Windows 10: Unable to change default printer

Using the instructions that I found at a Microsoft Support Site it may have been here, not sure :Select Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > select a printer > Manage. Then select Set as default. If you don't see the Set as default option, you may have selected the "Let Windows manage my default printer option".... I hadn't selected that option. I can print to the current default printer, which is a virtual printer "HP Smart Printing". It's output goes to the HP ENVY Inspire device-that is, the current default printer.

:)

 

How to change the default preference in system printer dialog?

To change the default printer preference in the system printer dialog, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start button and then click on the Settings icon (it looks like a gear).
   
2. In the Settings window, click on "Devices."
   
3. In the Devices window, click on "Printers & scanners."
   
4. In the Printers & scanners window, you will see a list of all the printers that are currently connected to your computer.
   
5. Click on the printer that you want to set as the default printer.
   
6. Click on the "Manage" button and then click on "Set as default." Download Best File Manager EsFileExplorer
   
7. Close the Settings window and your new default printer preference will be set.
   

Please note that the steps can slightly vary depending on the version of your operating system.

 

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