How to Set Default Printer? 3 Quick Ways

You can either use Windows Settings, Control Panel or Command Prompt to set default printer on your computer.

Let me quickly show you the steps for all three methods.

Using Windows Settings

  • Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
    printers and scanners on windows settings
  • Turn off this option that says “Let Windows manage my default printer”. Otherwise, it will only mess with the default printer settings🙄
    let windows manage my default printer option
  • Then, choose the printer which you want to make default.
  • Click the Set as default button. That’s all.
    set as default button printer settings

Using Control Panel

  • Open Control Panel > View devices and printers.
    view devices and printers option in control panel
  • Depending upon the layout of your Control Panel, you may not see this View devices and printers option. In that case, use the search bar in the Control Panel to find it.
  • Once you see the window with all the printer profiles installed on your computer, right-click your desired printer > choose the Set as default printer option.
    set as default printer from control panel

Using Command Prompt

  • First, disable this option from Windows Settings.
    let windows manage my default printer option
  • Then, open Command Prompt as administrator.
    cmd run as admin
  • Copy-paste this command there and press the Enter key: wmic printer get name,default
  • It will list all the printers installed on your system.
    see default printer from cmd
  • One with the TRUE label is the current default printer.
  • Copy-paste this command again and press the Enter key: rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /y /n "printer name"
    set default printer from cmd
  • Instead of “printer name”, type your printer’s name which you want to set default.
  • You’re done.

Well, that was all of them, folks! If you have any queries, comment down below and I will reply to you ASAP😉

Meet Deependra Pangeni, the printer expert and founder of PrinterArmy.com. With a background in Computer Engineering and a huge collection of printers, Deependra knows all about printing. He shares his how-to guides, solutions and tips on PrinterArmy.com to help everyone print perfectly.

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