How to Configure Default Printer per Application on Windows 11

Quick fix: Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, scroll down, untick Let Windows manage my default printer. Now Windows remembers the last printer you used per app instead of switching the system default based on recent use.

You print to a laser printer for documents and an inkjet for photos. Windows keeps switching the “default” printer to whichever you used most recently across all apps. The fix is to disable the “Windows manages my default” toggle and set per-app defaults manually via each app’s print preferences.

What causes this

Windows 11 has a feature called “Let Windows manage my default printer” that automatically sets the most-recently-used printer in the current location as the default. The intent is convenience — print at home, default to home printer; print at office, default to office printer. The cost: if you intentionally chose printer A for one document and printer B for the next, Windows now thinks B is your default for everything.

Method 1: Disable Windows-managed default printer

The standard fix.

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Scroll down past the printer list.
3. Find Let Windows manage my default printer. Toggle Off.
4. Now go back up to the printer list. Click your preferred default (e.g., the laser printer for documents).
5. Click Set as default.
6. The default is now manually set and stays put.
7. Apps inherit this default — Word, Edge, etc. print to this printer unless you change in the print dialog.

This is the simplest fix when you want one consistent default.

Method 2: Set per-app default via app preferences

For true per-app defaults — different printers in different apps.

1. Each app can have its own default printer:
   • Microsoft Word: File → Print → pick printer → this becomes the Word default for future prints (Word remembers the last-used printer).
   • Adobe Photoshop / Lightroom: File → Print → pick printer. Often saved per-document or per-template.
   • Edge: prints to system default. Can’t set Edge-specific default; use system default.
   • Chrome: Settings → Advanced → Printing → Manage printers.
2. For apps that don’t remember per-app defaults, the print dialog still lets you pick — just click the printer dropdown each time.
3. If you frequently print from one app to a non-default printer, save a printing profile in that app (most Adobe apps support this).

The per-app feature varies by app — Microsoft apps typically remember, but it’s not universal.

Method 3: Use PowerShell scripts to swap default printer

For users who want to script printer switching as part of their workflow.

1. Open Terminal (Admin).
2. List all installed printers:

   Get-Printer | Format-Table Name, PortName

3. Set default printer:

   (New-Object -ComObject WScript.Network).SetDefaultPrinter("HP LaserJet Pro")

4. Create scripts for each printer:
   • set-default-laser.ps1: (New-Object -ComObject WScript.Network).SetDefaultPrinter("HP LaserJet Pro")
   • set-default-photo.ps1: (New-Object -ComObject WScript.Network).SetDefaultPrinter("Canon PIXMA")
5. Bind to keyboard shortcuts via Stream Deck, AutoHotkey, or PowerToys Keyboard Manager.
6. Switch defaults with one click before starting a print task.

This is the right approach for frequent task switching between print contexts.

How to verify the fix worked

• Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners. Let Windows manage my default printer shows Off (if you used Method 1).
• Your chosen default has a green checkmark next to its name.
• Print from Word. The default printer is your chosen one — not the last-used one.
• Print from a different app. Same default.
• Run Get-Printer | Where-Object Default -eq $true | Select Name in PowerShell. Returns your chosen default.

If none of these work

If the default keeps switching despite disabling the toggle, three causes apply. App-side override: some apps explicitly set the system default when you print to a specific printer. Check the app’s settings for “Set as default when printing” option and disable. Print Spooler restart: a Print Spooler service restart can reset the default. Confirm via Get-Printer | Where Default -eq $true. Group Policy: managed PCs may have policies forcing a specific default. Check gpresult /h C:\gpresult.html for related policies.

Bottom line: Untick “Let Windows manage my default printer” and set your preferred default manually. For true per-app defaults, rely on each app’s own remember-last-used behavior or use PowerShell to swap.