Tag Archives: default printer

Tweaking Windows 10: Don’t Let Windows Manage my Default Printer

Newsletter Reprints, ,

A reprint from the PC410 Security Newsletter:
 
Let Windows manage my default printer, in Windows 10
 
This is that ‘too clever’ item in Windows 10, which, unannounced, manages your default printer to the last printer you used. So you set it to use the Brother printer, but then you printed a file using the “Microsoft Print to PDF” selection. Windows changes that to your default. While some home users may find this helpful, an office with multiple printers, print-to-PDF drivers, and check printers will find this to be a waste of pre-printed forms, paper, and patience.

To turn off this feature, go to the Settings app, Devices, scroll down and set “Let Windows manage my default printer” to Off.

Taming Windows 10: Browser Defaults

Definitions, ,

A reprint from the PC410 Security Newsletter:

Default browser settings in Windows 10

The browser default for Windows 10 is Edge, and it’s not ready for use on many websites, especially sites with advanced usage of forms. Switching the browser default to Internet Explorer 11 is an easy fix, or, even better, switching to either Google Chrome or Firefox, both of which protect users from evil sites better than Microsoft browsers, which are, in fairness, target number 1 for evil website developers.

To change the default browser, go to Settings, System, Default Apps, and in the Web Browser category, click on Edge, and select from the installed browsers in the list that appears.

Sometimes, Windows 10 will argue the point. Another way to set default apps is to go to Control Panel, Programs, Default Programs, Set Default Programs, find the program in the list on the left side, and on the right, click ‘Set this program as default.’