Default printer
Updated: 07/18/2024 by Computer Hope
A default printer is a printer all print jobs are sent to unless otherwise specified. Having a default printer prevents a program from asking the user what printer they want to use each time they print. The picture shows a user setting a printer as the default printer in Windows.
Tip
If you have multiple printers and want to use a printer that's not the default printer, when the print screen opens select the printer you want to use.
Note
A default printer may also be called the active printer, main printer, primary printer, or system printer.