How to Set a Default Printer: Windows 10/11 & Mac (2 Options)

Setting the correct printer as default can save time and frustration when printing. And changing to a default printer is especially important when there are numerous printers on the same network.

To set a default printer, you have two options. You can either choose a specific printer for all print jobs, or you can allow the software to choose the last printer used. You can use either default printer setting on both Windows and Mac computers.

In this quick guide, you’ll learn how to change both of these default printer options.

Setting a default printer is one of many basic printer skills that we cover.

How to Set Printer as Default in Windows 11 (Two Ways)

Here’s how to set a default printer in Windows 11 – including automatic and manual settings.

Option 1: Automatic

This option allows Windows to auto-assign your default printer.

Here’s how to change to this setting:

1. Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Scroll to the bottom, and look for “Let Windows manage my default printer“, under Printer Preferences.
3. Toggle to “On”

Here’s what the printer setting screen looks like in Windows 11.

How does Windows know which printer to use? It will choose the last printer you used as your default.

But don’t worry. You can still choose another printer on your network, regardless of which one is the default printer.

Prefer to manually set your default printer? Here’s how.

Option 2: Manual

If you want to manually choose one printer as default, you can do it inside

Here’s how to change your default printer.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Scroll to the bottom, and look for “Let Windows manage my default printer“, under Printer Preferences.
3. Toggle to “Off“

Once this is toggled off, you can select the specific printer, then click “Set as default”. Once selected, it will remain the default until you manually change the setting.

The benefit of this setting is that you don’t need to remember which printer you’ve sent the document to. It will always be on your default printer.

Of course, you can always print to another printer on the network. But it won’t change your default.

How to Set Default Printer (Windows 10)

Here’s how to change your default printer.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select the printer you want as default. If you don’t see the “Set as default” option, you’ll need to uncheck the “Let Windows manage my default printer” option.
3. Toggle (uncheck) to “Off”

Allow Windows to choose your default printer, by toggling the above check box. This will automatically print to the printer used on the last print job. You can manually select another printer if you wish.

Once you set your default printer, you might want to name it something identifiable. Here’s how to rename a printer in Windows and Mac.

How to Set a Default Printer on Mac

Here’s how to choose your default printer on your Mac.

1. Choose the Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Select the “Default Printer” menu to the right.
3. You’ll see two options:
   • Select Set Default Printer. You choose the specific printer your want as default. This will remain the same, even after printing to another printer on the network.
   • Select Last Printer Used. This will print your next print job to the same printer as your previous job. This setting will auto-choose the printer.

Quickly Change Your Default Printer on Mac

Just Control-click a printer in the Printer & Scanners settings, then “Set Default Printer” in the menu.

Sometimes a printer gets retired or moved to another network. Here’s how to delete a printer on Mac.

If you’re trying to see if a printer is online, you can ping it. Here’s how to do it on Windows and Mac.

Your turn

How did it go for you? Have a tip or question? Please join me below!