Windows Printing Options

Setting Default Printing Options for Windows

When you print from any software application, the printer uses the print job settings that are specified in the Printing Preferences window. You can specify your most common printing options and save the options for reuse so that you do not have to change the settings each time that you print.

For example, if you want to print on both sides of the paper for most jobs, specify 2-sided printing in Printing Preferences.

1. On your computer, navigate to the list of printers:

   • For Windows Server 2012 and later, click Start > Settings > Printers.

   • For Windows 8, click Start > Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

   • For Windows 10, click Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

   • For Windows 11 and later, click Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
     
     Note: If you are using a custom Start menu application, the application can change the navigation path to your list of printers.
     
     

2. For your printer, select Printing preferences:

   • For Windows Server 2012 and later, or Windows 8, right-click the icon for your printer, then click Printing preferences.

   • For Windows 10, click the icon for your printer, then click Manage > Printing preferences.

   • For Windows 11 and later, click the icon for your printer, then click Printing preferences.

3. In the Printing Preferences window, click a tab, then select the options. To save the settings, click OK.
   
   Note: For more information about Windows print driver options, click the Help button (?) in the Printing Preferences window.

Selecting Printing Options for an Individual Job for Windows

To use special printing options for a particular job, you can change the Printing Preferences before sending the job to the printer.

1. With the document open in your software application, access the print settings. For most software applications, click File > Print or press CTRL+P for Windows.

2. To open the Printing Preferences window, select your printer, then click the Printer Properties, Print Options, or Preferences button. The title of the button can vary, depending on your application.

3. Click a tab in the Printing Preferences window, then make selections.

4. To save your selections and close the Printing Preferences window, click OK.

5. To send the job to the printer, click Print.

Selecting Printing Defaults in Windows for a Shared Network Printer

1. On your computer, navigate to the list of printers:

   • For Windows Server 2012 and later, click Start > Settings > Printers.

   • For Windows 8, click Start > Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

   • For Windows 10, click Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

   • For Windows 11 and later, click Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
     
     Note: If the Control Panel icon does not appear on the desktop, right-click the desktop, then select Personalize. Select Control Panel Home > Devices and Printers.
     
     

2. For your printer, select Printer properties:

   • For Windows Server 2012 and later or Windows 8, right-click the icon for your printer, then click Printing properties.

   • For Windows 10, click the icon for your printer, then click Manage > Printer properties.

   • For Windows 11 and later, click the icon for your printer, then click Printing preferences.

3. In the printer Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.

4. On the Advanced tab, click Printing Defaults.

5. On the print driver tabs, make your selections as needed, then click Apply.

6. To save the settings, click OK.

Saving a Set of Commonly Used Printing Options for Windows

You can define and save a set of options, so that you can apply them to future print jobs. After you save a set of print options, they are available for selection from the Saved Settings or Presets list, or the 1–Touch area, if available.

To save a set of printing options:

1. With the document open in your application, click File > Print.

2. To open the Printing Preferences window, select your printer, then click Properties or Preferences.

3. In the Printing Properties window, click the tabs, then select the required settings.

4. In the Printing Properties window, click Saved Settings or Presets, then click Save As.

5. Type a name for the saved setting or preset, then choose preset options, if available:

   • Choose an icon for the preset.

   • To enable the preset as 1–Touch, select 1–Touch Preset.

   • To share the preset in all print drivers, select Show this Preset in All Drivers.

6. Click OK.

7. To print with these settings:

   • From the Saved Settings or Presets list, select the name of the preset.

   • For a 1–Touch preset, click 1–Touch, then click the required 1–Touch preset.