or mailbox if present.
Save changes, then reopen the print dialog; the PPD-based macOS driver should now expose all those finishing options that AirPrint hid.

Customer

That worked on my Mac. How about multiple Macs? Do we have to repeat this everywhere, or can we share a queue from a print server with the correct PPD?

Technician

In managed environments you have two solid options:
• Host a queue on a print server (Mac or Linux CUPS) with the correct PPD, then have users add that queue; they inherit the proper capabilities instead of AirPrint-only.
• Script deployment via profile/MDM so macOS clients install the printer using “Use: Select Software” with your chosen PPD automatically.
Avoid letting every Mac “discover” the device by Bonjour and default to Use: AirPrint — that’s how you end up with inconsistent macOS PPD features and support tickets.

Customer

Good to know. Any downside to staying on AirPrint? For security reasons our team prefers it, but users complain about missing finishing options.

Technician

AirPrint / IPP Everywhere is modern, simple, and often secure by default — but it’s feature-light on many enterprise printers.
If you rely on:
• Secure PIN print / follow-me print
• Department codes / accounting
• High-end finishing (booklet, saddle stitch, punch)
• Exact color profiles, media types, banner or duplex rules
…you usually need the full macOS driver and PPD via “Use: Select Software” or the vendor package.
A balanced approach: use vendor IPP/PS drivers from trusted manufacturers and keep firmware/drivers updated for compatibility and security.

Customer

After switching to the PPD driver and enabling options, we’ve got stapling, secure print, and all trays back. That solves it — thanks!

Technician

Summary: When macOS PPD features are missing via AirPrint-only, remove the auto-added AirPrint queue, re-add the printer with “Use: Select Software” (or vendor driver), pick the correct PPD, and enable installable options. That restores stapling, duplex, trays, secure print, and other advanced features that AirPrint hides. Need a verified driver choice for your exact model or an MDM-ready config? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when macOS shows only basic AirPrint options and PPD features are missing: delete the AirPrint-only queue, add the printer again, change “Use: AirPrint” to “Use: Select Software”, choose the correct vendor PPD/driver, then enable duplex, finisher, trays, and secure print under Options & Supplies. This unlocks full macOS printer capabilities.

FAQ

Step-by-step: “Use: Select Software” to restore full macOS printer features

1. Note your printer model and IP/hostname from the device’s status page.
2. In System Settings → Printers & Scanners, remove any AirPrint-only queue for this device.
3. Click Add Printer, select the device or IP, and open the “Use:” dropdown.
4. Choose “Select Software…” and pick the correct vendor PPD/driver (or install vendor package first).
5. After adding, open Options & Supplies → Options and enable duplex, trays, finisher, and other hardware.
6. Print a test job using stapling/duplex to confirm the PPD driver is active.

Notes for mixed macOS and Windows environments

1. Match the macOS PPD with the driver/queue used on Windows or the print server where possible for consistent behavior.
2. For shared CUPS or print servers, publish queues with proper PPDs so macOS clients don’t fall back to AirPrint-only.

Sources

• Apple — Add a printer on Mac
• Apple — Change printer options on Mac
• CUPS — Printer drivers and PPD options

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