How to Set Default Print Settings in Windows and Mac

Why Default Print Settings Matter

Every time you click Print, your computer sends a job to the printer with a long list of options: paper size, orientation, print quality, and whether to print on one or both sides. If those options are not what you want, you have to adjust them for each job, or you end up with reprints and wasted paper. Setting default print settings once removes that friction and gives you consistent output.

The impact is real. According to ENERGY STAR, the typical office worker prints about 10,000 sheets a year, and 45% of that ends up in recycling. Using default duplex and draft quality for internal documents can cut that number substantially. For home users, defaults reduce the chance of printing a photo in draft mode or a report in landscape when you wanted portrait. For a printer that handles defaults well, see our all-in-one printer guide.

How Default Print Settings Work

Print defaults live in the print driver or the print spooler for each printer queue. On Windows, each printer has a Printing Preferences dialog that stores the default values. On macOS, defaults are stored as presets that you can save in the Print dialog. These defaults apply to every application that uses that printer, unless you override them per job.

Modern printers increasingly support driverless printing via IPP Everywhere, a standard from the Printer Working Group. IPP Everywhere lets computers and mobile devices find and print to networked and USB printers without vendor-specific software. According to the PWG, 98% of printers sold today support IPP/2.0 and DNS-SD, which are the foundations of IPP Everywhere. This means your operating system can manage defaults consistently across different printer models. To understand how drivers and page description languages interact, read our printer driver languages guide. For mobile-specific options, see AirPrint and Mopria.

Set Defaults in Windows

To change default print settings in Windows, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer and click 'Manage', then choose 'Printing preferences'. The exact tabs vary by manufacturer, but you'll typically find sections for paper size, orientation, quality, and duplex. Set your preferred values and click OK. These settings become the defaults for that printer on this computer.

You can also set which printer is the default by selecting 'Set as default' on the printer's page. This only affects which printer is used when you don't pick one; it does not change the print options. The print options are managed separately.

If your printer uses a Mopria certified driver, Windows may also expose additional settings. Mopria is a standard for mobile printing, and its drivers often mirror the system dialog. Check your printer's documentation for the exact path. For a step-by-step guide on adding a printer in Windows, see our how to add a printer in Windows article.

Set Defaults in macOS

On a Mac, default print settings are stored per printer. Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click 'Options & Supplies'. The Options tab lets you set hardware defaults such as duplex unit or paper tray. For job-level defaults like orientation and quality, you use the Print dialog.

To set a default job preset, start a print from any application (File > Print). Adjust all the settings you want: paper size, orientation, quality, duplex, and so on. Then click the Presets dropdown and select 'Save as Preset'. Give it a name such as 'Default' and check 'Set as default preset'. From then on, that preset applies to every print job unless you change it.

You can also set a default paper size in the macOS system preferences. In System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer and choose 'Set Default Paper Size'. This defines the fallback size if the preset does not specify one. If you need help adding a printer on a Mac, read our guide to adding a printer on macOS. For broader compatibility guidance, see printer OS compatibility.

Common Defaults to Set

The most useful defaults to set are paper size, orientation, quality, and duplex. The table below suggests a starting point for each, but your ideal defaults depend on your typical workload.

• If you frequently switch between paper types, for instance between letter and photo paper, consider saving multiple presets on macOS or creating custom profiles in Windows drivers.
• Learn more about print quality modes to decide between draft, normal, and fine.
• For duplex specifics, see the automatic duplex printing guide.

Energy and Paper Saving Defaults

ENERGY STAR recommends using double-sided printing and image combination modes to reduce paper consumption. Many printers have these options built in, and setting duplex as the default makes it effortless. They also suggest using a lower quality or draft mode when printing internal documents, as draft mode uses less ink or toner.

Keep the printer's sleep settings at their maximum energy saving; ENERGY STAR certified equipment wakes quickly, so you won't notice a delay. Our energy-efficient printing guide has more tips, and you can find efficient models in our best duplex printers list. For a broader view of energy standards, see printer energy star guide.

Driverless and Mobile Considerations

Driverless printing standards like IPP Everywhere remove the need for manufacturer-specific drivers. That means the same defaults can often be applied across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. The Printer Working Group maintains the standard, and its clients include CUPS, macOS, Windows, and Chrome OS. This consistency is helpful if you use multiple operating systems.

For mobile printing, the Mopria Alliance provides a common printing standard for Android and Windows. Mopria certified printers work with these systems without extra drivers, and the print dialog often mirrors the desktop settings. However, defaults set on your computer may not automatically transfer to mobile apps. To enforce uniform settings, you can set the printer's own defaults through its embedded web server or manage them via the vendor's configuration page. For a deeper look at network protocols, read our printer network protocols guide.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Can I set different defaults for different paper sizes?

Yes. In macOS, you can create multiple presets, each with its own paper size, orientation, quality, and duplex settings. In Windows, some drivers allow you to save multiple configuration profiles. This is helpful if you switch between letter and legal or photo paper.

Will changing defaults affect jobs already in the print queue?

No. Defaults apply only to new print jobs. Jobs already queued are printed with the settings they were submitted with.

How do I reset defaults to the manufacturer's values?

In Windows, open Printing Preferences and look for a 'Restore Defaults' button. On macOS, delete the saved preset and recreate it, or choose the built-in 'Default' preset if available.

Do mobile printing apps respect my computer's defaults?

Usually not. Mobile apps have their own print dialog. For IPP Everywhere and Mopria devices, the printer may apply system defaults, but the app's settings take precedence. To keep things consistent, set printer-side defaults via the web interface or the vendor's app.

Why are my defaults not sticking?

Make sure you are saving the preset correctly. On Windows, some drivers require you to click 'Apply' after changing values. On macOS, ensure that the preset is set as the default and that you are not accidentally overriding it with app-specific settings.