Task: It seems I often lose my default printer, and need to reset it manually each time I print.
Solution: Simplify my printing tasks by making my most frequently used printer the default.
How:
Change default in Windows 7:
- Click on the Start button
- Select Devices and Printers
- Right click on the icon for the printer to make your default and from the menu select “Set as default printer”
- To confirm the printer is set as default, right click on it again and when the menu opens you should see a check mark before “Set as default printer”
- Close out of the Printer and Device window
- You are all set with your new default printer
Change default in XP:
- Click on Start button
- Select Control Panel
- Click Printers and Faxes
- Right click on the icon for the printer to make your default and from the menu select “Set as default printer”
- To confirm the printer is set as default, you should see a check mark before next to the printer
- Close out of Printers and Faxes
- You are all set with your new default printer
Once you have set a printer as the default you can still print from other printers you have access to on your system or network. To print from a different printer other than your default: Click on the File menu and select Print. The print dialogue box displays all installed printers. Select the printer you wish to use and click OK to close the dialog box.
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