Default Printer Problem -- "Manage my default printer = OFF"

Help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I understand that Windows 10 has a new feature that automatically sets your effective default printer to the last device used (unless you explicitly turn OFF the "Let Windows manage my default printer" feature). I have turned this feature OFF (and checked that it is off a thousand times (slight exaggeration).

However Windows keeps moving my default printer to my DYMO label printer. Every other day when I do a Quick Print of a WORD document it prints to my DYMO label printer instead of the printer I have set as my default (Dell 2155 laser printer) -- and spits out multiple DYMO labels with the contents of my WORD doc.

I had experienced a similar problem on work PC when Windows 10 was first installed. Our IT folks searched for a solution for 2 weeks (and yes the new Windows feature was turned OFF) but after trying several fixes they gave up and did a clean re-install of Windows 10 which fixed the problem.

With this success at work with a clean install last weekend I bit the bullet and did a full clean C Drive format and full re-install of Windows 10 (including a re-format of my C drive) but the problem is back!

I wondered if Windows was missing my turned OFF feature however when I do a test of using the DYMO Printer it does not move the default printer to the DYMO -- so at the very least the problem is not caused everytime I print to the DYMO label printer. Also, when you turn ON the "Let Windows manage my default printer" the word "Default" against your desired printer is replaced by the words "Last Used". When this problem is happening the word "Default" magically moves from my Dell 2155cn to my DYMO printer on my Printer & Scanner control panel display in Windows 10.

If DYMO driver was doing this switch (I do not even know if it has the power to do this) you would think it would be consistent on every use of the DYMO, however it is not.

The only regularity seems to be that it happens about once a day -- often on the first use of the PC that day (as if gremlins move the default printer setting in the wee hours every night).

This is driving me off the deep end and every time I search for help on this problem I find 100 of posts explaining that I should turn off the "Let Windows manage my default printer" feature (BUT I HAVE!!!). I just sat down at my PC this morning and again the default printer has switched again to my DYMO and here is a screen shot I took of the stupid Windows 10 feature turned off.



Is anyone else experience this frustrating problem?

Can you help?

Gary

This is unfortunately a common problem. For me, it occurs when I use a remote connection. There is a "solution" over at bleeping computer, but it is not elegant.

Default printer keeps changing - Windows 10 Support

Basically, you are creating a task/batch-file to reset your default printer anytime it is changed. Again, inelegant, but it works.

Create the batch file using the notepad, then change the extension to BAT. I created a sub-dir on the C: drive called BAT and put it there.

You then need to use the windows scheduler to run the file. See the notes in the link for the settings. When I connect remotely, I can see the batch file window pop up periodically.

Did you ever get this resolved? Same issue for about 10 machines within my network. I have changed the setting on each machine. I also made changes to the registry software as suggested in other blogs but yet for no reason at all the default printer will change when it wants.

Need help.??

redbeard914 said:

This is unfortunately a common problem. For me, it occurs when I use a remote connection. There is a "solution" over at bleeping computer, but it is not elegant.

Default printer keeps changing - Windows 10 Support

Basically, you are creating a task/batch-file to reset your default printer anytime it is changed. Again, inelegant, but it works.

Create the batch file using the notepad, then change the extension to BAT. I created a sub-dir on the C: drive called BAT and put it there.

You then need to use the windows scheduler to run the file. See the notes in the link for the settings. When I connect remotely, I can see the batch file window pop up periodically.

Thanks for the follow up. I actually never did your batch file idea but naively waited for Microsoft to correct the problem . However, I am still experiencing the problem and am now aware of others in our office with the same problem. Your follow up question has motivated me to implement your batch file idea to address this issue -- I have wasted too many DYMO labels when printing 10 page reports that go to my label printer rather than my Xerox printer.

Kwryan said:

Did you ever get this resolved? Same issue for about 10 machines within my network. I have changed the setting on each machine. I also made changes to the registry software as suggested in other blogs but yet for no reason at all the default printer will change when it wants.

Need help.??

Used this Scheduled Task that runs everytime the printer default is changed. Solved problem...

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<Task version="1.4" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2004/02/mit/task">
<RegistrationInfo>
<Date>2016-09-16T10:50:39.2685537</Date>
<URI>\Set Default Printer</URI>
</RegistrationInfo>
<Triggers>
<EventTrigger>
<Enabled>true</Enabled>
<Subscription>&lt;QueryList&gt;&lt;Query Id="0" Path="Microsoft-Windows-PrintService/Admin"&gt;&lt;Select Path="Microsoft-Windows-PrintService/Admin"&gt;*[System[Provider[@Name='Microsoft-Windows-PrintService'] and EventID=823]]&lt;/Select&gt;&lt;/Query&gt;&lt;/QueryList&gt;</Subscription>
</EventTrigger>
</Triggers>
<Principals>
<Principal id="Author">
<UserId>S-1-5-21-1229272821-1960408961-1417001333-1106</UserId>
<LogonType>InteractiveToken</LogonType>
<RunLevel>LeastPrivilege</RunLevel>
</Principal>
</Principals>
<Settings>
<MultipleInstancesPolicy>IgnoreNew</MultipleInstancesPolicy>
<DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>true</DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>
<StopIfGoingOnBatteries>true</StopIfGoingOnBatteries>
<AllowHardTerminate>true</AllowHardTerminate>
<StartWhenAvailable>false</StartWhenAvailable>
<RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>false</RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>
<IdleSettings>
<StopOnIdleEnd>true</StopOnIdleEnd>
<RestartOnIdle>false</RestartOnIdle>
</IdleSettings>
<AllowStartOnDemand>true</AllowStartOnDemand>
<Enabled>true</Enabled>
<Hidden>false</Hidden>
<RunOnlyIfIdle>false</RunOnlyIfIdle>
<DisallowStartOnRemoteAppSession>false</DisallowStartOnRemoteAppSession>
<UseUnifiedSchedulingEngine>true</UseUnifiedSchedulingEngine>
<WakeToRun>false</WakeToRun>
<ExecutionTimeLimit>PT72H</ExecutionTimeLimit>
<Priority>7</Priority>
</Settings>
<Actions Context="Author">
<Exec>
<Command>wmic</Command>
<Arguments>printer where name='HP Deskjet 6122' call setdefaultprinter</Arguments>
</Exec>
</Actions>
</Task>