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Full Fix: Default printer keeps changing in Windows 10/11
Encompassing fixes to keep your default printer selected
7 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Using more than one printer is extremely annoying when the default printer keeps changing all the time. Before hitting the print button, you always have to check the current printer available, so you don’t use the wrongprinter.
If you want to prevent your default printer from changing, you can use one of the workarounds listed below.
Why does my default printer keep changing?
Below are some of the causes of the default printer keeps changing issue:
Speaking of printer problems, here are some issues that users reported:
Default printer keeps changing on Windows 10, how to fix it?
1. Turn off the option Let Windows manage your default printer
By default, Windows 10 automatically manages your default printer. If your default printer keeps changing, you might want to prevent Windows from managing your default printer.
Many Windows 10 criticized Microsoft for adding such a feature. They suggested that a drop-down menu would have been much more useful, as it would have easily allowed them toselect the printerof their choice.
2. Change the printer settings from the Registry Editor
If your default printer keeps changing, the issue might be related to your registry. However, you can fix the problem by making some Registry Editor changes.
3. Uninstall the printer software for all printers
If the two solutions listed above don’t work, uninstall the printers’ drivers and install the latest driver versions again. To uninstall the printer driver, follow the steps above.
After that, restart yourPC, and the default driver will be installed again. If the default driver doesn’t work, your next step would be to install the latest printer driver.
To do that, you need to visit your printer manufacturer’s website and find the latest drivers for your model. After downloading and installing the latest driver, check if the problem is resolved.
If you’re having trouble finding the appropriate driver, you can always use professional tools to download the missing drivers automatically.
⇒Get Outbyte Driver Updater
4. Remove old printer connections from your registry
If you used multiple printers with your PC, some old entries might still be in your registry. If your default printer keeps changing, the old entries in your registry might be the problem.
However, you can fix the issue simply by removing the problematic entries from your registry. Once you remove them, check if the problem with your default printer is resolved.
5. Check your USB and power cable
Occasionally, issues with the default printer can occur due to problems with cables. If the default printer keeps changing on your PC, check if your cables are working properly.
Sometimes your power or USB cable might be broken, which can lead to many other problems. Carefully inspect the cables and ensure yourprinteris constantly connected to yourPC.
If you lose a connection even for a moment, Windows will change the default printer automatically. If your cables are damaged, replace them and check if that solves your problem.
6. Set the default printer manually
According to users, if the default printer keeps changing, you might be able to fix the problem by manually setting the default printer.
7. Install the latest updates
If the default printer keeps changing on yourPC, the issue might be caused by certain bugs in your system. The best way to fix this problem is to install the latest Windows updates.
By default, Windows 10 usually installs the missing updates automatically, but sometimes you might miss an update or two. However, you can check for updates manually by following the steps above.
If any updates are available, Windows will download them automatically in the background. Once the updates are downloaded, just restart yourPCto install them.
8. Create a new user account
If you’re having issues with your printer, you might be able to fix the problem by creating a new user account.
After creating a new user account, switch to it and check if the problem is still there. If the issue doesn’t appear on the new account, you need to move your personal files to it and start using it instead of your old account.
9. Perform a System Restore
If the default printer keeps changing on your PC, the problem might be caused by a recent update or change on your system. However, you can fix the problem by performing a System Restore.
Once your system is restored, check if the problem is still there.
We have come to the end of this detailed guide. We belive you should be able to fix the issue before exhausting the solutions in this guide.
Similarly, if yourprinter cannot be as defaultfor some reason, check our detailed guide to fix it quickly.
Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.
More about the topics:Printer Errors,windows 10
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
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Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.
