Stapling when printing from a Mac

Questions

  • How do I staple my documents when I print from my Mac?
  • I can't find the staple option when I print from my Mac — where is it?
  • How do I staple a print job from a Mac using PaperCut?
  • Can I staple multi-page handouts when printing to a Bowdoin printer?
  • Where is the stapling option in the macOS print dialog?
  • How do I choose where a staple goes (top left, two staples, etc.)?
  • My Mac print dialog doesn't show stapling — what am I missing?

Environment

This article applies to anyone printing stapled documents from a Mac to a Bowdoin multi-function printer:

  • Who: Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students who need a multi-page document stapled at print time.
  • What: Printing from a Bowdoin-issued MacBook Pro (macOS Sequoia 15.x or Tahoe 26.x) through PaperCut's Find-Me-Print queue.
  • Printer support: Stapling is only available on multi-function printers (MFDs) that include a finishing unit — most department and public MFDs on campus support it. If the staple option is missing or appears grayed out, your job is going to a printer without stapling hardware.
  • Not covered: Stapling from Windows, from an iPad, or from a personal device.
Note: The example below uses Preview, but the same Printer Features > Finishing > Staple option exists in most macOS apps (Word, Pages, Chrome, Safari, etc.). The path is identical once you open the native macOS print dialog.

Resolution

Staple a document when printing from a Mac

  1. Open the document in your app of choice and press Command + P to open the print dialog.
  2. At the top of the print window, set the Printer to Find-Me-Print.
  3. Scroll down in the print window to the Printer Options section. If the options are collapsed, click the > disclosure arrow to expand them.
  4. Click Printer Features.
  5. From the Feature Set drop-down, select Finishing.
  6. Next to Staple, select where you want the staple to go. The most common choice is Top left; options like Top right, Left two staples, and others may also be available depending on the printer.
  7. Click OK to close the Printer Features panel.
  8. Click Print to send the job, then release it at the MFD as usual. See Releasing a held document in the Related Articles section if you need a refresher on tap-to-release.
Don't see a staple option? First confirm your printer is set to Find-Me-Print — individual department queues may bypass the finishing features. If Find-Me-Print is selected and stapling still isn't listed, the job may be routing to an MFD without a stapler. Try releasing at a different MFD, or see PaperCut Print Troubleshooting in the Related Articles section.

Video walkthrough

The short video below demonstrates the steps above:

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

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Related Articles (4)

Choose Color or Black & White on Mac and Save Print Settings
How to switch between color and black & white (grayscale) when printing from a Mac to a Bowdoin campus printer, how to save reusable presets for each mode, and how to have macOS remember your last print choice. Includes guidance on the Find-Me-Print-Color queue for student color printing. Applies to macOS Sequoia and Tahoe.
Choose Color or Black & White on Windows 11
How to switch between color and black & white (grayscale) when printing from a Windows 11 computer to a Bowdoin campus printer. Covers selecting the print mode in the Windows print dialog for Find-Me-Print and Find-Me-Print-Color, and how to save default settings for a printer. Applies to Bowdoin-issued Windows 11 computers.
Printing to a PaperCut printer
The end-to-end workflow for printing to a campus PaperCut printer from a Bowdoin-issued Mac or Windows 11 computer. Covers signing in to PaperCut, sending a job, and releasing it at the printer. Links to other articles for installing printers, charging a department, and troubleshooting.
Releasing a held document printed to a PaperCut printer
Step-by-step instructions for releasing a held print job to a campus printer. Covers three methods: releasing at the printer using your OneCard or Bowdoin ID, releasing through the PaperCut web portal, and releasing from a mobile device. Applies to all Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff

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PaperCut Printer Request
Request changes to how a campus network printer behaves — default duplex, grayscale, finishing options, or a custom print queue. Not for reporting broken printers or installing new ones.