How to Set a Default Printer on Mac

Updated 9 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Setting a default printer on your Mac makes it the printer macOS selects automatically when you print, so you do not have to choose it each time. You can set one specific printer or let macOS use the printer you used most recently; first, make sure the printer is added to your Mac and available.

What You’ll Need

A Mac with access to System Settings (called System Preferences on older macOS versions).
A printer already added to your Mac, either through Wi-Fi, a wired connection, or a print server.
The printer powered on and connected to the same network as your Mac, if it is a network printer.

Step-by-Step

Check that the printer is available. Turn it on and confirm that it is connected to your Mac or network. If you have not added it yet, open the Apple menu and choose System Settings, then select Printers & Scanners. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax (or the add button), choose the printer from the list, and follow the prompts. On older macOS versions, open System Preferences and choose Printers & Scanners.
Open printer settings. In System Settings, choose Printers & Scanners in the sidebar. If you do not see it, scroll down the sidebar or use the search field in System Settings. On older macOS, the same pane is named Printers & Scanners in System Preferences.
Find the Default printer menu. Look for the Default printer pop-up menu near the bottom of the printer list or settings pane. You may need to scroll within the window. The menu may currently show Last Printer Used.
Choose your preferred printer. Open the menu and select the exact printer you want macOS to choose by default. If you see similar names, check the printer’s location or connection details in the list before selecting. Your choice is saved automatically; there is usually no Apply or Save button.
Confirm the selection. Return to the printer list and check that the Default printer menu displays the printer you selected. Open a document, choose File > Print, and check the printer shown in the print dialog. You can cancel the test job after confirming the selection.
Change it back when needed. To make macOS select the most recently used printer instead, reopen the Default printer menu and choose Last Printer Used. You can change this setting again at any time.

Common Mistakes

Choosing “Last Printer Used” by mistake: This option does not keep one printer fixed as the default. It changes according to the printer used most recently. Choose a printer by name for a consistent default.
Assuming the default setting overrides every app: Some apps remember the printer selected in their own print dialog, or restore settings from a previous job. Check the printer shown in the app before printing.
Selecting a duplicate or unavailable printer: A printer can appear more than once if it has been added through different connections. Choose the entry that is currently online and use it for a test print.
Looking in the wrong settings area: The default is set in macOS printer settings, not in the printer’s own control panel. Some macOS versions call the overall settings app System Preferences rather than System Settings.
Expecting the setting to install a printer: Selecting a default does not add a printer, connect it to Wi-Fi, or install missing software. Add and verify the printer first.

Tips

If you regularly print to one home or office printer, select it by name rather than using Last Printer Used.
If you use different printers in different places, Last Printer Used can be convenient, but check the destination before sending confidential or important documents.
Give each printer a recognizable name where possible. Clear names make it easier to distinguish a nearby printer from a shared or remote one.
For a network printer, keep the Mac and printer connected to the appropriate network. A default selection cannot make an offline printer reachable.
Before printing a large document, check the printer, page range, paper size, and number of copies in the print dialog. The default printer setting does not determine those job options.

Troubleshooting

The Default printer menu is missing: Make sure you are in Printers & Scanners, not a printer’s individual options page. Scroll down the settings pane or enlarge the window. If the menu is still absent, check whether your macOS version displays printer defaults differently; you can still select a printer in the print dialog for an individual job.

Your printer does not appear in the list: Confirm that it is powered on and connected by cable or to the same network as your Mac. In Printers & Scanners, use the add-printer control to search for it. If it is a shared printer, confirm that the host computer or print server is available. For setup details, consult the printer maker’s instructions.

The printer is selected but jobs do not print: Check for paper, ink or toner, error lights, and a paused or offline status. Open the printer’s queue from Printers & Scanners and see whether a job is stalled. Cancel a stuck job if appropriate, then try a small test document. Restarting the printer and reconnecting it to the network can help restore communication.

Another printer keeps appearing in an app: Open that app’s print dialog and choose the intended printer there. Some apps retain the last printer used for that app or document, independently of the system default. Quit and reopen the app if it continues to show an outdated choice.

The setting will not stay changed: Reopen Printers & Scanners and check the menu again. Make sure you selected a named printer rather than Last Printer Used. If the selected device has been removed or renamed, add the correct printer again and set it as the default.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set a default printer on a Mac?
Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, then choose the printer from the Default printer menu. On older macOS versions, use System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.

What does “Last Printer Used” mean?
macOS chooses whichever printer you most recently printed to. It is a changing choice, not a fixed default device.

Will every app use my Mac’s default printer?
Most print dialogs start with the system default, but an app may remember a printer from a previous job. Check the printer name in the dialog before printing.

Can I set a printer as default if it is offline?
You may be able to select it if it is already installed, but jobs will not print until the Mac can communicate with it. Restore its connection and check its status.

Do I need to restart my Mac?
No. The default printer choice normally takes effect as soon as you select it. Reopen an app’s print dialog if it continues to show an older selection.

How do I remove a printer I no longer use?
In Printers & Scanners, select the printer and use the remove control. If it was the default, choose another printer or Last Printer Used afterward.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.