Let Windows Manage Your Default Printer
How To Set The Printer As The Default Printer In Windows
While trying to print a document, you might receive a warning message that the printer is not set as the default printer. You may also find that Windows is attempting to print to another device. To configure Windows to use your printer as the default printing device, select your version of Windows below and follow the steps.
Change Default Printer Via Print Dialog
Step 1: Open Microsoft Office Word or Notepad software.
Step 2: Click the File menu and then click the Print option to open the Print dialog. Also, you can use the shortcut Ctrl + P to open the Print dialog.
Step 3: Once you are here, right-click on the printer that you want to set as the default printer on your Windows 10 PC and then click Set as Default Printer option.
Set default printer
Step 4: Click OK button to set the selected printer as default.
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Fix : Install The Latest Windows Updates
System bugs can cause your default printer to keep changing even after you have made all the necessary configurations. Fortunately, Microsoft periodically releases updates that contain patches for various bugs, recent drivers for your hardware devices, and more. Installing these updates will help resolve not only the issue you are having with your printers but also other problems you are yet to recognize on your computer.
Windows 10 is configured by default to automatically download and install new updates. However, you can still check for updates whenever you desire by following the steps below:
Way : Set Default Printer Windows 10 Via Settings
Step 1: Click the Windows icon on the toolbar and then select Settings.
Step 2: On the Settings window, please click Devices and Printers & scanners in order.
Step 3: Look at the right pane and then untick Let Windows 10 manage your default printer.
Step 4: Scroll up to Printers & scanners. Click a printer you want to set as default and then click the Manage button.
Step 5: On the new window, please click Set as default to set the selected printer as default Windows 10.
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Why Does My Default Printer Keep Changing In Windows 10
If Windows keeps changing your default printer, there are two reasons why that could happen:
- The first reason is that youve enabled the option that allows it to automatically manage your printers. So when you use another printer that is not the current default printer, Windows assumes that you now prefer that printer and, therefore, makes it the default printer.
- An unexpected error occurred, forcing the OS to default to another printer. Such errors include outdated or faulty printer software, corrupt registry entries, system bugs, broken printer cords, etc.
Whatever the case may be, there are several solutions you can use to resolve the issue and prevent Windows from changing your default printer.
How To Set Default Printer In Windows 11
This post shows students and new users how to set a default printer in Windows 11 and stop Windows from auto assigning your printers.
Windows 11 comes with a feature that automatically sets the printer you used most recently to be your default printer. While this might work when a single printer is installed, in situations where multiple printers are used, sometime the wrong printer can be set as your default printer.
The new Windows 11 will come with many new features and enhancements that will work great for some while adding some learning challenges for others. Some things and settings have changed so much that folks will have to learn new ways to learn manage Windows.
For some users who are used to working with Windows 10, there are some changes with Windows 11 that might take sometime to learn. When using Windows 11 and you dont want your default printer being automatically assigned, use the steps below to make that happen.
Also, if youre a student or new user and you want to learn how to use Windows, the easiest place to start is Windows 11. Windows 11 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft. Windows 11 is the successor to Windows 10 and its expected to be released later this year.
To get started with setting default printers in Windows 11, follow the steps below:
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Set Default Printer Windows 11 Command Line
If you prefer the command line, you can follow the steps below to set the default printer:
Step 1: Confirm the printer name by going to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
Step 3: Type in rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /y /q /n Printer name and press Enter. Replace Printer Name with the name of the printer you want to set as default.
Set Default Printer Using An Application
Step 1: Launch any classic desktop program such as Notepad or Paint.
Step 2: After launching the program, simultaneously press Ctrl + P keys to open the Print dialog. Alternatively, click the File menu and then click Print option to see the Print dialog.
Step 3: Here, in Select Printer section, right-click on the printer which you would like to make as the default printer in Windows 10 and then click Set as default printer option.
Thats it!
Filed Under: Windows 10Tagged:
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Prevent Windows From Changing Your Default Printer
To set your default printer, you need to first scroll to the bottom of your printers list and make sure Let Windows manage my default printer is unchecked.
If you have this enabled, Windows will change your default to what it thinks is best , which can be confusing. Having this enabled also prevents you from setting your own default printer.
Windows 8 And Windows 10
The printer should have the word “Default” below it on the main Printers & scanners window. Also, once the printer is set as the default printer, it should appear as the selected printer.
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Setting Your Default Windows 10 Printer
Now, if you don’t see your printer listed, click the Add a printer or scanner button at the top of the page. If your printer doesn’t show up, you’ll need to click The printer that I want isn’t listed.
Follow our guide to connecting your printer to Wi-Fi if you need more help.
Once you’ve added the printer you want to set as the default, click it in the list. Of the buttons that appear, click Manage to open a page with more options.
On the new page, you should see a button that says Set as default. Click this and Windows will set your printer as the default for future jobs. If it worked properly, you should see Printer status: Default and a Default tag on the printer’s name back on the main page.
Now, whenever you use the Print command in a program, it will have the printer you’ve set as default already selected. You can always pick a different one when needed.
Selecting Or Changing A Default Printer Windows 7
You can select or change your default printer any time.
The default printer is where your print jobs will automatically be sent when using Quick Print option in MS Office applications and others. It is also the printer that is automatically selected in all print dialog.
Setting the default printer in Windows 7
- the Start button, then Devices and Printers.
- Right-click the printer you wish to use as your default printer and select Set as default printer. A green check mark will appear next to the printer to indicate this status.
Using other printers?
Setting a default printer doesnt mean you cant use other printers installed on your computer. From an applications print dialog box, select any installed printer to use.
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Fix : Turn Off Let Windows Manage My Default Printer And Set A Default Printer Yourself
When you use another printer, Windows automatically makes it the default device. Disabling the automatic printer management setting will stop the OS from making these changes. Afterward, you can then select the printer you want as default.
Follow these steps:
Afterward, Windows will no longer select a different printer as the default printer. However, if a change occurs again, then try the fixes that follow below.
Force Windows 10 To Set Default Printer
If you do not know how to fix the Default printer cannot be set error, do not worry. That is the kind of rare issue where you almost should not do anything. In Windows 10 November 2015 Update, Microsoft changed the way Windows 10 manages the default printers. From now on, it automatically sets the last used printer as a default. In other words, all you need to do to set up the default printer in Windows 10 is to use it. Just go ahead and print something. After that, Windows will set the selected printer as default.
For your information. When troubleshooting printers in Windows 10, always make sure you have the latest drivers installed. Modern printers nowadays are plug-and-play, which means Windows automatically gets the required drivers. Still, it is a good practice to manually install the driver to ensure the best compatibility.
Go to the manufacturers website and download the newest supported drivers from there. Also, do note that old printers may have a hard time working with modern computers and the latest operating systems. Besides, you may face compatibility issues when using dongles and converters to plug old connectors into modern motherboards.
Windows 10 sets default printers automatically by default. You can check whether you have this feature enabled by doing the following:
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Fix : Run A System Restore
The Default printer keeps changing problem could be a result of recent updates or modifications you made on your computer. A good solution to that will be to perform a system restore to the last point when things worked normally:
Note: Keep in mind that performing a system restore will remove the programs you installed and undo the system settings you modified after the date of your selected restore point.
Fix : Create A New User Account
If you still cant get past the issue, although that is quite unlikely at this point, another solution that can help is creating a new user account. Heres how:
When you are done, log in to the new account you created and see if the printer issue will continue. You can migrate your files to the account and use it instead of your old account.
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Printer: Set Or Change The Default Printer
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How To Change The Default Printer In Windows 10
With default settings, Windows 10 automatically manages your default printer by setting the most recently used printer as your default printer.
Since Windows 10 automatically manages the default printer, most users never need to think about settings or changing the default printer. That said, at times, you might want to change the default printer or make your newly installed printer as the default printer in Windows 10.
There are no less than four ways out there in Windows 10 to change or set your default printer.
Follow the directions mentioned in one of the four given below methods to change the default printer or set a printer as the default in Windows 10.
Method 1 of 4
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How To Have Your Default Printer Switched Automatically Based On Your Location
As already mentioned, you can configure Windows 10 to manage your default printer automatically. The advantage is that the OS chooses a default printer based on your location. So, when you are in the office, the office printer is used as the default printer, and when you go home, your home printer is used.
To enable this setting, all you have to do is go to the Settings app and click on Devices > Printers & Scanners. Then enable the option that says Let Windows manage my default printer.
Once youve allowed Windows to manage your default printer, the OS will always set the most recently used printer in a particular location as your default printer. So when you are at home, the last printer you used at home will be set as the default printer. And when you are in the office, the printer you last used there will be your default printer.
Change Default Printer In Devices & Printers
Step 1: Type Control Panel in the Start menu or taskbar search box and then press Enter key to open Control Panel.
Step 2: Change Control Panel View by to Small icons and then click Devices and Printers.
Step 3: Under the Printers section, you can see all virtual as well as physical printers. Right-click on the printer that you want to set as the default printer and then click Set as default printer option.
Method 4 of 4
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Can I Change The Default Printer
Yes, you can change the default printer. Simply follow the steps above again and select a different printer to be the new default printer. Remember that the selected default printer will remain selected as the default printer until you decide to change it.
We have many other posts on printers here at Techsnail covering everything from what is a printer to different types of printers such as laser printer, inkjet printer to see a complete list of printer posts
Pc Settings App Method
PC Settings app makes it very easy to set the default printer on Windows 10. You just have to click a button and you are done.
1. First, open the PC Settings app by pressing the keyboard shortcut Win or by searching for it in the start menu.
2. In the PC Settings app, go to Devices -> Printers & Scanners page.
3. On the right panel, uncheck the Allow Windows to manage my default printer option. Without unchecking this option, you cannot choose a default printer.
4. Now, click on the printer of your choice from the list and then click on the Manage button.
5. In the subsequent page, click on the Set as Default button.
6. As soon as click on the button, the target printer will be set as default on Windows 10.
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How To Easily Set A Default Printer In Windows 10
If you use more than one printer, Windows 10 automatically sets the one you used most recently as the default printer. However, a situation may arise where you would want to change the default printer. There are different methods you can use to achieve your aim, and that is what we will outline in this guide.
But thats not all. Some users have reported that after setting a default printer, Windows keeps changing it. If you have encountered this issue, just keep reading since weve put together some easy solutions to help you fix it.
Set A Default Printer In Control Panel
Control Panel Devices and PrintersSet as default printerLet Windows manage my default printerOKcommand prompt
The currently set default printer will have TRUE showing in the Default column to the left of the printer name.
Substitute printer name in the command above with the actual printer name from step 2 you want to set as the default printer.For example:wmic printer where name=”HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477 PCL 6″ call setdefaultprinter
Originally, PDFCreator is default printer. I tried to change default printer to C360i by option 2 and option 4 .I check default printer with “wmic printer get name,default” which shows C360i. However there is no change in Control Panel. It is still PDFCreator.Did I miss some steps?Yuppiedad- – – Updated – – -I am looking for procedure to set same default printer for all users who logon on same computer. Is above procedure good for what I want?Yuppiedad
Hello @Yuppiedad, The options in the tutorial will only be applied to the current user and not all users. Each user will need to set their own default printer setting.However, as a workaround, you could remove all printers to leave only the one you want as the default so there is only one choice to use.
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