Setting a printer as default means your computer will send every print job to that printer unless you pick a different one
When you hit print in any program, your computer looks for a default printer — the one it assumes you want to use. If you have multiple printers connected (a home printer, an office printer, a PDF printer), setting one as default saves you from choosing the same printer over and over. The steps differ between Windows and Mac, and take about two minutes.
You only need to do this once per printer. After that, it stays the default until you change it again. If you later add a new printer, Windows sometimes resets the default to the newest one, so you may need to repeat these steps.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows 11, open Settings, go to Devices > Printers & Scanners, find your printer, and click "Set as default".
- On Windows 10, the same path works, but the button may say "Manage" instead — click that, then "Set as default".
- On Mac, open System Settings, go to Printers & Scanners, select your printer from the list, and choose it from the "Default printer" dropdown at the bottom.
- If your printer does not appear in the list, make sure it is turned on and connected to the same network as your computer.
How to set a default printer on Windows 11
Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click on "Devices" in the left sidebar, then select "Printers & Scanners" from the menu that appears.
Look through the list of printers until you find the one you want to set as default. Click on it once to select it. A button labeled "Set as default" will appear. Click that button. Windows will confirm the change immediately — you do not need to restart your computer or close any programs.
If you do not see your printer in the list, scroll down to the bottom of the Printers & Scanners page. You may see a section called "Printers" with an option to "Add a printer or scanner". Click that and follow the prompts to connect your printer first, then return to set it as default.
How to set a default printer on Windows 10
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click "Devices" in the left sidebar, then click "Printers & Scanners".
Find your printer in the list and click on it. Instead of a "Set as default" button, you may see a "Manage" button. Click "Manage", then look for "Set as default" on the page that opens. Click it. If you see a toggle switch next to "Use as default printer", click that toggle to turn it on.
Some older Windows 10 installations show the default option directly in the Printers & Scanners list without needing to click "Manage". If you see a radio button or checkbox next to your printer name, click that instead.
How to set a default printer on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older Mac versions). In the sidebar, look for "Printers & Scanners" and click it.
You will see a list of all connected printers on the left side of the window. Click the printer you want to set as default to select it. At the bottom of the window, you will see a dropdown menu labeled "Default printer". Click that dropdown and select your printer from the list. The change takes effect immediately.
If the dropdown shows "Last Printer Used" instead of a specific printer name, your Mac is set to remember whichever printer you used most recently. You can change this by selecting a specific printer from the dropdown instead.
What to do if your printer does not appear in the list
First, make sure your printer is turned on and connected to power. If it is a network printer (one that connects to Wi-Fi rather than a USB cable), check that it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. You can usually see the network name on the printer's display screen or in its settings menu.
On Windows, go back to Printers & Scanners and click "Add a printer or scanner" at the top. Windows will search for available printers. If it finds yours, click it and follow the prompts to install the driver software. On Mac, click the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the Printers & Scanners window and select your printer from the list.
If your printer still does not appear after a few minutes, restart both your printer and your computer. Unplug the printer for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot up before trying again. If you are using a USB cable, try a different USB port on your computer.
Resetting your default printer if something goes wrong
If you accidentally set the wrong printer as default, simply follow the same steps above and select a different printer. You can change your default printer as many times as you need — there is no limit.
On Windows, if you uninstall a printer that was set as default, Windows will automatically choose another printer as the new default. You do not need to do anything. On Mac, if you remove a printer from your list, the default will change to "Last Printer Used" until you select a new default.
If you have a printer that keeps resetting itself as default after you change it, this usually means Windows or Mac is automatically detecting it as a new device. Check your printer manufacturer's website for updated driver software, or contact their support team for help.
Why your computer might ignore the default printer setting
Some programs, especially older ones, have their own print settings that override your computer's default. When you open the print dialog in that program, you may see a dropdown menu at the top that lets you choose a printer. If you select a different printer there, that program will remember your choice and use it next time, even if it is not your system default.
Web browsers sometimes do this too. If you print from Chrome, Firefox, or Safari and choose a specific printer, the browser may use that same printer the next time you print, regardless of your default setting. To go back to using your default printer, open the print dialog and select "Default" or "System Default" from the printer dropdown.
If a program consistently ignores your default printer, check that program's preferences or settings menu for a "Printing" section. You may be able to set a default printer within that program itself, which will override the system default only when using that program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a default printer for just one program?
Most programs do not have a built-in default printer setting. However, you can choose a different printer each time you print from that program by opening the print dialog and selecting a printer from the dropdown. Some programs will remember your choice and use the same printer next time.
What happens if I unplug my default printer?
Your computer will try to send the print job to that printer and fail. You will usually see an error message. To print, you will need to either plug the printer back in or open the print dialog and choose a different printer that is currently connected.
Do I need to set a default printer if I only have one printer?
No. If you have only one printer connected, your computer will automatically send all print jobs to it. Setting it as default does not change anything, but it does not hurt either.
Will setting a default printer affect my phone or tablet?
No. Default printer settings are specific to each device. Your phone, tablet, and computer all have separate default printer settings. You will need to set a default printer on each device separately if you want to.
What if I share my computer with other people?
On Windows and Mac, the default printer setting applies to whoever is logged in. If you and another person have separate user accounts on the same computer, you can each set a different default printer. When you log in, your default will be active. When they log in, theirs will be active.