How do I set a default printer on my Mac?
To set a default printer on your Mac, open System Settings (Ventura and later) or System Preferences (Monterey and earlier), navigate to the “Printers & Scanners” section, and select your preferred printer from the “Default printer” drop-down menu. This ensures that when you print a document or file, it will automatically be sent to the chosen printer unless you specifically select a different printer for that particular print job.
Setting a default printer streamlines your workflow by eliminating the need to choose a printer each time you want to print something. MacOS remembers your preferred printer and will automatically select it in the print dialog box. This is especially useful if you primarily use one printer for most of your printing needs. If you frequently switch between printers for different tasks, you might consider using the “Last Printer Used” option in the “Default printer” menu. This option makes your Mac remember the last printer you manually selected and use it as the default for the next print job. This can be convenient if your printing habits vary frequently. Remember that if the ’last printer used’ is unavailable, macOS will default to any other available printer, or require you to choose one.
And that’s all there is to it! Hopefully, you’re now happily printing away. Thanks so much for reading, and be sure to check back soon for more helpful Mac tips and tricks!