{"id":18481,"date":"2020-09-25T08:16:01","date_gmt":"2020-09-25T08:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/?p=18481"},"modified":"2025-10-07T18:00:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:00:58","slug":"set-a-default-printer-in-windows-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/set-a-default-printer-in-windows-10\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Easily Set a Default Printer in Windows 10?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you use more than one printer, Windows 10 automatically sets the one you used most recently as the default printer. However, a situation may arise where you would want to change the default printer. There are different methods you can use to achieve your aim, and that is what we will outline in this guide.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not all. Some users have reported that after setting a default printer, Windows keeps changing it. If you have encountered this issue, just keep reading since we\u2019ve put together some easy solutions to help you fix it.<\/p>\n

How to Set a Printer as the Default Printer in Windows 10<\/h2>\n

Here are the different methods available to you:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Using the Settings app<\/li>\n
  2. Using the Print dialog<\/li>\n
  3. Using the Control Panel<\/li>\n
  4. Using an elevated Command Prompt<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Change the Default Printer in the Settings App<\/h3>\n

    Follow the steps below to set your default printer:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Press the Windows icon + I keyboard combination to invoke the Settings app. You could also open the Start menu and click the Settings icon.<\/li>\n
    2. Click on Devices.<\/li>\n
    3. Click on Printers and Scanners in the left pane.<\/li>\n
    4. On the right pane, click the toggle to turn off the \u2018Let Windows manage my default printer\u2019 option. Once you do so, Windows will no longer set a printer as the default printer automatically. This step is required before you can change your default printer.<\/li>\n
    5. Afterward, move to the Printers & scanners section and click on the printer you wish to set as default. Once you do, you will be presented with its options. Click the Manage button.<\/li>\n
    6. On the new page that opens, you will find the \u2018Set as default\u2019 button. Click on it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Note:<\/strong> If the \u2018Set as default\u2019 button is not available, it means that you did not follow Step 4. You have to stop Windows 10 from automatically choosing a default printer.<\/p>\n

      Once you have completed the above steps, the desired printer will now appear as the selected device when you try printing a document. The status will show \u201cDefault\u201d in the printer list.<\/p>\n

      Change the Default Printer via the Control Panel<\/h3>\n

      The Devices & Printers option can also be found in the Control Panel. Here\u2019s how to access it:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Open the Run box by pressing the Windows icon + R shortcut.<\/li>\n
      2. Type \u2018Control Panel\u2019 into the text area and click OK or hit Enter on your keyboard.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Alternatively, you could type \u2018Control Panel\u2019 into the Start menu search bar and click on the option when it appears in the search results.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Direct your attention to the \u2018View: by\u2019 drop-down in the top-right corner of the Control Panel window and make sure that it is set to \u2018Small icons.\u2019<\/li>\n
        2. Locate \u2018Devices and Printers\u2019 in the list of options and click on it.<\/li>\n
        3. Move to the Printers section on the new page that opens and right-click on the printer of your choice. Then click on \u2018Set as default printer\u2019 in the contextual menu.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Change the Default Printer via the Print Dialog<\/h3>\n

          Here\u2019s what you have to do:<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Open Notepad and click on the File tab.<\/li>\n
          2. Click on Print to access the Print dialog.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Tip: You can simply press Ctrl + P to quickly open the Print dialog after launching Notepad.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Right-click on the printer you want to make the default printer and then click on the \u2018Set as Default Printer\u2019 option in the contextual menu.<\/li>\n
            2. You will be presented with a warning that says that Windows will stop managing your default printer if you set this printer as default. Click the OK button to proceed. Your selected printer will now be the default printer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              \u201cHow Do I Change the Default Printer in CMD?\u201d<\/h3>\n

              This is easy to do. Follow the steps below:<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Open the Power User menu by pressing the Windows icon key + X keyboard combination.<\/li>\n
              2. Click on Command Prompt (Admin).<\/li>\n
              3. Confirm the action by clicking \u2018Yes\u2019 when the User Account Control (UAC) box appears on your screen.<\/li>\n
              4. Once you are in the Command Prompt (Admin) window, copy and paste the following line and then hit enter to run it:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry \/y \/n \u201cPrinter name\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Note:<\/strong> Make sure that you replace \u201cPrinter name\u201d in the above command with the name of the printer you want to set as your default printer. If you don\u2019t know the name of the printer, open Notepad or Microsoft Word and press Ctrl + P to invoke the Print dialog. There, you will find the name of your printer.<\/p>\n

                How to Have Your Default Printer Switched Automatically Based on Your Location<\/h2>\n

                As already mentioned, you can configure Windows 10 to manage your default printer automatically. The advantage is that the OS chooses a default printer based on your location. So, when you are in the office, the office printer is used as the default printer, and when you go home, your home printer is used.<\/p>\n

                To enable this setting, all you have to do is go to the Settings app (press the Windows icon + I shortcut) and click on Devices > Printers & Scanners. Then enable the option that says \u2018Let Windows manage my default printer.\u2019<\/p>\n

                Once you\u2019ve allowed Windows to manage your default printer, the OS will always set the most recently used printer in a particular location as your default printer. So when you are at home, the last printer you used at home will be set as the default printer. And when you are in the office, the printer you last used there will be your default printer.<\/p>\n

                \u201cWhy Does My Default Printer Keep Changing in Windows 10?\u201d<\/h2>\n

                If Windows keeps changing your default printer, there are two reasons why that could happen:<\/p>\n