SetDefaultPrinter function

The SetDefaultPrinter function sets the printer name of the default printer for the current user on the local computer.

Syntax

Parameters

A pointer to a null-terminated string containing the default printer name. For a remote printer connection, the name format is **\\server\**printername. For a local printer, the name format is printername.

If this parameter is NULL or an empty string, that is, «», SetDefaultPrinter will select a default printer from one of the installed printers. If a default printer already exists, calling SetDefaultPrinter with a NULL or an empty string in this parameter might change the default printer.

Return value

If the function succeeds, the return value is a nonzero value.

If the function fails, the return value is zero.

Remarks

When using this method, you must specify a valid printer, driver, and port. If they are invalid, the APIs do not fail but the result is not defined. This could cause other programs to set the printer back to the previous valid printer. You can use EnumPrinters to retrieve the printer name, driver name, and port name of all available printers.

This is a blocking or synchronous function and might not return immediately. How quickly this function returns depends on run-time factors such as network status, print server configuration, and printer driver implementation factors that are difficult to predict when writing an application. Calling this function from a thread that manages interaction with the user interface could make the application appear to be unresponsive.

Set default printer in Windows 7

In Windows 7, we can set default printer from control panel -> Devices and printers.В For Windows geeks and system administrators, here’s a command line tip for doing the same with a simple wmic command.В Read on…

First, let’s get the list of printers installed on the computer. You can run the below command for this list.

Example: the above command prints the following on my computer.

As you can see it also tells us which one is the default printer.

Get default printer name

Set default printer

Now the syntax for setting a new default printer:

The default printer in our example is ‘HP_COLOR_PRINTER’. Now let’s change it to ‘Eng_Printer_1stFloor’. The command for this would be.

This command also works on Server 2008. Though I have not verified it, it should work for other Windows editions also(XP, Vista, Server 2003).

Related Posts:

how do you query or set default a network printer…

it say ERROR when i query a network printer such as
“invalid query”

wmic printer where name=’\\printserver\printername’ call setdefaultprinter

Problem seems to be that you are using the printer UNC path. Instead use the printer name. You can get the name field using wmic printer get name .
Also the printer should have been added to the computer before running the command. From the added printers list you can choose one of it as the default one. This list can be obtained from wmic printer get command.

You need to delimit your printer name, ie

wmic printer where name=’\\\\printserver\\printername’ call setdefaultprinter

thanks andrewb.. work for me. cheers.

wmic printer get name, default only captures and returns the local printers, not networked printers. Is there a command that will list the networked printers AND tell me which is set as the default? That’s the thing I’m really fishing for, default printer for every user.

I’m making printer changes on the server, will need to reset everyone default printer after I’m done so I’m trying to get a list without remotely connecting to each user. I can get to a command line without disturbing the users.

It lists my network printers. I have them added by IP. That may make a difference if that isn’t how you have them set up.

The command lists network printers for me too. I have them added with dns name, so either way it works.

You’re correct Jeff and i’m also looking for a solution for this.

This command, wmic printer get name, default, will not get the network printers of a remote PC on the network.

Have you had any luck in searching since it has been 2 years?

wmic printer get name, default only captures and returns the local printers, not networked printers. Is there a command that will list the networked printers AND tell me which is set as the default? That’s the thing I’m really fishing for, default printer for every user

Hi i have one question

with wmic i can change the printer name?

I tried: wmic printer where default=true set name=teste

How to Set Default Printer in Windows 10

Recently, I wrote a simple guide on how you can add a printer to the send to menu. If you have multiple printers and have a clear preference for one over the other, you can change the default printer. Generally, Windows manages the default printers by itself. If it is not doing a good job at it, you can manually set the default printer. Here’s how.

Set Default Printer in Windows 10

There are multiple ways to change the default printer in Windows 10. In this quick guide, I will show three main methods. The first method works only on Windows 10 but the other two methods will work on Windows 7 and 8 too. All methods achieve the same task. So, feel free to use the one you are comfortable with.

1. PC Settings App Method

PC Settings app makes it very easy to set the default printer on Windows 10. You just have to click a button and you are done.

1. First, open the PC Settings app by pressing the keyboard shortcut Win + I or by searching for it in the start menu.

2. In the PC Settings app, go to “Devices -> Printers & Scanners” page.

3. On the right panel, uncheck the “Allow Windows to manage my default printer” option. Without unchecking this option, you cannot choose a default printer.

4. Now, click on the printer of your choice from the list and then click on the “Manage” button.

5. In the subsequent page, click on the “Set as Default” button.

6. As soon as click on the button, the target printer will be set as default on Windows 10.

2. Control Panel Method

You can also use the good old control panel to modify the default printer. The good thing is, this method works in Windows 7 and 8 too.

1. Search for “Control Panel” in the start menu and click on it to open it.

2. In the control panel, make sure the View by is set to “Categories“. Next, click on the “View devices and printers” link under the Hardware and Sound section.

3. In this page, right-click on the printer of your choice and select the “Set as default printer” option. If you see a warning message, click on the “Yes” button.

4. As soon as you select the option, Windows will change the default printer to your choice. You will see a green checkmark for the default printer.

3. Command to Set Default Printer

As an alternative, you can also use simple commands to set the default printer.

1. Open the Start Menu, search for “Command Prompt” and then click on the “Run as Administrator” option appearing on the right panel. You can also right-click and select Run as administrator option.

2. Before you can change the default printer, you need to know the printer names. So, execute the below command and the window will list all the printer names.

3. Once you have the names, execute the below command while replacing “printer_name” with the actual printer name from the list you got from the first command.

4. As soon as you execute the command, the default printer will be changed to your choice.

That is it. It is that simple to set default printer on Windows 10. If you are facing any problems, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible.

How to set a default printer in Windows 10 so that it’s easier and quicker to print documents

• You can set a default printer for your Windows 10 computer so that it’s easier and quicker to print documents.
• While you can still change printers for an individual job, changing the default printer on your preferred Windows computer can save you from having to set it every time.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Windows will automatically set your printer to be the last one you used at your current location. However, you can turn this function off to manually set your printer to a preferred one, so it doesn’t change every time you move.

You can also re-enable that default setting later, if that’s your preference.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Windows 10 (From $139.99 at Best Buy)

How to set a default printer in Windows 10

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click the Windows icon at the bottom left of your screen, and search for «Printers.»

2. Select «Printers and Scanners» from your search results.

3. Uncheck «Allow Windows to manage my default printer» at the bottom of the screen by clicking the check box.

4. Select the device you want to make your default from the list of printers and scanners. Click on it, then click «Manage.»

5. On the new screen, select «Set as default.» This should now be your default printer.

6. To re-enable the default printer settings, recheck the «Allow Windows to manage my default printer» button.

This can be really helpful if you have a laptop that switches printers a lot. Changing the default printer manually like this still allows you to change your printer on a case-by-case basis if you choose to, whenever you print from an application.

Setting default printer in windows 10

Replies (18) 

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Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

We understand that you are unable to add your printer as default printer.

I request you to follow the methods below.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Printer’s Driver.

Step 1: Uninstall the Printer’s Drivers

a. Press “Windows Logo” + “X” keys on the keyboard.

b. Click on “Device Manager” from that list.

c. Search for the Printer from the device list, right click on it and then select “Uninstall”. On the un-installation window, if you have an option: “Delete the driver software for this device” you may select that and then remove the corrupted drivers from the computer.

d. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete it and then restart the computer if prompted.

After the restart, please go ahead with the next steps to install the latest drivers and check if that resolves the issue.

Update Driver Software from the Manufacturer’s website:

Step 2: Go to the Computer or Printer manufacturer’s website and search for the latest Windows 10 drivers available for the Network Card model and then install it by following the instructions given in the website.

Follow these steps to install the drivers in compatibility mode and check if that helps.

a. Download the driver from the manufacturer’s website.

b. Right-click on the driver setup file and click on ‘properties’.

c. Click on the ‘compatibility’ tab and check the box ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’ and select Windows 8 operating system from the drop down menu and proceed with the installation. Once this is done, restart the computer and check if the issue persists

I request you to refer the article below:

Set or change your default printer

I hope this helps you. If you have any further query in future, feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help you.

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geez Becky does anyone even read your question?

I had the same issue. It looks like in Windows 10 Settings, Devices you can’t change the default printer.

(EDIT — In fairness, it is there but just hard to find. Click on Settings, Devices, scroll all the way down and you will see the link to Devices and printers where you will go to the Devices and Printers control panel.)

However you can get to the old printer window by right-clicking the Start icon, clicking on Control Panel (gets you the old legacy control panel) and then click Hardware and Sound, and Devices and Printers at the top. Or just search for printers on the new taskbar search and click Devices and Printers.

You can set the default printer there just like before you upgraded. Looks like MS forgot to put that ability in the new Settings panel. Minor issue.

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Thanks mac1. It worked perfectly.

I’ll say what the problem is, laziness and failure to read and understand. This is what happens when you pay people to provide any answer and not care if it’s right or wrong. Yes MS does this as the pay for answers and close out of any questions. So it’s a game by support to answer questions so they look really good.

I wonder if we sent them a smaller paycheck and then let them complain until someone eventually fixed it would solve the problem? Mean, right?

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I, too, appreciate this elegant solution. Fixed the issue right away. Thanks a million, Mac1-131

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Yep, thanks Mac1, Settings, Devices, scroll down does it! Thanks.

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Minor issue? This is more than a minor issue if someone has to jump through hoops in order to do something as simple as changing their default printer.

I, too, had this same problem, and I cannot change my default printer! Even after following the above steps (yours), I keep on ending up with the new — useless — control panel window.

But, in all fairness, is the printer being off-line causing my problem? It never seemed to matter in previous versions of Windows. At the moment, I do not have access to the printer and no one is in the house to take it out of «sleep» or «energy-saving» mode that it goes into after a certain period of time. Regardless, this is a frustrating/irritating process one has through to do something that should have remained simple enough.

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Thank you for keeping us updated.

• What exactly happens when you try to change default printer in your case?

You can change a printer’s default printing preferences only if you have the Manage Printers permission, which is one of several printer permissions.

Open Printers and Faxes. Right-click the printer for which you want to set the default printing preferences, and then click Properties. On the Advanced tab, click Printing Defaults. Click the Layout and Paper/Quality tabs and the Advanced button to see the available choices, and specify the new default settings. Notes

To open Printers and Faxes, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Printers and Faxes.

The preferences you set become the default settings for any user who connects to the printer. These preferences include the page orientation, the tray from which paper is fed to the printer, and the number of copies printed. Individual users can customize these settings by right-clicking the printer in Printers and Faxes, and then clicking Printing Preferences.

You can also open printer properties in Printers and Faxes by clicking a printer, and then clicking Set printer properties under Tasks on the left side of the window. This option is available only if folders are set to look like a Web page and a printer is selected.

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.