How to Set a Default Printer in Windows 10


A default printer is the printer that all print jobs are sent to by default unless otherwise specified.

This tutorial will show you how to set a default printer for your account in Windows 10.

Contents

• Option One: To Let Windows Manage my Default Printer
• Option Two: Set a Default Printer in Settings
• Option Three: Set a Default Printer in Control Panel
• Option Four: Set a Default Printer in Command Prompt

OPTION ONE

To Let Windows Manage my Default Printer

When you turn on Let Windows manage my default printer, Windows will automatically set your default printer to be the one you used more recently at your current location.

1 For how, see: How to Turn On or Off Let Windows 10 Manage Default Printer

OPTION TWO

Set a Default Printer in Settings

1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Devices icon.

2 Click/tap on Printers & scanners on the left side, and uncheck Let Windows manage my default printer if checked on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on a printer you want to set as the default printer, and click/tap on the Manage button. (see screenshot below)

4 Click/tap on the Set as default button. (see screenshot below)

You will not see a Set as default button if you left Let Windows manage my default printer checked in step 2.

5 The printer will now be set as your default printer. (see screenshots below)

6 You can now close Settings if you like.

OPTION THREE

Set a Default Printer in Control Panel

1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Devices and Printers icon.

2 Right click or press and hold on the printer you want to set as your default printer, and click/tap on Set as default printer. (see screenshot below)

3 If you have Let Windows manage my default printer turned on, then click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)

4 The printer will now be set as your default printer. (see screenshot below)

5 You can now close Devices and Printers if you like.

OPTION FOUR

Set a Default Printer in Command Prompt

1 Open a command prompt.

2 Copy and paste the wmic printer get name,default command into the command prompt, and press Enter. Make note of the printer name (ex: "HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477 PCL 6") you want to set as the default printer. (see screenshot below)

The currently set default printer will have TRUE showing in the Default column to the left of the printer name.

3 Type the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

wmic printer where name="printer name" call setdefaultprinter

Substitute printer name in the command above with the actual printer name (ex: "HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477 PCL 6") 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

4 You can now close the command prompt if you like.

5 If you haven't already, you will need to turn off Let Windows manage my default printer for the set default printer to always be used.

That's it,
Shawn

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