This article will show you how to make a printer a default printer in Windows 10 and 11.

Windows 10

Method 1:

1. In the search bar, type Printers. in the list you will see 'Printers and Scanners'. Left click on it to open the Printers and Scanners window.

2. On the Printers and Scanners window, find the printer you wish to make your default in the list. In our example, we are using the I.T. Department Printer, your printer name will vary.

3. Left click the printer name, then click Manage.

4. On the Manage your Device screen, click Set as Default.

5. You will see the status change from 'Idle' to 'Default'

8. Close the Manage your device window.

Your chosen printer is now set as default and that printer will be automatically assigned in your printer applications when you click 'Print'.

Method 2

1. Click in the search bar and type Control Panel. left click on Control Panel.

2. On the Control Panel window you may see 1 of 2 screens:

or this:

3. For the first version, click View Devices and Printers under the Hardware and Sound heading.

For the second version, click Devices and Printers.

4. Both versions will take you to the Devices and Printers listing. Under printers, find your printer. in the following example, we will use the I.T. printer.

Right click on the printer, and left click Set as Default Printer.

Your printer is now set as default.

Windows 11

If you are running Windows 11, you will need to follow these steps to set your default printer.

1. In the search bar, Type Printers. in the list, left click on Printers & Scanners

2. On the Printers & Scanners window, click on your printer. In this example, we will use the I.T. printer. Left click on it.

3. On the next screen, you will see the settings for the printer, in the upper left under the printer identification number will be a button, Set as Default, left click it.

4. In some instances, you may not see the Set as Default button. ON the previous screen, there will be an option. Let windows Manage my Default Printer.

Click the button and it will switch to off.

now return to step 3 and continue.

This will set your printer as default in Windows 11 and your chosen printer is now set as default and that printer will be automatically assigned in your printer applications when you click 'Print'.