How to Set a Printer as Default in Windows 10

You can Set a Printer as Default in Windows 10’s printer settings. When you press the “Print” button without first selecting a printer, this is the printer that receives your document.

Since the November 2015 update to Windows 10, Windows has taken over control of the default printer. It will always choose the last device you used. This mode is even location-aware, so if you use your laptop in multiple buildings, the default printer will be the one that matches the device in the current location. If you only use other devices occasionally, you may want to set your default manually.

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Printer in Windows 10

Press Win + I to open the Settings app, then select the “Devices” category. Go to the “Printers and scanners” page now.

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First, look for the checkbox that says “Allow Windows to manage my default printer.” If it’s checked, uncheck it to disable the above-mentioned automatic functionality.

Then, in the “Printers & scanners” list, locate the printer you want to use as your default. To manage it, click its name and then the “Manage” button. Click the “Set as default” button on the next screen.

When printing new documents, your chosen printer will now always be the default. You may still select a different printer for each job, depending on the app you’re using, but this will have no effect on future jobs.