With the new M1 MacBook Air comes the need to once again figure out how to get a modern, highly secure, 64-bit operating system to communicate with a device made in the early 2000s. The device in question being a Dell 1100 Laser Printer.
After some searching online, a little trial and error, some attempts at using an old driver from an old computer (nope) and a little more searching online I finally came up with the solution. I’m posting it here in the hopes that it will help someone else save some trouble and probably for my future self at some point.
Before I even started, I knew I would need a USB-C to USB-A adapter.
I’ll save you the trouble of going through all my trial and error and just say that the solution to get Andrea’s MacBook Air (M1, 2020) running Big Sur 11.0 to work with the Dell 1100 Laser Printer was to download this collection of drivers:
Open it and when it’s done installing head to the System Preferences Printer icon (with the printer plugged in and turned on) and add a new printer.
When selecting software, choose Samsung ML-2160 Series.
Albeit there was an error the first time I printed (or maybe it was just a warning) but then it began its typical whirling sound and out popped the printed page. It continues to work every time without issue.
I’m going to mirror the Samsung drivers for safe keeping.
Update: And after a new version of MacOS, this no longer works. I guess it’s time to retire the old laser printer. Too bad, we just bought a new drum after 15 years on the old one.
6 replies on “Dell Laser Printer 1100 Driver for macOS Big Sur”
wauw! exactly the same problem, it worked out!
Thanks for the post. But mine doesn’t work. Got a ‘Filter’ failed error. Reset the Print systems on the Mac but didn’t help. Oh well…
Thanks for this! I had the same (bad) luck with the ML-2106 driver, however I was encouraged by this post to try some of the others and found that the M203x worked for me!
I’m running Monterey.
THIS IS AMAZING! Thank you so much for the tips, Jeff! I am also running Monterey (January 2022) and went with this poster’s suggestion of M230x too and it worked! THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU!
Thanks for this! I had the same (bad) luck with the ML-2106 driver, however I was encouraged by this post to try some of the others and found that the M203x worked for me!
still worked 2024! used ML-2106 driver but had to remove device and reload (through settings) after error message when trying to print. tried m203x first based on comments without success. Dell 1110 printer, M1 MacBook Air macos Ventura 13.6.7. ill post more if any changes.