• To choose a default printer on Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, choose the printer, and click the “Set as default” button.
  • If the option isn’t available, turn off the “Let Windows manage my default printer” toggle switch on” Printers & scanners” and then choose the printer and click the “Set as default” button.

On Windows 11, when you install multiple printers, the system will automatically configure the most recent device as the default with the “Let Windows manage my default printer” feature.

Although this could be a convenient feature for many users, it’ll keep changing the default printer, increasing the chances of sending the print job to the wrong device. Also, if you try to change the settings, you will find that setting a printer as one of the defaults is missing from the Settings app. However, if you must change the default printer manually, Windows 11 lets you modify this behavior. You only need to disable the feature that controls your printers to make the “Set as default” option available.

This guide will teach you the steps to choose the default printer on Windows 11.

Set default printer on Windows 11

To change the default printer on Windows 11, use these steps:

  • Open Settings on Windows 11.
  • Click on Bluetooth & devices.
  • Click the Printers & scanners tab.
  • Under the “Printer preferences” section, turn off the “Let Windows manage my default printer” toggle switch to enable the option to choose a default printer. (Otherwise, you will be unable to set a printer as default.)
  • Select the printer to make the new system default.
  • Click the “Set as default” button to change the default printer on Windows 11.

Once you complete the steps, the selected printer will become the new default on Windows 11.

Open Settings on Windows 11.

Click on Bluetooth & devices.

Click the Printers & scanners tab.

Under the “Printer preferences” section, turn off the “Let Windows manage my default printer” toggle switch to enable the option to choose a default printer. (Otherwise, you will be unable to set a printer as default.)

Select the printer to make the new system default.

Click the “Set as default” button to change the default printer on Windows 11.