Autoselect default printer


Paolo Holzl

New member
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9:14 PM
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4
OS
Win 11
Is it possible to make it so that if I connect a printer via cable, and it's the only printer, it automatically is recognized as default printer?
 
Windows Build/Version
Win 11

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11
As long as the printer (drivers) are installed it should be recognised. Without drivers it will not be recognised.

To ensure that is the default printer double-click on its icon in the 'Printers and Devices' window so that a white tick in a green circle shows.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP EliteDesk 705 G5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE
    Memory
    8GB DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 11
    Hard Drives
    256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Inspiron 15-3576
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8250U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR4 - 2400 SODIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Hard Drives
    256GB SK Hynix SC311 SATA SSD
Is it possible to make it so that if I connect a printer via cable, and it's the only printer, it automatically is recognized as default printer?
Welcome to ELEVENForum!!

Yes it is -

1. Search for 'Devices & Printers'.
2. Right-click on the printer you want to make your default
3. Select 'Set as Default Printer'

1.png
You can use this method even if you more than one printer installed.

(In the image, my Epson printer is my default; if I continue, the PDF24 printer will become my default.)

Please take time to fill your 'My Computer' area of your account - it helps anyone who's offering advice to judge what your system is.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro v 23H2 (Build 22631.3374)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision 3660 Tower Workstation
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-12900 5.10 GHz
    Motherboard
    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
    Memory
    32.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 770
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell P2714H Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x 512GB NVME PC801 NVMe SK hynix Boot
    1 x 1TB Seagate ST1000LM049-2GH172 Internal HDD
    1 x 1TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    1 x 2TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    1 x 4TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    PSU
    300 Watts
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600
    Mouse
    Microsoft USB Basic Optical Mouse v2.0
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender + Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
    BaseBoard Product 0J1CP3
    BaseBoard Version A01
Welcome to ELEVENForum!!

Yes it is -

1. Search for 'Devices & Printers'.
2. Right-click on the printer you want to make your default
3. Select 'Set as Default Printer'

View attachment 51486
You can use this method even if you more than one printer installed.

(In the image, my Epson printer is my default; if I continue, the PDF24 printer will become my default.)

Please take time to fill your 'My Computer' area of your account - it helps anyone who's offering advice to judge what your system is.

I seem to remember that using this function if you select a printer the system continue to use the same printer as default.

But I would like that if I have for example two printers and I remove a cable from printer 1 and connect printer 2 I would like that new printer is automatically defined as default printer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11
I seem to remember that using this function if you select a printer the system continue to use the same printer as default.

But I would like that if I have for example two printers and I remove a cable from printer 1 and connect printer 2 I would like that new printer is automatically defined as default printer.
In this scenario, I would suggest that a reboot is necessary - Windows 11 is not intelligent enough to notice the change if you just swap the connected printer for another.

Please see Post #7
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro v 23H2 (Build 22631.3374)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision 3660 Tower Workstation
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-12900 5.10 GHz
    Motherboard
    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
    Memory
    32.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 770
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell P2714H Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x 512GB NVME PC801 NVMe SK hynix Boot
    1 x 1TB Seagate ST1000LM049-2GH172 Internal HDD
    1 x 1TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    1 x 2TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    1 x 4TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    PSU
    300 Watts
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600
    Mouse
    Microsoft USB Basic Optical Mouse v2.0
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender + Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
    BaseBoard Product 0J1CP3
    BaseBoard Version A01
In this scenario, I would suggest that a reboot is necessary - Windows 11 is not intelligent enough to notice the change if you just swap the connected printer for another.
But if the printer is the unique already connected when I boot with autoselect is changed automatically to default printer?

I have the problem of people who would like to easily move the default from one printer to another without going to the control panel. I answered by moving the printer management link to the Desktop, but with Win10 and Win11?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11
But if the printer is the unique already connected when I boot with autoselect is changed automatically to default printer?

I have the problem of people who would like to easily move the default from one printer to another without going to the control panel. I answered by moving the printer management link to the Desktop, but with Win10 and Win11?
First of all, please accept my appologies for giving you duff info in Post #5 - I mis-understood what you are trying to do.

If you just swap printers by unplugging one for another, in all probabilty the newly connected printer will not work.
Unless they are EXACTLY THE SAME SPECIFICATION just swapping the H/W will not work - the main stumbling block is that the drivers will - in all probability - be different.

Have you considered using a USB Hub? This will make your single USB port on your device support multi-USB devices, two of which can be configured to support each of your printers.

If you go down this route, you need a hub that is compatible with the port(s) on your device -

a 2.0 hub if your device port(s) are USB 2.0 compatible
a 3.0 hub if your device port(s) are USB 3.0 compatible
etc

There are a multitude of vendors and types available - in the UK, Amazon offer a wide choice - you should be able to find a vendor local to your location.

I don't know if the printer management link can be re-located to the desktop,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro v 23H2 (Build 22631.3374)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision 3660 Tower Workstation
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-12900 5.10 GHz
    Motherboard
    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
    Memory
    32.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 770
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell P2714H Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x 512GB NVME PC801 NVMe SK hynix Boot
    1 x 1TB Seagate ST1000LM049-2GH172 Internal HDD
    1 x 1TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    1 x 2TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    1 x 4TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    PSU
    300 Watts
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600
    Mouse
    Microsoft USB Basic Optical Mouse v2.0
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender + Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
    BaseBoard Product 0J1CP3
    BaseBoard Version A01
@Paolo Holzl - In Settings>Bluetooth and Devices>Printers & Scanners do you see "Allow Windows to manage my default printer"?

In my case I have this setting to 'Off' but you may want it 'On'. See photo: -

Printer.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP EliteDesk 705 G5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE
    Memory
    8GB DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 11
    Hard Drives
    256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Inspiron 15-3576
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8250U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR4 - 2400 SODIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Hard Drives
    256GB SK Hynix SC311 SATA SSD

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