How To Set Default Printer Windows 11 _hot_ May 2026

Click the Set as default button. You will see a “Default” label appear next to the printer name.

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows" -Name "LegacyDefaultPrinterMode" -Value 1 If Windows 11 keeps changing your default printer back, check these common culprits: how to set default printer windows 11

Optional: If you want a printer to be available but never used as default, click on it and select “Stop printing” to hide it from the main list. The old Control Panel still works and gives a different visual overview. Click the Set as default button

Press Windows + R , type control printers , and press Enter. This opens the Devices and Printers window directly. The old Control Panel still works and gives

Disable “Let Windows manage my default printer” only if you truly use one printer 99% of the time. Otherwise, let Windows 11 handle it intelligently per location. Now you can print confidently, knowing your documents will always go to the right device.

Get-Printer Note the exact name of the target printer. Then set it as default with: