Windows 10: Cannot Change Default Printer

In settings, under Devices, I have set a particular printer as default, with the green check mark. When I try to print in Word or Excel, it always defaults to OneNote. Within Word or Excel, I cannot right click the correct printer to set as default. I can select it and print to it, but only if I change it every time I wish to print. I've never had this issue before but saw very old posts about the same issue. Any help is much appreciated.

:)

 

Windows 10 Sets Last Printer Used As Default Printer

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to follow the below steps to change the printer settings and check if it helps.

• In the search box, type as “settings”.
• Go to “settings” and select “devices”.
• Click on “printers and scanners” option on the left hand side.
• You will find all your printers listed on the screen, below that there is an option
  “Let Windows manage my default printer”.
• I suggest you to turn “OFF” the option “When turned on, the default printer is the last used printer”.
• Now check whether you can choose the other printers or not.

Hope this information is helpful and do let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to assist.

 

Default Printer keeps changing in Windows 10

Hi John,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I understand that the default Printer keeps changing after you restart the computer.

1. Did this issue started recently? If yes, then what are the recent changes that you have made to the computer prior to this issue?
   

Method 1:

I suggest you to try turning off “let Windows manage your default printer” and check if you are still facing the issue. To do so follow the steps below:

Open Start and select Settings
> Devices > Printers & scanners. Turn off
Let Windows manage my default printer.





If you still have issues, please follow the suggestion in method 2.

Method 2:


Registry disclaimer: Important this section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the
registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs.

Please take a backup of the registry. Follow the steps given in the link below:

How to back up and restore
the registry in Windows

• Open the
  Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key and the R key together.
  
• Type
  Regedit and hit the Enter key.
  
• When the Registry Editor opens, navigate to the following location:
  

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows

• In the right pane, right click on
  “LegacyDefaultPrinterMode” and click modify to change the value of
  LegacyDefaultPrinterMode from the default 0 to 1.
  
• Restart your computer.
  
• Try setting you default printer again.
  

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Zaki

 

Last used printer always comes up instead of default printer.

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to refer the below steps and check if this helps.

• 
  Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
  
  (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click
  Search.)
  
• 
  Enter Devices and Printers in the search box, and then tap or click
  Devices and Printers.
  
• 
  Tap or click any printer, and then tap or click Manage default printers.
  
• 
  Un-Select Change my default printer when I change networks.
  
• 
  Under Select network, choose the first network you want to set a printer for.
  
• 
  Under Select printer, choose the printer you want to be the default on that network, and then tap or click
  Add.
  
• 
  When you're finished setting a default printer for each network, tap or click
  OK.
  

Note :

The issue you are facing might be due to selecting the option Change my default printer when I change networks in settings suggest you to uncheck the option.

Let us know if this helps.

Keep us posted for further assistance, we are here to assist you.