How Do I Fix Default Printer Keeps Changing in Windows 11/10

Default Printer Keeps Changing Windows 11/10

Setting a default printer on Windows saves you from manually selecting a printer each time, reducing your workload and speeding up the printing process. However, sometimes you may find that the default printer keeps changing in Windows 11/10.

“Default printer changes automatically” is usually caused by allowing Windows to change the default printer itself. Besides, outdated Windows versions and wrong registry values can cause this issue as well.

Now, you can follow the instructions below to prevent Windows from changing the default printer.

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How to Stop Windows From Changing the Default Printer

Solution 1. Do Not Make Windows Manage the Default Printer

If you have allowed Windows to manage your default printer, Windows will set your default printer to be the one you used most recently at your current location. Here you can see how to prevent Windows from changing the default printer and how to set the default one manually.

For Windows 10 users:

Step 1. Press the Windows + I key combination to access Windows Settings.

Step 2. Select Devices and then move on to the Printers and scanners section.

Step 3. In the right panel, uncheck the option of Let Windows manage my default printer.

Step 4. On the same page, click the target printer under Printers & scanners, then click Manage > Set as default.

For Windows 11 users:

Step 1. Open Windows Setting by pressing Windows + I.

Step 2. Click Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.

Step 3. Switch the button next to Let Windows manage my default printer to Off.

Step 4. Select the desired printer and click the Set as default button at the top.

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Solution 2. Change Printer Settings via Registry Editor

If the problem “default printer keeps changing” persists after trying the above method, you need to make changes to the Windows registries.

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Once you have backed up the registry or the system, follow the guide below to tweak the registry value.

Step 1. Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command window.

Step 2. Type regedit in the pop-up window and click OK or press Enter.

Step 3. Select Yes when the User Account Control window pops up. If the Yes button is missing, fix it by referring to this article: How to Fix UAC Yes Button Missing or Grayed Out?

Step 4. Copy and paste the following location in the top address and press Enter. Or you can navigate to this path layer by layer.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows

Step 5. In the right panel, double-click the LegacyDefaultPrinterMode key to edit it. In the new window, set its value data to 1 and click OK.

Step 6. Restart your PC and check if the issue has been resolved.

Solution 3. Update Windows

As mentioned earlier, an outdated Windows version can be responsible for the “default printer keeps changing” issue as well. So, you need to make sure your Windows is updated to the latest version. To do that, go to Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

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Bottom Line

If your default printer keeps changing, do not worry. Just follow this step-by-step guide to resolve the issue.

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