How to Let Windows 11 Set the Last Printer Used as the Default Printer

Make Windows Your Printing Helper

Letting Windows pick your last-used printer saves time when you switch between locations and hardware. You no longer have to open a printer list and click Set as default each time you change where you work.

It suits laptops best, and any PC that prints to more than one device. If you only ever use one printer, you gain nothing from it and can leave it off.

The change takes two short stages: open the printer settings page, then switch the option on. The steps below follow that order.

Option 1Windows Picks the Last Printer Used

This setting saves you from changing your default printer by hand every time you switch devices. Windows remembers which printer handled your last job and sends later print jobs there automatically.

While the setting is on, Windows controls the default, so you can't pick a permanent default yourself. The Set as default button is greyed out or missing for each printer. If you need a fixed default, turn this setting off first.

Step 1Open Printer Settings

1. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu.
2. Select the gear icon to open Settings. The Settings window opens with a list of categories on the left.
3. Choose Bluetooth & devices from that list.
4. Select Printers & scanners. You should now see every printer Windows knows about, plus an Add device button at the top.

If you prefer the keyboard, Windows + I opens Settings directly.

Step 2Let Windows Manage Your Default Printer

1. Scroll down the Printers & scanners page until you reach the Printer preferences area.
2. Find the switch labeled Let Windows manage my default printer.
3. Set the switch to On. It shows as on when the switch is filled with colour and the label beside it reads On.

The change applies straight away, and there is no Save or Apply button. If the option is missing, check that you are on Windows 11 and have the latest updates installed. Some managed work PCs also hide or lock the setting through organisation policy, so ask your IT team if it is greyed out there.

Step 3Confirm the Setting

Once the option is on, your PC selects the printer you last printed to as the default for your next print job. To check it, print a test page from a second printer. Then go back to Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners That printer should now show Default under its name.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/set-a-default-printer-in-windows-e10cf8b8-e596-b102-bf84-c41022b5036f

Summary

Your PC now routes print jobs to whichever device you used last.

To undo it, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners
2. Scroll down and set Let Windows manage my default printer to Off.
3. Select the printer you want, then select Set as default. The button is available again now that Windows no longer manages the default.