---
name: "cupsd"
section: "8"
platform: "macos"
package: "cups"
version: "522.4"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cupsd"
---

# cupsd(8)

cups scheduler

## NAME

cupsd - cups scheduler

## SYNOPSIS

**cupsd** \[ **-c** *cupsd.conf* \] \[ **-f** \] \[ **-F** \] \[ **-h** \] \[ **-l** \] \[ **-s** *cups-files.conf* \] \[ **-t** \]

## DESCRIPTION

**cupsd** is the scheduler for CUPS. It implements a printing system based upon the Internet Printing Protocol, version 2.1, and supports most of the requirements for IPP Everywhere. If no options are specified on the command-line then the default configuration file */etc/cups/cupsd.conf* will be used.

## OPTIONS

- **-c** *cupsd.conf*

  Uses the named cupsd.conf configuration file.

- **-f**

  Run **cupsd** in the foreground; the default is to run in the background as a "daemon".

- **-F**

  Run **cupsd** in the foreground but detach the process from the controlling terminal and current directory. This is useful for running **cupsd** from [**init**(8)](/init/8.md).

- **-h**

  Shows the program usage.

- **-l**

  This option is passed to **cupsd** when it is run from **launchd**(8) or **systemd**(8).

- **-s** *cups-files.conf*

  Uses the named cups-files.conf configuration file.

- **-t**

  Test the configuration file for syntax errors.

## FILES

```
/etc/cups/classes.conf
/etc/cups/cups-files.conf
/etc/cups/cupsd.conf
/usr/share/cups/mime/mime.convs
/usr/share/cups/mime/mime.types
/etc/cups/printers.conf
/etc/cups/subscriptions.conf
```

## CONFORMING TO

**cupsd** implements all of the required IPP/2.1 attributes and operations. It also implements several CUPS-specific administrative operations.

## EXAMPLES

Run **cupsd** in the background with the default configuration file:

```
    cupsd
```

Test a configuration file called *test.conf*:

```
    cupsd -t -c test.conf
```

Run **cupsd** in the foreground with a test configuration file called *test.conf*:

```
    cupsd -f -c test.conf
```

## SEE ALSO

[**backend**(7)](/backend/7.md), [**classes.conf**(5)](/classes.conf/5.md), [**cups**(1)](/cups/1.md), [**cups-files.conf**(5)](/cups-files.conf/5.md), [**cups-lpd**(8)](/cups-lpd/8.md), [**cupsd.conf**(5)](/cupsd.conf/5.md), [**cupsd-helper**(8)](/cupsd-helper/8.md), **cupsd-logs**(8), [**filter**(7)](/filter/7.md), **launchd**(8), [**mime.convs**(5)](/mime.convs/5.md), [**mime.types**(5)](/mime.types/5.md), [**printers.conf**(5)](/printers.conf/5.md), **systemd**(8), CUPS Online Help (http://localhost:631/help)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2007-2019 by Apple Inc.