How to Set or Change Default Printer in Windows 11

What is a Default Printer?

A default printer is the printer that your computer automatically chooses to use when you print a document, photo, or anything else. If you have more than one printer connected to your computer, setting one as the default means that whenever you hit ‘Print‘, the computer will use that printer unless you specifically choose a different one. This makes printing quicker and easier because you don’t have to select a printer each time you print something, as long as you’re okay with using the same printer most of the time....

Why Change Default Printer?

Default printer is the one your computer automatically uses for printing unless you choose a different one. Windows can automatically manage which printer is set as the default, changing it based on where you are. This might be inconvenient if it keeps switching printers when you don’t want it to. Therefore, you might find it necessary to change your default printer settings to keep it consistent, letting you pick the printer you prefer to use as your default....

How to Set the Default Printer in Windows 11

You can change the default printer’s settings using three different ways. Let’s see how to each method one by one with proper demonstration....

Method 1: Set or Change Default Printer Using Settings

This is the simplest method to change the default printer in Windows, for this, you will have to follow the below steps....

Method 2: Set or Change Default Printer Using Control Panel

This is another simple and easy-to-follow method that you can use to change the default printer, in this we use the control panel to change or set the default printer, so let’s quickly see the steps involved in changing the default printer using the control panel...

Method 3: Set or Change Default Printer Using Command Prompt

If you are a more frequent user of the command line or in case you are using safe mode, then this method is for you. This method is preferred. Simply open the command prompt to change the default printer and follow these detailed steps....

Conclusion

In this article, we learned how to set or change the default printer in Windows 11 using three methods: Settings, Control Panel, and Command Prompt. Setting a default printer is important because Windows may change it automatically, causing inconvenience. By following the simple steps outlined for each method, you can easily manage your preferred printer settings and ensure smooth printing operations....

How to Set or Change Default Printer in Windows 11 – FAQs

How to remove default printer?...