Default printer selection

I have 2 printers permanently active in my home office.  One HP for full page printing, and one Brother label printer for small labels & signs.

On my old laptop, I could right-click on a printer to make it the default printer.

On my new laptop with Windows 10, that doesn't work?



Don't you just love the gratuitous changes Microsoft makes? I want to scream.


Why do you have to change the default? Doesn't the program you're using remember the last printer you picked?

Also, where are you clicking on the printer such that you can't make it the default? I just went into devices and printers and right clicked on a printer and the option to make it the default was there.


In Windows 10 it has some feature to automatically manage printer defaults. I've not spent enough time with it to know exactly what it does so I can't comment if it does this sensibly or not, but you can turn it off and then manually set a default as prior Windows versions allowed.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028622/windows-10-how-to-set-a-default-printer


drummerboy said:
Why do you have to change the default? Doesn't the program you're using remember the last printer you picked?
Also, where are you clicking on the printer such that you can't make it the default? I just went into devices and printers and right clicked on a printer and the option to make it the default was there.
drummerboy said:
Why do you have to change the default? Doesn't the program you're using remember the last printer you picked?
Also, where are you clicking on the printer such that you can't make it the default? I just went into devices and printers and right clicked on a printer and the option to make it the default was there.

 When I open a new document, the last printer used is automatically assigned.  I just did a 2 page brochure after printing labels, and then it takes 10-15 min to format the two pages into 386 print files (based on 1/2" label format).  Not good.


qrysdonnell said:
In Windows 10 it has some feature to automatically manage printer defaults. I've not spent enough time with it to know exactly what it does so I can't comment if it does this sensibly or not, but you can turn it off and then manually set a default as prior Windows versions allowed.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028622/windows-10-how-to-set-a-default-printer

 I followed the instructions in the link.  However, at the last step, I do not get the option of selecting the printer as the default printer.


tomcat said:


drummerboy said:
Why do you have to change the default? Doesn't the program you're using remember the last printer you picked?
Also, where are you clicking on the printer such that you can't make it the default? I just went into devices and printers and right clicked on a printer and the option to make it the default was there.
drummerboy said:
Why do you have to change the default? Doesn't the program you're using remember the last printer you picked?
Also, where are you clicking on the printer such that you can't make it the default? I just went into devices and printers and right clicked on a printer and the option to make it the default was there.
 When I open a new document, the last printer used is automatically assigned.  I just did a 2 page brochure after printing labels, and then it takes 10-15 min to format the two pages into 386 print files (based on 1/2" label format).  Not good.

I don't quite follow what the problem is? That you forgot to switch printers when you went from labels to brochure? Not sure how the default printer setting is going to help you.

Anyway, I'm not quite sure what you want to have happen.

p.s. - what are you using to print the stuff? Word?


Can you go into settings - printers and scanners - uncheck let windows manage my default printer - select the printer you want to use manually just before you print each document?


drummerboy said:


tomcat said:


drummerboy said:
Why do you have to change the default? Doesn't the program you're using remember the last printer you picked?
Also, where are you clicking on the printer such that you can't make it the default? I just went into devices and printers and right clicked on a printer and the option to make it the default was there.
drummerboy said:
Why do you have to change the default? Doesn't the program you're using remember the last printer you picked?
Also, where are you clicking on the printer such that you can't make it the default? I just went into devices and printers and right clicked on a printer and the option to make it the default was there.
 When I open a new document, the last printer used is automatically assigned.  I just did a 2 page brochure after printing labels, and then it takes 10-15 min to format the two pages into 386 print files (based on 1/2" label format).  Not good.
I don't quite follow what the problem is? That you forgot to switch printers when you went from labels to brochure? Not sure how the default printer setting is going to help you.
Anyway, I'm not quite sure what you want to have happen.
p.s. - what are you using to print the stuff? Word?

It is impractical to select printer at time of printing.  If a large document is already inadvertently linked to the label printer, it takes 1/2 hr or more to change the printer selection.


joan_crystal said:
Can you go into settings - printers and scanners - uncheck let windows manage my default printer - select the printer you want to use manually just before you print each document?

 I do not get the 'let windows manage my default printer' option


I went into windows settings/devices, selected printers and scanners from the menu in the left hand column, scrolled down past the list of available printers and scanners, and found a check box followed by "Let windows manage my default printer."  Unchecking the box turned off this function.

If your computer is configured differently, try doing a search and see what you find.


joan_crystal said:
I went into windows settings/devices, selected printers and scanners from the menu in the left hand column, scrolled down past the list of available printers and scanners, and found a check box followed by "Let windows manage my default printer."  Unchecking the box turned off this function.
If your computer is configured differently, try doing a search and see what you find.

It was off the bottom of the display.  Found it, and turned it off.

Thanks,



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