Windows ignoring default printer

The charity I admin for has been gifted an Acer Swift3 N19H4. I've installed an Epson ET-4850 printer and all associated software. In the Windows printer settings, I've turned off Windows managing the default printer and set the Epson printer as default. However, Windows is ignoring the default setting and when the print dialog comes up, it defaults to the fax. Does anyone know if there's anything I can do to force Windows to use the printer?

Do they use the FAX? If not, was there an option to skip it during the install.
Or could be a setting in the printer software?

Just in case Windows settings is ignoring your Default Printer settings, manually set the Epson as default via Control Panel
Windows settings sometimes doesn't properly register the change.

Go to:
Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Right-click your Epson ET-4850 > Set as default printer

Remove the Fax device if not needed
Go to:
Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Right-click “Fax” > Remove device

If that option is greyed out, you can fully disable it:
Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off
Uncheck “Windows Fax and Scan”
Restart your computer afterward

Windows Fax and Scan is an optional component. Obviously if not needed you can uninstall it.
Windows Tools > Windows Fax and Scan > Right click uninstall.

Assuming it sometimes used then what you have done is the correct procedure.

Because the Laptop has come from elsewhere there maybe some sort of policy set.

I have Fax installed, and a Canon Printer as Default it's honoured and it says Default underneath.
The Control Panel route throws you back in to the Settings App > Bluetooth & devices > Printers and scanners.

antspants said:

Do they use the FAX? If not, was there an option to skip it during the install.
Or could be a setting in the printer software?

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, there was no option to skip the fax installation. I shall check the printer settings next time I'm there.

Helmut said:

Windows Fax and Scan is an optional component. Obviously if not needed you can uninstall it.
Windows Tools > Windows Fax and Scan > Right click uninstall.

Assuming it sometimes used then what you have done is the correct procedure.

Because the Laptop has come from elsewhere there maybe some sort of policy set.

I have Fax installed, and a Canon Printer as Default it's honoured and it says Default underneath.
The Control Panel route throws you back in to the Settings App > Bluetooth & devices > Printers and scanners.

Click to expand...

No, we never use the fax function but if I uninstall Windows Fax and Scan, won't that also stop us being able to scan, which is something we do everyday?

The laptop was factory reset when we got it so I assume that all policies were reset as well.

The Epson printer says Default underneath it but print dialogs are defaulting to fax.

Yes, the Control Panel route just goes back to Settings.