Registry Guide for Windows Registry Guide for Windows
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Registry tweaks, tricks & hacks to optimize, enhance and secure Microsoft Windows.

Change a Users Default Printer (All Windows)
Category: Home > Hardware > Printers and Plotters

This setting will allow you the change the default printer of a user by modifying the registry.

Open your registry and find the key appropriate for your operating system, as shown below.

Add or edit the value of 'Device', to equal the printer you want to become default for the current user.

Windows 95
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Windows]

Windows NT
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]

Note: The device is the name used to represent the printer in the registry, the name can also be found in the [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\Settings] key.

Registry Editor Example
|NameTypeData|
|(Default)REG_SZ(value not set)|
|DeviceREG_SZ"HP Laserjet,winspool,LPT1:"|
-
|HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Adv...|
-

Settings:
Name: Device
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value:

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.

Last Modified: February 23, 1999

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