How to Change the Default Printer

You can change the default printer to any other printer that you have connected to your computer. This will simplify your printing tasks, since you can select the most frequently used printer to be the default. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ink-jet Printers
• Laser Printers
• Printer Cartridges
• Printers
• Printer Paper

1. Click on the Start menu and click on Settings, then Printers.

2. A window will appear showing the icons of all the printers that are installed on your system. Right-click on the icon for the printer you want to use as the default. A menu will appear.

3. Click on Set as Default.

4. To make sure the correct printer is now set as the default, right-click on the printer icon again. When the menu opens, a check mark should appear before Set as Default.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have set a printer as the default, you can still print from other installed printers. The Print dialog box offers you a selection each time you print, but the default printer will be the one that appears automatically.

[amfaber84]

on 8/14/2008 Hello, I accidentally selected Set as Default Printer when I meant to click Printing Preferences. Is there any way to undo it?

[TRADITIONS]

on 4/27/2008 HOW CAN YOU GET MICROSOFT SPREADSHEET TO USE YOUR DEFAULT PRINTER OR CHOOSE A DEFAULT PRINTER FOR MICROSOFT WORD SPREADSHEET. EVERYTHING ELSE WILL PRINT BUT THE SPREADSHEET

on 11/22/2005 The new default Start menu in Windows XP is different than previous releases. Rather than having to look under the Settings section, there is a separate menu on the right called: Printers and Faxes.