How to set the default printer in Windows 10

Last update: 06/02/2024
Author: Sebastian Vidal

Hello, Technofriends! Ready to learn how to do magic with printers in Windows 10? 😉 Don't miss the article Tecnobits about How to set the default printer in Windows 10. Let's print, it's been said! 🖨️

1. How can I change the default printer in Windows 10?

  1. Open the Windows 10 Settings menu by clicking the Start button and selecting “Settings.”
  2. Select “Devices” in the settings menu.
  3. Click “Printers and Scanners” in the left panel.
  4. Under the “Printers and Scanners” section, find the printer you want to set as your default.
  5. Click the printer you want to set as default to select it.
  6. In the pop-up window, click the “Manage” button.
  7. From the drop-down menu, select “Set as default printer.”
  8. The selected printer is now the default printer for your Windows 10 device.

2. Can I change the default printer directly from the Control Panel?

  1. Open the Windows 10 Control Panel by clicking the start button and typing "Control Panel" in the search box.
  2. Select “View devices and printers” under the “Hardware and Sound” section in Control Panel.
  3. Choose the printer you want to set as default by right-clicking on it.
  4. From the drop-down menu, select “Set as default printer.”
  5. The selected printer is now the default printer for your Windows 10 device.

3. How can I find out what the default printer is on my Windows 10 device?

  1. Open the Windows 10 Settings menu by clicking the Start button and selecting “Settings.”
  2. Select “Devices” in the settings menu.
  3. Click “Printers and Scanners” in the left panel.
  4. The default printer will be labeled with text that says “Default” below its name in the list of printers and scanners.
  5. The printer labeled “Default” is the default printer for your Windows 10 device.
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4. Is it possible to set a default network printer in Windows 10?

  1. Open the Windows 10 Settings menu by clicking the Start button and selecting “Settings.”
  2. Select “Devices” in the settings menu.
  3. Click “Printers and Scanners” in the left panel.
  4. Haz clic en «Agregar una impresora o un escáner».
  5. Select the network printer you want to set as default from the list of available devices.
  6. The selected network printer is now the default printer for your Windows 10 device.

5. Can I change the default printer from the context menu of a specific application in Windows 10?

  1. Open the application you want to print from and select the document you want to print.
  2. Haz clic en «Archivo» en la barra de menú y selecciona «Imprimir».
  3. In the print window, find and select the printer you want to set as the default from the printer drop-down menu.
  4. If the printer you want to set as default is not listed, click “Manage” to add it from the printing window.
  5. The selected printer will now be the default printer for that specific app on your Windows 10 device.
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6. How can I turn off automatic printing in Windows 10?

  1. Open the Windows 10 Settings menu by clicking the Start button and selecting “Settings.”
  2. Select “Devices” in the settings menu.
  3. Click “Printers and Scanners” in the left panel.
  4. Scroll down the list of printers and scanners and click “Open Print Queue.”
  5. In the print queue, click “Printer” in the menu bar and select “Set as default printer” to disable automatic printing for that specific printer.
  6. Automatic printing will now be disabled for that printer on your Windows 10 device.

7. What should I do if my default printer does not appear in the list of printers and scanners in Windows 10?

  1. Make sure the printer is turned on and connected to your Windows 10 device.
  2. If the printer is connected via USB, try unplugging it and plugging it back in so that Windows 10 can detect it again.
  3. If the printer is connected via a network, make sure it is properly configured and connected to the network.
  4. Open the Windows 10 Settings menu by clicking the Start button and selecting “Settings.”
  5. Select “Devices” in the settings menu.
  6. Click “Printers and Scanners” in the left panel, and then click “Add a printer or scanner” to find and add the printer manually if it's not listed.

8. Is it possible to set the default printer from the command prompt in Windows 10?

  1. Open the command prompt on your Windows 10 device. You can do this by searching for “cmd” in the start menu search box.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter: WMIC PRINTER GET NAME. This command will show you a list of printers installed on your device.
  3. Once you identify the name of the printer you want to set as the default, type the following command and press Enter: WMIC PRINTER WHERE NAME=»PrinterName» SET DEFAULT (replacing “PrinterName” with the name of the printer you want to set as the default).
  4. The selected printer will now be the default printer for your Windows 10 device, set from the command prompt.
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9. How can I fix printing problems with the default printer in Windows 10?

  1. Check that the printer is turned on and properly connected to your Windows 10 device.
  2. Check for any paper jam errors, empty ink or toner cartridges, or mechanical problems with the printer.
  3. Update the printer drivers from the Windows 10 Settings menu under the “Update and security” section.
  4. If the problem persists, uninstall the printer from the Windows 10 Settings menu under the “Devices” section, and then add it again.

10. What should I do if the default printer is not printing documents correctly in Windows 10?

  1. Check if the printer has enough ink or toner and if there are no jams.

    See you later, Tecnobits! May the force of technology be with you. And remember, How to set the default printer in Windows 10 It is key to printing with style. Until next time!