Tip: here's how to quickly test your current, default printer. The next time you try to print a document or picture from any application, you will notice that the printer / print driver you have chosen will automatically be selected in the Printers dropdown menu.

As the above implies, the switch to another default printer takes effect immediately - no need to restart your computer or even logoff from Windows 7.

You will be able to immediately see the change, since your new default printer is now the one that displays the green checkmark above its icon:.

To change the default printer, right-click on the icon of the printer or print driver in question, and choose ' Set as default printer' from the context menu that opens:.

In our case, Acrobat's PDF print driver is current set as the ' default printer'.

Notice that at least one printer or print driver has a green checkmark icon displayed in overlay: this indicates which printer is currently set as the default for your computer (for your Windows profile, actually, since the default printer is a user setting - each user can have a different default printer setup, in other words).

This is where Windows 7 will list all the local printers, print drivers, and any shared printer you might have configured (remote printers on your local network or HomeGroup).

We have hidden the regular computer peripherals in the screenshot above, you may need to scroll down a bit in your case, until you see the section labeled ' Printers and Faxes'.

Using the start menu link results saves you time, since you are already on the right screen inside the Control Panel - no need to click around or search for the right page:.

When Windows 7 shows the search results, click on ' View devices and printers' or ' Devices and printers' - both links do the same thing, and will open the Control Panel:.

Click on the start button, and type ' printer' in the start menu's search field.

Follow these steps to choose another printer as the default:

Change default printer windows 7