How To Set The Default Printer In Windows 10/11

Want to set a newly installed printer as the default printer on your Windows 10/11 PC? In this guide, we will see how to set the default printer in Windows 10/11.

Windows 10/11 automatically sets the most recently used printer as the default one. Although this is a nice feature to have, not everyone prefers to set the most recently used printer as the default printer. Many users prefer to manually set a printer as default.

So, if you want to manually set a printer as the default printer in Windows 10/11, you need to first stop Windows 10/11 from automatically choosing the default printer. Once the auto default printer selection is turned off, you can manually set a printer as default.

Prevent Windows 10/11 from automatically choosing the default printer

Windows 10/11 automatically sets the most recently used printer as your default printer. If you want to manually set a printer as your default and don’t want Windows 10/11 to automatically set a printer as default, you need to navigate to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners (for Windows 10) or Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (for Windows 11), and turn off “Let Windows manage my default printer” option. When this is on, Windows will set your default printer to be the one you used most recently at your current location” option.

Method 1 of 4

Set default printer in Windows 10 Settings

Step 1: On Windows 10, open Settings. Go to Devices > Printers & Scanners page.

Step 2: Here, in the Printers and Scanners section, click on the printer that you want to set as the default printer to see the Open queue, Manage, and Remove device buttons. Click the Manage button.

Step 3: Click the Set as Default button to set the selected printer as your default printer on Windows 10.

Method 2 of 4

Set the default printer in Windows 11 via Settings

Step 1: On Windows 11, visit Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners page.

Step 2: Click on the printer that you want to make default to open its dedicated page.

Step 3: Here, click the Set as default button to make it the default printer.

Method 3 of 4

Set default printer in Devices and Printers in Windows 10

NOTE: This method does not work on Windows 11.

Step 1: Open Control Panel. There are multiple ways to open Control Panel in Windows 10, but typing Control Panel in the Start/taskbar search box and then pressing Enter key is probably the easiest way to open Control Panel.

Step 2: In the Control Panel, change the View by to Small icons.

Step 3: Click Devices and Printers to see all installed printers. If one of your printers is not listed here, it’s likely because either the printer driver is not installed or corrupted. In that case, please refer to our how to install a printer in Windows 10 guide or use the official printer troubleshooter.

Step 4: Right-click on the printer’s icon that you want to set as default and then click the Set as default printer option to make it the default printer on your Windows 10 PC.

Method 4 of 4

Set the default printer using an application in Windows 10/11

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 the Print option to see the Print dialog.

Step 3: Here, in the Select Printer section, right-click on the printer that you would like to make the default printer in Windows 10 and then click the Set as default printer option.

That’s it!