WWDC is getting near and Setapp traditionally unites forces with Paddle to celebrate the future of tech. We have an incredible event planned out for you in the heart of San Jose at the Tech Museum of Innovation.

Setapp is a new era of app discovery on the Mac market with more than 140 applications on board, and Paddle is a go-to platform for all software devs looking to grow their business. Our values and plans complement each other and we couldn't be more excited to host this event together.

Having the Tech Museum as our venue to discuss Apple keynotes has become a tradition and we are happy to pay it another visit. VR and robotics exhibitions, BioDesigns, and tons of futuristic tech are all at your fingertips during the night.

The usual crowd is invited: talented developers and entrepreneurs from around the world, top tech journalists, Setapp vendors and users, and a couple of major CEOs.

Refreshments are provided throughout the evening to keep your spirits up. We’re already ironing our Setapp tees and decorating the venue. Fun talks, memorable insights, and good company are a promise.

Join!

How to print black and white on Mac: Best methods found

If you have a Mac, the Preview app has everything you need to print in black and white. If you need more advanced features, like editing a PDF before printing, I’ll also walk you through some additional tools you can use.

How to print black and white in Preview

To print black-and-white in Preview: Open your file in Preview > Click File > Print > Toggle off Print in Color.

Swipe right to see.

How to print black and white in Google Drive

To print black and white in Google Docs: Open your document > Click File > Print > Select Monochrome under Color. Or use 2 other methods from the gallery.

Scroll to view 3 options.

How to print black and white on Mac in Microsoft Word

To print black and white on Mac in Microsoft Word: Open your Word file > From the menu bar, select File > Print >Select Black and White under the Presets menu.

Solutions you might also need

I’m 99.9% sure that by reading these lines, your issue with printing in black and white on a Mac is already solved. But I still have a few things to share if you need more than basic printing.

You might not need these solutions right now, but I still recommend checking them out — just in case you need more advanced features in a day or two.

I'm not just pushing these solutions on you for no reason; I’ve got three solid reasons:

Preview doesn’t always let you edit PDFs, so if you need to make any tweaks before printing, you might run into trouble.
There are more handy tools than Preview for managing your files.
These solutions are cost-effective.

Let’s dive in and explore the options.

Edit files before printing

Preview is a decent option for viewing files, but I sometimes find it frustrating when I can’t edit PDFs. That’s why I switched to Nitro PDF Pro.

Honestly? I see it as a cheaper version of Adobe Acrobate with basically all the same features.

Nitro PDF Pro enables you to easily merge, rearrange, and delete pages in your documents — features that are essential for anyone who frequently works with PDFs. Additionally, its powerful scanning capability is perfect for digitizing various types of paperwork.

You can redact text, sign documents, and fill out forms, all while securely saving everything to iCloud or Dropbox.

Here, I’m creating a preset for frequent black-and-white print needs:

Here’s how to save a black-and-white print preset:

Click File > Print from the menu bar and select Black & White Printing.
After selecting the settings you want to use, click the Presets drop-down menu.
Click Save Current Settings as Preset.
Type a name for your preset. If the option appears, choose whether to save the preset for all printers or just this printer.
Click OK.

Better space for your documents

I want to share another tool I really love: Swift Publisher. If you’re looking for a dedicated space for your documents, this app is perfect. It has a ton of awesome features that you’ll find in Word and Google Drive, but since it lives right on your Mac, it feels much more integrated.

What I appreciate most about Swift Publisher is its graphics tools — they’re fantastic compared to what you get in cloud-based apps. Whether you’re designing flyers, brochures, or anything in between, Swift Publisher makes the whole process easy and fun. It's definitely worth checking out if you’re looking to take your writing and design to the next level!

How to troubleshoot printing in black and white on a Mac

If you’re having issues printing on your Mac, it’s likely not an issue with the app. As far as we’ve come with technology, printers seem to be a thing we’ve forgotten to update accordingly.

To solve issues printing on Mac, follow these steps to get to your Mac’s printers:

Disconnect the printer from your Mac
Go to the Apple menu > System Settings.
Click Printers & Scanners (You may need to scroll down).

Here, you’ll see a list of printers associated with your Mac. If your Mac simply can’t find your printer, it may be time to remove and re-add the printer. Check out this guide on how to add a printer on a Mac.

What to do if black and white option is not visible

I’ve also noticed that when researching this issue, many people struggle to find the black and white option in the drop-down menu when printing from Preview. If you can’t see it either, here’s why it might be happening:

Your printer may not be connected properly. Ensure it’s powered on and recognized by your Mac.
The printer might not support black-and-white printing.
Outdated printer drivers could limit your options.

To fix this, check your printer connection and settings and update your drivers.

How to print black and white on Mac: Final thoughts

As you can see, printing in black and white on a Mac is easy. I covered three methods: using Preview, Google Drive, and Microsoft Word. Don’t forget the handy tip about saving your settings as a preset — it’s a real time-saver. Plus, if you want to explore the apps I mentioned, be sure to check them out on Setapp.

Nitro PDF Pro, Marked, Craft, and Swift Publisher — are available for free during a seven-day trial of Setapp, a platform that hosts 250+ carefully selected Mac, iOS, and web apps for almost any task. During the trial, you’ll get unlimited access to all tools. When your week-long trial is over, Setapp is only $9.99 per month. Give it a try.

FAQ

How do I enable Grayscale printing on a Mac?

To enable Grayscale printing on a Mac, open the Print dialog, choose the Color section, and select Black and white (Grayscale).

How do I change my default printer to black and white on my Mac?

To change your default printer to black and white, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, and tweak your settings under Options & Supplies to always default to black and white.