Choose Color or Black & White on Mac and Save Print Settings

Information on how to switch between black and white or color printing in macOS. Also demonstrates how to create printing presets for faster access to these features.

Questions

• How do I switch a single print job between color and black & white (grayscale) on macOS Sequoia?
• How do I save presets so I can quickly choose Black & White or Color each time I print?
• Can my Mac remember my last print choice for a printer?
• Why don’t I see a Black & White or Color option in the print window?

Environment

This article applies to Macs running macOS Sequoia (macOS 15), for anyone printing to a local, network, or AirPrint printer installed on the Mac. The exact names and locations of color settings can vary by printer model and app. Black & White (grayscale) is available only if the printer and its driver support it. No administrator permissions are required.

Resolution

Switch between Color and Black & White for a single print job

1. Open the file you want to print, then choose File > Print (or press Command + P).
2. If the print window looks small, click Show Details to see all options.
3. Look for a dropdown menu that says Printer Options (if printing to Find-Me-Print).
4. Select the section that contains color settings. For Find-Me-Print, this is Printer Features
5. Be sure the you're on the Basic feature set.
6. Change the color mode:
   • Choose Black & White or Grayscale to print without color.
   • Choose Color to print in color.
7. Review other settings (paper size, two‑sided, pages), then click Print.
8. For more detail on the print window, see Apple: Change printer options in the Print dialog.

Create reusable presets for Black & White and for Color

1. Open the print window (File > Print) and click Show Details if needed.
2. Set all options the way you want them for Black & White (for example, choose Black & White/Grayscale, two‑sided on or off, paper size, etc.).
3. At the top of the window, open the Presets menu and choose Save Current Settings as Preset.
4. Name it clearly, such as Black & White, and choose whether it applies to Only this printer or All printers. Click OK.
5. Repeat steps 1–4 to create a second preset for Color (choose Color in the color setting before saving).
6. Next time you print, open the Presets menu and pick Black & White or Color before clicking Print.
7. See Apple: Save a custom printer preset on Mac for more details.

Have your Mac remember your last choice

1. In the print window’s Presets menu, choose Last Used Settings.
2. Print once using your preferred preset (for example, Black & White). Many apps will continue to use your last used settings for that printer the next time you print.

If you don’t see Black & White or Color

• Make sure the printer supports color; some models only print in black and white.
• Try a different section in the print window (Color Options, Media & Quality, Printer Features, or a brand‑specific panel).
• If the printer was added with AirPrint and color options are missing, re‑open the print window and check under Color Options; some features appear only there.
• Update the printer’s software if available, then try again. Feature names vary by manufacturer.
• Apple’s general guidance on print options is here: Apple: Change printer options in the Print dialog.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you can chat with Bowdoin Bot of contact the Bowdoin College Service Desk by phone at (207) 725-3030 or in person at the Tech Hub in Smith Union.