How to Set Google Chrome to Use System Default Printer

By default, Google Chrome is designed to remember the last printer you used to save you time. While this is helpful for some, it often causes Chrome to ignore your Windows default printer setting. This behavior is a feature of the browser’s print destination persistence, which prioritizes your recent history over your system-wide OS settings.

How to change the default printer in Windows

Before adjusting Chrome, ensure your Windows settings are correct. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select your preferred printer and click Set as default. If ‘Let Windows manage my default printer’ is on, Windows will switch the default based on your location or network. Toggle this off if you want a permanent default.

Force Chrome to use the system default printer

You can force Chrome to ignore its memory and use the Windows default. This requires editing the Windows Registry. Note: This step requires admin privileges.

First, back up your registry. Open the Registry Editor and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome

If the Google or Chrome folders do not exist, right-click the parent folder, select New > Key, and name them accordingly. Right-click the Chrome folder, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it PrintPreviewUseSystemDefaultPrinter. Set the value to 1 to force the system default.

Troubleshooting ‘Save as PDF’ persistence

If Chrome keeps defaulting to ‘Save as PDF’, it is likely because that was the last ‘printer’ selected. To fix this, ensure the PrintPreviewUseSystemDefaultPrinter registry key is set to 1. If the issue persists, check your Print Spooler service in services.msc and restart it to clear any stuck print jobs causing latency.

Enterprise and Domain-joined environments

In a business environment, IT administrators use Group Policy Objects (GPO) to manage these settings across all computers. If you are on a work computer, you may not have permission to edit the registry. Contact your IT department to request a policy update via the Chrome Administrative Templates.

Summary

Chrome often defaults to the last used printer rather than your Windows default. By creating the PrintPreviewUseSystemDefaultPrinter registry key, you can force the browser to respect your OS settings. Always back up your registry before making changes. For complex issues, visit the official Chrome Help forum. What happens when done? Chrome will consistently select your designated system printer every time you open the print preview window, saving you from manual selection errors.