How to Set Default Printer in Windows 10

Windows 10 users may find that they need to set a default printer at some point. This can be done in a few simple steps, and we'll show you how. Keep in mind that if you have multiple printers connected to your computer, Windows will automatically use the one that is most recently used. If you want to use a specific printer as your default, follow these instructions.

5 Different Ways to Set a Default Printer in Windows 10

Windows 10 provides several ways to set a default printer. You can choose from the following methods:

1. Settings app
2. Control Panel
3. Printers folder
4. Command prompt
5. Registry editor

Let's take a closer look at each method.

1. The Settings app is the most common way to set a default printer in Windows 10. Open the Settings app, select Devices, and then click Printer & scanner. Under Default printer, select the printer you want to use as your default printer.

2. The Control Panel is another way to set a default printer in Windows 10. Open the Control Panel, select Hardware and Sound, and then click Printers and scanners. Under Default printer, select the printer you want to use as your default printer.

3. The Printers folder is another way to set a default printer in Windows 10. Open the Printers folder, right-click the printer you want to use as your default printer, and then select Set as default printer.

4. The Command prompt is another way to set a default printer in Windows 10. To set a default printer using the Command prompt, open the Command prompt and type the following command:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /in /n "Printer Name" /m "Manufacturer" /h "Hardware ID"

For example, if you want to set the printer named "HP LaserJet" as your default printer, you would type the following command:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /in /n "HP LaserJet" /m "Hewlett-Packard" /h "USBPRINT\ Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet MFP M426dw"

5. The Registry editor is another way to set a default printer in Windows 10. To set a default printer using the Registry editor, open the Registry editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows

In the Windows key, double-click the PrinterName key and enter the printer name in the Value data field. Whichever method you choose, Windows 10 will use your default printer for all print tasks.

Using Settings App To Set Your Default Printer in Windows 10 by

To set your default printer using the Settings app, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Under "Printers," select the printer that you want to use as your default printer.
   
3. To make this printer the default for all apps, turn on the "Make this my default printer" switch.
   
4. If you only want some apps to use this printer as the default, select them from the list below and turn on the "Use this printer as the default" switch.
   
5. Close the Settings app.
   

Using the Control Panel To Set Your Default Printer in Windows 10

To set your default printer using the Control Panel, follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and go to Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
2. Under "Printers," select the printer that you want to use as your default printer.
3. To make this printer the default for all apps, click on the "Set as default printer" button.
4. If you only want some apps to use this printer as the default, right-click on it and select "Choose Default Printer." then select the apps that you want to use it as the default printer.
5. Close the Control Panel.

Using the Command Prompt To Set Your Default Printer in Windows 10

To set your default printer using the Command Prompt, follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt and run the following command: takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers\*
2. Run the following command: cacls C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers\* /E /P everyone:F
3. Run the following command: net stop spooler
4. Copy your desired printer driver to C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3
5. Run the following command: net start spooler
6. Close the Command Prompt.
7. Restart your computer.

Now, your default printer should be set to the printer that you specified in the steps.

What Is a Default Printer ?

A default printer is the printer that Windows uses when you don't specify a specific printer to use. You can configure Windows to use a specific printer as your default, or you can set up a default printer for each of your user accounts.

If you want to set a specific printer as your default, open the Printers dialog box and select the printer you want to use. Then, click Set As Default Printer. If you want to set different default printers for different user accounts, open the Printers dialog box and select the Add A Printer button. In the Add Printer dialog box, select the appropriate print server and then click Next. In the list of printers, select the printer you want to use as your default and then click Set As Default.

You can also use the default printer as your print server. This can be useful if you want to print to a shared printer on another computer on your network. To do this, open the Printers dialog box and select the printer you want to use as your default. Then, click Properties and select the Use The Following Port check box. In the text box, type the name of the port on which the other computer is located. Click OK and then click Close. Windows will now use the default printer as your print server.

How do I change my default printer?

To change your default printer is the same as to set a default one. All you need is to pick any method above and execute it. Now you have a new default printer.

Where are my printer settings ?

Looking for printer settings? You can find them in your computer's Control Panel. In Windows, open the Control Panel and click on Printers. In Mac OS, open System Preferences and click on Printers & Scanners. From there, you should be able to see all of your printer's settings. If you need help with any of these settings, consult your printer's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

What does it mean when Windows will stop managing your default printer?

Windows will stop managing your default printer if you have a newer version of Windows and it is not compatible with the driver for your printer.

This can be frustrating and hard to troubleshoot, but we'll walk you through how to fix it. The first thing you need to do is visit the manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers for your printer.

After downloading them, open up Start Menu > Devices & Printers > right-click on "your computer" > click Printer Properties from there.

Once that window pops up go ahead and find where it says "Set as Default Printer." Click that option then hit OK or Apply at the bottom of the page. When everything has been set up correctly, close out of all windows.

Why does Windows 10 keep changing my default printer?

As far as I can tell, most people don't like their default printer changing on them. It's really annoying to find out that your office printer is now set up at home and vice versa.

A couple of weeks ago, my wife got a new laptop with Windows 10 installed on it and she found this happening too! She even tried "right-clicking" the icon in the lower right corner of her task bar but nothing changed.

This post will show you how to stop Windows 10 from doing this so you can enjoy peace of mind when printing documents for work or school.

How do I stop Windows 10 from changing my default printer?

You can change your default printer in a few steps.

1. Open the Settings app and go to Devices
2. Click "Printers & Scanners" and then click "Add a printer or scanner"
3. Select the network printer you want as your default printer, and then click Next
4. Type in your username for the computer that is currently using this printer, or select it from a list of users on this PC if there are multiple accounts on one computer
5. Click Finish when you're done! Windows 10 will now use this new default printer instead of changing it back to an old one every time you reboot your computer
6. If you need to change back, follow these steps again but choose another option for Default Printer in Step 3, such as Local Printer (USB) or Network Printer (TCP/IP).

Do I want Windows to manage my default printer?

The printer is an essential part of any office. It's the one thing that most people use every day. What if you could make it easier to print from your computer? Here are some tips on how to manage your default printer in Windows.

1. Open Control Panel and click Hardware and Sound>Devices and Printers>Your Printer - right-click on it, then select Set as Default Printer. You can also check a box for "Always use this device" which will set the printer as the default printer for all applications going forward.
2. Open Devices and Printers by clicking Start > Devices and Printers - right-click on a blank space, then select Add a Printer or Scanner.

Conclusion

If you're like me, then the last thing that you want to do after setting up your new computer is go through all of those confusing settings.

But one crucial step in setting up your Windows 10 machine is making sure it uses the right printer as its default. It can be easy for this to get lost among other steps if you don't know where to look.

So here are some simple instructions on how to set a default printer in Windows 10 so that printing goes smoothly from now on.