默认打印机(default printer)是所有打印作业都发送到的打印机（除非用户或发送打印作业的应用程序另有指定）。如果您使用的是Windows，您的操作系统(operating system)很有可能被设置为自动选择您的默认打印机(default printer)。但是，您可以禁用此选项并使用本指南中共享的说明手动设置默认打印机。(default printer)以下是在Windows 11、Windows 10 甚至是Windows 7等旧版本中设置(Windows 7)默认打印机(default printer)的方法：
如何找到我的默认打印机？
有很多方法可以找到您的默认打印机(default printer)。一个相对简单且适用于所有Windows版本的方法是启动命令提示符(Command Prompt)、PowerShell或Windows 终端(Windows Terminal)并运行以下命令：
然后，您会看到计算机上安装的所有打印机，如下面的屏幕截图所示。
查看Windows中设置的默认打印机(default printer)
您的默认打印机(default printer)是在默认(Default)列中标记为TRUE的打印机。(TRUE)在我们的例子中，默认打印机(default printer)是Canon G7000 series。
重要提示：(IMPORTANT:)如果您没有看到此命令列出的要设置为默认打印机的打印机，则首先需要安装它。这里有两个帮助指南：
- 如何在您的 Wi-Fi 网络中安装无线打印机(wireless printer)
- 如何使用USB 电缆在 Windows 10 计算机上添加本地打印机(USB cable)
1.如何从设置中设置Windows 10中的(Windows 10)默认打印机(default printer)
如果您使用的是 Windows 10，请打开设置(Settings)并转到设备(Devices)。
在Windows 10 设置(Settings)中，转到设备
在左侧，单击或点击“打印机和扫描仪”(“Printers & scanners”)，然后取消选中“让 Windows 管理我的默认打印机”框。(“Let Windows manage my default printer.”)启用此设置后，Windows 10 会为您管理默认打印机(default printer)，并始终将其设置为您上次使用的打印机。
访问 打印机和扫描仪
取消选中此选项后，单击或点击(click or tap)您希望作为默认打印机的名称，然后点击Manage。
选择您要使用的打印机，然后单击或点击管理(click or tap Manage)
您会看到几个配置选项的链接。单击(Click)或点击“设置为默认值”(“Set as default”)按钮，然后您应该会看到默认值(Default)作为打印机状态(Printer status)。
单击或点击设置为默认值
如果您没有看到“设置为默认”(“Set as default”)按钮，则表示您没有取消选中本节前面提到的“让 Windows 管理我的默认打印机”选项。(“Let Windows manage my default printer”)
提示：(TIP:)设置默认打印机(default printer)后，您可能想知道如何在所有主流浏览器（Chrome、Firefox、Edge、Opera或Safari）中打印没有广告的文章。
2. 如何从设置中设置Windows 11中的(Windows 11)默认打印机(default printer)
如果您使用的是Windows 11，请打开Settings。在左侧，单击或点击(click or tap) “蓝牙和设备”。(“Bluetooth & devices.)” 在右侧，打开打印机和扫描仪(Printers & scanners)部分。
在Windows 11 设置(Settings)中，转到蓝牙和设备(Bluetooth & devices)
向下滚动(Scroll)打印机列表，然后将“让 Windows 管理我的默认打印机”(“Let Windows manage my default printer”)开关设置为OFF。如果您不这样做，Windows 11 将通过选择您设备上使用的最后一台打印机为您管理默认打印机。(default printer)
将让 Windows(Let Windows)管理我的默认打印机开关设置(default printer switch)为关闭
在打印机列表中，单击或点击(click or tap)您希望作为默认打印机的名称。然后，单击或点击(click or tap)“设置为默认值”(“Set as default”)按钮，并注意其打印机状态(Printers status)更改为默认值(Default)。
单击或点击设置为默认值
如果您没有看到“设为默认值”(“Set as default”)按钮，则您没有取消选中“让 Windows 管理我的默认打印机”(“Let Windows manage my default printer”)选项。
提示：(TIP:)您想在Windows中截取屏幕截图并将其直接发送到打印机吗？这里有两种“截图到打印机”的方法。
3.如何从控制面板设置(Control Panel)默认打印机(default printer)（所有Windows版本）
此方法适用于所有版本的Windows，包括旧版Windows 7。首先打开控制面板(Control Panel)。然后，在“硬件和声音(Hardware and Sound)”部分，单击或点击“查看设备和打印机”链接。(“View devices and printers.”)
在控制面板(Control Panel)中，单击查看(View)设备和打印机
您会看到已安装设备的列表。接下来，滚动到打印机(Printers)部分，找到您感兴趣的打印机并右键单击它。在显示的菜单中，单击“设置为默认打印机”。(“Set as default printer.”)对于我们正在使用的佳能 Pixma G7000 系列(Canon Pixma G7000 series)等多功能打印机，您还需要在打开的子菜单中单击打印机的名称。对于其他打印机，没有这样的子菜单。
右键单击(Right-click)您想要的默认打印机
警告您将此打印机设置为默认值意味着Windows将停止管理您的默认打印机(default printer)。单击(Click) 确定(OK)将您选择的打印机设置为默认打印机。
确认您的选择
然后，您会在已设置为默认打印机的打印机旁边看到一个复选标记，确认更改。
4. 如何从打印窗口设置(Print window)默认打印机(default printer)（所有Windows版本）
当您想从Windows打印某些内容时，通常按键盘上的CTRL+ P例如，此快捷方式适用于从记事本(Notepad)到写字板(WordPad)到Word的任何文档编辑应用程序。然后，在“打印(Print)”窗口中，您会看到安装在Windows 计算机(Windows computer)上的打印机。右键单击所需的打印机，然后选择“设置为默认打印机”。(“Set as Default Printer.)”
(Set)从“打印”窗口(Print window)设置默认打印机(default printer)
然后将默认打印机(default printer)更改为您选择的打印机，然后点击“打印(Print)”按钮会将打印作业(print job)发送给它。
5. 如何从CMD、PowerShell或Windows Terminal设置(Windows Terminal)默认打印机(default printer)（所有Windows版本）
您还可以从命令行设置默认(default printer)打印机(command line)。首先(First)，在任何Windows 版本(Windows version)（包括旧的Windows 7 ）中启动您想要的应用程序（命令提示符(Command Prompt)、PowerShell或Windows 终端(Windows Terminal)） 。如果您使用的是Windows 11，以下是打开Windows 终端(Windows Terminal)的方法。然后，键入以下命令：
确保将命令的打印机名称(printer name)部分替换为要设置为默认值的打印机的实际名称。如果你不知道它的名字，你可以通过运行我们在本指南第一章中分享的命令来找到它。
在Windows中设置(Windows)默认打印机(default printer)的命令
您更喜欢哪种方法来设置默认打印机(default printer)？
现在您也知道了在Windows 10、Windows 11 和旧版本中设置默认打印机的所有方法。(default printer)在结束本教程之前，请在下面的评论中告诉我们哪种方法最适合您。此外，如果您知道其他方式，请随时分享，我们将更新我们的指南以包含它们。
5 ways to set the default printer in Windows (all versions) -
The default printer is the one to which all print jobs are sent (unless othеrwise sрecified by the user or the apps sending the prіnt jobs). If you’re using Windows, there’s a high chance that уour operating systеm is set to automatically select your defаult printer. However, you can disable this option and manually set your default prіnter using the instructions shared іn this guide. Here’s how to set your default printer in Windows 11, Windows 10, and even in oldеr versions like Windows 7:
How do I find my default printer?
There are many ways to find your default printer. One that’s relatively easy and works in all Windows versions is to start Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal and run this command:
Then, you see all the printers installed on your computer, like in the screenshot below.
See the default printer set in Windows
Your default printer is the one that’s marked TRUE in the Default column. In our case, the default printer is the Canon G7000 series.
IMPORTANT: If you don’t see the printer you want to set as the default listed by this command, you first need to install it. Here are two guides that help:
1. How to set the default printer in Windows 10 from Settings
If you’re using Windows 10, open Settings and go to Devices.
In Windows 10 Settings, go to Devices
On the left, click or tap “Printers & scanners” and then uncheck the box that says “Let Windows manage my default printer.” When this setting is enabled, Windows 10 manages the default printer for you, and it always sets it to be the printer you last used.
Go to Printers & scanners
After you’ve unchecked this option, click or tap on the name of the printer you want as your default, and then on Manage.
Select the printer you want to use, and click or tap Manage
You see links to several configuration options. Click or tap the “Set as default” button, and then you should see Default as the Printer status.
Click or tap Set as default
If you don’t see the “Set as default” button, that means you have not unchecked the “Let Windows manage my default printer” option mentioned earlier in this section.
TIP: After you’ve set your default printer, you may want to know how to print an article without ads in all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, or Safari).
2. How to set the default printer in Windows 11 from Settings
If you’re using Windows 11, open Settings. On the left, click or tap “Bluetooth & devices.” On the right, open the Printers & scanners section.
In Windows 11 Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices
Scroll down the list of printers, and set the “Let Windows manage my default printer” switch OFF. If you don’t do this, Windows 11 will manage the default printer for you by selecting the last printer used on your device.
Set the Let Windows manage my default printer switch to OFF
In the list of printers, click or tap on the name of the printer you want as the default. Then, click or tap the “Set as default” button and notice its Printers status changing to Default.
Click or tap Set as default
If you don’t see the “Set as default” button, you didn’t uncheck the “Let Windows manage my default printer” option.
TIP: Do you want to take screenshots in Windows and send them directly to the printer? Here are two ways to “screenshot to a printer”.
3. How to set the default printer from the Control Panel (all Windows versions)
This method works in all versions of Windows, including the older Windows 7. Start by opening the Control Panel. Then, in the Hardware and Sound section, click or tap the link that says “View devices and printers.”
In Control Panel, click View devices and printers
You see a list of installed devices. Next, scroll to the Printers section, find the printer you’re interested in and right-click on it. In the menu displayed, click “Set as default printer.” For multifunctional printers like the Canon Pixma G7000 series we’re using, you also need to click on the printer’s name in the sub-menu that opens. For other printers, there’s no such sub-menu.
Right-click the printer you want as the default
You are warned that setting this printer as the default means Windows will stop managing your default printer. Click OK to set the printer you’ve chosen as the default.
Confirm your choice
You then see a checkmark next to the printer you’ve set as the default, confirming the change.
4. How to set the default printer from the Print window (all Windows versions)
When you want to print something from Windows, you usually press CTRL+ P on your keyboard. For example, this shortcut works in any document editing app from Notepad to WordPad to Word. Then, in the Print window, you see the printers installed on your Windows computer. Right-click on the printer you want and choose “Set as Default Printer.”
Set the default printer from the Print window
The default printer is then changed to the one you’ve selected, and hitting the Print button will send the print job to it.
5. How to set the default printer from CMD, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal (all Windows versions)
You can also set the default printer from the command line. First, start the app you wish (Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal) in any Windows version, including the old Windows 7. If you’re using Windows 11, here’s how to open the Windows Terminal. Then, type the following command:
Make sure to replace the printer name part of the command with the actual name of the printer you want to set as the default. If you don’t know its name, you can find it by running the command we shared in the first chapter of this guide.
The command to set the default printer in Windows
Which method do you prefer for setting the default printer?
Now you know all the ways to set the default printer in Windows 10, Windows 11, and older versions too. Before closing this tutorial, tell us in a comment below which method works best for you. Also, if you know other ways, don’t hesitate to share, and we will update our guide to include them.
