How to Choose a Default Printer in Windows XP

OVERVIEW

The default printer is the first or primary printer chosen when the printer button  is pressed or File, Print is chosen in an application.

1. Click on Start, Printers and Faxes.
   
   
   
    
2.  When the window opens up it will look similar to the one below, depending on which printers your computer has installed.
   
   
   
    
3. The printer with the black checkbox next to it is the default, or first, printer Windows XP picks to print to after the print button  is pressed.
   
   
    

4. To change the default printer to a different one, right click on the printer you want as the new default and select Set as Default Printer. 
   
   
   
                           --- OR ---
   
   If you are not comfortable right clicking, click once on the printer to select it, then click on File, Set as Default Printer.
   
     
    

5. After choosing your new printer as your default, the black checkbox will move to the new printer.
   
   
    
6. After your changes are complete, exit out of the window by clicking the red X  in the upper right hand of the corner.