Still required. Zebra publishes no macOS driver, so CUPS is how a Mac talks to a Zebra printer. That has not changed with the new check-in experience. A Mac station still needs both the CUPS setup on this page and QZ Tray.
Zebra is not officially supported on Mac OS. However, you can still get it working by installing and configuring CUPS, which stands for Common UNIX Printing System. CUPS comes installed with Mac OS.
There are two steps for a Mac, in this order:
Set up the printer in CUPS, which is what this article covers.
Install QZ Tray, using the Install QZ Tray section of How do I install a Zebra printer?
Tip: This is technical, and it is the reason we recommend Windows for Zebra printing where you have the choice. Printing on Mac is also lower quality, because there are no native drivers. If a Mac is your only option, or you would rather avoid this setup entirely, a phone or tablet station with a Brother printer is the simpler path. See How do I install a Brother printer?
Enabling CUPS Web Interface
To enable CUPS, you will need to install it on your Mac. Open spotlight by hitting Command+Space on your keyboard and typing terminal in the search:
Once you open the terminal window, type the following and press Enter:
sudo cupsctl WebInterface=yes
You may be asked to enter your computer password. Once you are done, open a web browser and go to http://localhost:631.
Add Printer
Make sure your Zebra printer is plugged into your Mac and turned on. Then on http://localhost:631 go to the Administration tab and click on Add Printer. You may be asked for your computer username and password at this point.
Note: you can remove a printer by going to Manage Printers from this screen and then selecting Delete from the dropdown.
Under Other Network Printers, select AppSocket/HP JetDirect and then click on the Continue button.
On the next screen, you will need to add the connection string. To get this, go back to the terminal window, type the following and press Enter:
lpinfo -v | grep usb
It may take a few seconds to complete. If nothing appears, this means your printer is not plugged in. After it finishes, copy everything between usb://Zebra and the ?
Paste this text into the Connection textbox, replacing any information that is already there. Then click on the Continue button.
On the next screen, enter a Name, Description and Location for the printer. Uncheck the Share This Printer checkbox and then click on the Continue button.
Important: Make sure the name has the word Zebra in it. The check-in station finds Zebra printers by name, so a printer named anything else will not be detected. The station's footer will say No printer even though CUPS is set up correctly.
On the next screen, select Raw from the Make list and click on Continue.
In the Model list, select the only option and then click on the Add Printer button.
On the next screen, choose none for both the Starting Banner and Ending Banner fields. Finally, click on the Set Default Options button.
That completes the printer setup. There is still one more step to finish the process.
Add Printer Class
Go to the Administration tab and then click on the Add Class button.
On the next screen, enter a Name, Description and Location for the class. In the Members list, choose the printer you added previously. Then click on the Add Class button.
Important: The class name MUST be different from the name you chose for the printer AND must have the word Zebra in it.
Next Steps
Now that you have connected your Zebra printer on the Mac, you are ready to continue setting up your Mac with the check-in system. Continue with the Install QZ Tray section of How do I install a Zebra printer?
Checking it worked
Once QZ Tray is installed, the check-in station itself will tell you whether both halves are in place. On the station, go to Settings > Printer, which needs the station PIN, and look at the Zebra setup checklist. It covers QZ Tray, the printer, and the driver, with a fix for each item.
The station's footer also names the problem directly:
Zebra driver missing - the CUPS setup on this page has not been completed, or the printer or class name does not contain the word Zebra.
QZ Tray isn't running - CUPS is fine, but QZ Tray is not up. Start it, and set it to Start Automatically.
The printer's name - both halves are working.
Tip: Use Test print in Settings > Printer to confirm the whole chain. It prints a generic sample drawn by the app, so it proves CUPS, QZ Tray and the printer together without depending on your event's label setup. The station re-checks every 30 seconds, so it recovers on its own once you fix whatever was missing.