Whether in the dynamic environment of an office or the cozy confines of a home, the presence of a shared printer is a familiar and practical necessity and to make printer default for all users is a practical task that admin has to peruse.
Ensuring a smooth printing experience for all users, whether in a professional workspace or a domestic setting, requires a simple process to designate a default printer.
Let’s explore the steps to make a printer in default settings for both home users and office environments, optimizing efficiency in various spheres of work and life.
How can I make my printer default for all my users in Windows 10 ?
Follow the below mentioned process to make your printer default for all users in Windows 10 regardless of the brand:
Before initiating the process make sure you are the administrator of the account, or you have logged in using the Admin account.
- Open “Printers & Scanners” on windows search.
- Now scroll down and uncheck “Let Windows manage my default printer”.
- Scroll up and left click on the printer name and click option “Manage”.
- Click “Set as default”.
Now your printer would be set as default. The steps can vary depending on the update of your Windows however it would similar.
You can also visit control panel to find “Printers & Scanners” option.
Also Read : How to fix a printer in error state ?
“Can I set the default printer for all users in Windows 10 through the registry“?
Yes, you can set printer as default using the registry of Windows 10 in following ways:
Steps to add a default Printer for all new users using the Registry
It is another common query of millions of printer users with this query, however, the solution to this problem is quite simple if you follow the following steps as your guide.
- Click on start and enter Regedit in the search bar
- Select the option regedit shown in the search results, now press ctrl-shift-Enter and open the program by logging in as administrator.
- Now in your computer system, navigate |HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>WindowsNT>CurrentVersion>Devices.
- Locate your printer from the list of devices and then write your printer’s name
- Now right-click on your printer, then select the option to modify from the context menu.
- Now write down the information and detail shown in the value data field
- Click on cancel and close the window
- Now select “HKEY_USERS” from the left pane. After that, Click “File,” > “Load Hive.” Browse to “%SystemRoot%\Users\Default.”
- Now. Double-click “Ntuser.dat.” Name the hive “Ntuser,” when prompted, then click on “OK.”
- Navigate through “NTUSER | Software | Microsoft | Windows NT | CurrentVersion | Devices.”
- Right-click on the right pane, go to New and then click on the option String Value, after that enter your printer’s name.
- Double-click on the new value, and now enter the information mentioned in step 5, into the Value Data Field. After that click on ok
- It is now time to return to the key “HKEY_CURRENT_USER,” and then navigate through “Software | Microsoft | Windows NT | CurrentVersion | PrinterPorts.”
- Double click on your printer, then write down the detail provided in the value data field and then click on cancel.
- Return to the “HKEY_USERS,” and then navigate through “NTUSER | Software | Microsoft | Windows NT | CurrentVersion | PrinterPorts.”
- Follow the instructions mentioned in step 10 and create a new string value by typing the name of the desired printing device.
- Enter the information given in step 13 into the value data field, after that click on OK
- Get back to “HKEY_CURRENT_USER,” now navigate through “Software | Microsoft | Windows NT | CurrentVersion | Windows.”
- Double click on your printer and again write down the detail or information given in the value data field, after that click cancel.
- Go to the “HKEY_USERS,” followed by “NTUSER.” Navigate through “Software | Microsoft | Windows NT | CurrentVersion | Windows.”
- Now you can follow the similar process explained in the previous steps can create the new value with your printer’s name and can enter the suitable details mentioned in step 18.
- Select “HKEY_CURRENT_USER,” and then click “Printers” from the left pane. After that, as you know, write down all the values and data shown in the right pane.
- Once again, it is time to get back to “NTUSER.” Right-click on the left pane, and then point to “New,” now click “Key.” Finally, Name the key “Printers.”
- Open your printer’s key to recreate all the values mentioned in step 21. Now return to “NTUSER,” then click “File,” then select “Unload Hive.”
Set default printer for all users Windows 10 Powershell
A few steps below will set your printer connected to windows 10 default for all users. The process is so short that even if you try, you cannot forget the process.
- Start the app PowerShell on your Windows
- Type the command, rundll32 printui.dll, PrintUIEntry /y /n “printer name”
- Do not forget that you replace the printer name with the printer name that you want to set as default. Now, your job is done.
Set default Printer for all users using CMD(Command Prompt)
Setting your printer default for users using the command prompt option is a cakewalk. Pay attention to the steps below and you will complete the task in a short while.
- Open the command prompt app
- Type the command rundll32 printui. dll, PrintUIEntry /y /n “printer name” in the shown space.
- Once you enter this command your printer sets as default for all users.
Note – Do not miss to change the printer’s name and replace it with your required one.
“Is it difficult to set the default printer for all users in Windows 7“?
No, certainly not. It is always an easy process to set your printer default for all users if you have Windows 7 system. Take a look at the steps below.
- Click on “Start” and then click on “Devices and Printers”
- Under “Printer and Faxes” option right click on your printer name and select “Set as default printer”
Steps to set default printer for users of Windows Server 2016
Yes, the guide below is certainly going to be easy and quick, because in a few steps, you will complete the job and you will never forget the simple steps.
- Firstly Log in to local admin on the destination session host
- Create the default printer gpo for your required end users
- Now go to the group policy management editor
- Now go to user control panel settings\ printers\ configuration\preferences
- Enter new and then type the printer name connected to the session host
- Write the information accurately that is given in the New printer properties tab
- Now select set this printer as the default printer
- Enter force on both client and DC/gpupdate
- Enter mstsc in the command prompt now uncheck the printers from the local resources
- Enter the end user domain name and enter the password.
- Finally, you will see the default printer on the destination session host.
Also Read : How to get your printer Online ?
Conclusion
In summary, mastering the process of setting the default printer for all users can significantly contribute to a well-functioning and user-friendly workspace.
Embracing these steps will undoubtedly yield positive results and ensure that printing tasks are consistently hassle-free for all users involved.
Remember to regularly review and update the default printer settings to accommodate any changes or new additions in your network infrastructure, optimizing your printing experience for the long term.
Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)
Follow the following steps and you can complete the task –
Login to the administrator account
Now double-click on My Computer and then select printers
Right-click on the printer for which you desire to change the properties to allow access
Now click on the security tab and select permissions
Now you can easily add users/groups and grant them the required permission
Finally, click OK once the process is finished
It’s quite a simple process and can be completed in a few minutes. Take a look below –
Touch or click on the start button
Now click on the control panel
Click on devices and printers
Right-click on the printer
Now click on the option set as default printer
Follow the steps below and your printer will become universal in access.
Go to settings and then devices then printers and scanners
Now select add a printer
now select the printer you want to use, now select add device
once your printer is added, it will show its name in settings in the list of printers and scanners
