Applies to all editions of Windows 7.

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Change your default printer

If you regularly use multiple printers, you can pick one as your default printer. Windows and other programs then automatically use that device whenever you print.

Watch this video to learn how to change your default printer (0:52)

To select a default printer

  1. Open Devices and Printers by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then, on the Start menu, clicking Devices and Printers.

  2. Right-click the printer you want to use, and then click Set as default printer. (You'll see a check mark on the printer's icon signifying that it's now your default printer.)

Notes

Notes

  • A default printer doesn't have to be an actual physical device. Depending on your computer, you might have the option to send documents as faxes, or to save them as PDF or XPS files when you print. To learn more, see Print to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.

  • You can change your default printer setting at any time.

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