I have a very irritating situation with my computer. If I remote in to it, my default printer gets reset. It resets to the first printer (alphabetically in the port name) in the list, which is a Zebra label printer and it really messes things up. I think it’s a bug in Windows 10 with RDP. I already have the “Let Windows manage my default printer” option turned off. Does anyone have an idea for me?
![]() |
There are isolated problems with current patches, but they are well-known and documented on this site. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
Windows 10 resets default printer after RDP session
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Windows » Windows 10 » Questions: Win10 » Windows 10 resets default printer after RDP session
- This topic has 12 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 11 months ago.
AuthorTopicWS79schultz
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 17, 2016 at 11:14 am #504536Viewing 9 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
joep517
AskWoody MVP -
WS79schultz
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 19, 2016 at 3:04 pm #1552566 -
joep517
AskWoody MVP -
WS79schultz
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 25, 2016 at 12:06 pm #1553482I’m experimenting with that, JoeP517. Thank you for that suggestion. So far that seems to have made a difference. For anyone reading this, I understood that when you remote in to another computer, if you do not need the printers, before making the connection, go to Remote Desktop Connections –>Local Resources and clear the check box by Printers.
-
-
access-mdb
AskWoody MVPFebruary 20, 2016 at 3:18 am #1552620My setup is that my printer is on the remote PC, and I don’t appear to have that problem. However, it happens that the printer name is first on that list. Perhaps renaming the printer so it’s first will fix the problem for you. I realise that’s it’s a fudge, but it may help until MS fix the problem.
I take it you’ve told them?
Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell
-
WS79schultz
AskWoody Lounger
-
-
WSbmellesmoen
AskWoody Lounger -
bbearren
AskWoody MVPApril 17, 2016 at 8:10 am #1560499I have a very irritating situation with my computer. If I remote in to it, my default printer gets reset. It resets to the first printer (alphabetically in the port name) in the list, which is a Zebra label printer and it really messes things up. I think it’s a bug in Windows 10 with RDP. I already have the “Let Windows manage my default printer” option turned off. Does anyone have an idea for me?
I use RDP to connect to my Windows 10 NAS, my default printer is a network printer, it’s not the first one on the list, and it doesn’t change.
Try this: RDP into your computer, turn on “Let Windows manage my default printer” (I use that setting), then start a print job. In the print dialog box that opens, select the printer you want as the default to actually run the print job.
Windows should then set that printer (which is now the last one used) as the default printer, and keep it as default unless you RDP into the computer and use a different printer for a print job. That different printer would then become the default printer.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users". -
WS79schultz
AskWoody LoungerApril 21, 2016 at 10:16 am #1560985I don’t want to contradict you bbearen, but it is a problem for us. It’s true, if I can remember to always remember to deselect ‘Printers’ when I RDP, it won’t be a problem. I understand what you suggested, but it causes a real problem with Microsoft Access. We use Microsoft Access for our database, and unless you go in to each report and manually set a printer to be used all the time, Access goes with the default printer. When a report is set to print on a Letter sized piece of paper and suddenly you are trying to print to a label, it causes problems.
I have yet to see any benefit in this new option MS placed in W10.
-
b
AskWoody_MVP -
joep517
AskWoody MVPApril 21, 2016 at 11:03 pm #1561039See if the last post at User’s default printers reset every session on Terminal Services helps. The description of the policy in gpedit.msc seems like it might be what you want.
--Joe
-
WSsfosteel
AskWoody LoungerJune 21, 2016 at 8:46 am #1568206I have a very irritating situation with my computer. If I remote in to it, my default printer gets reset. It resets to the first printer (alphabetically in the port name) in the list, which is a Zebra label printer and it really messes things up. I think it’s a bug in Windows 10 with RDP. I already have the “Let Windows manage my default printer” option turned off. Does anyone have an idea for me?
OMG that is exactly the situation I am having. It has been bugging me for some time now. What I hate is that when I come in to work and want to print something like an email, my default printer has been changed to the Zebra label printer!
Viewing 9 reply threads -

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
Rufus is available from the MSFT Store
by
PL1
4 hours, 27 minutes ago -
Microsoft : Ending USB-C® Port Confusion
by
Alex5723
6 hours, 36 minutes ago -
KB5061768 update for Intel vPro processor
by
drmark
2 hours, 50 minutes ago -
Outlook 365 classic has exhausted all shared resources
by
drmark
4 hours, 47 minutes ago -
My Simple Word 2010 Macro Is Not Working
by
mbennett555
2 hours, 22 minutes ago -
Office gets current release
by
Susan Bradley
4 hours, 59 minutes ago -
FBI: Still Using One of These Old Routers? It’s Vulnerable to Hackers
by
Alex5723
1 day, 19 hours ago -
Windows AI Local Only no NPU required!
by
RetiredGeek
1 day, 3 hours ago -
Stop the OneDrive defaults
by
CWBillow
1 day, 19 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 27868 released to Canary
by
joep517
2 days, 5 hours ago -
X Suspends Encrypted DMs
by
Alex5723
2 days, 8 hours ago -
WSJ : My Robot and Me AI generated movie
by
Alex5723
2 days, 8 hours ago -
Botnet hacks 9,000+ ASUS routers to add persistent SSH backdoor
by
Alex5723
2 days, 8 hours ago -
OpenAI model sabotages shutdown code
by
Cybertooth
2 days, 9 hours ago -
Backup and access old e-mails after company e-mail address is terminated
by
M W Leijendekker
1 day, 21 hours ago -
Enabling Secureboot
by
ITguy
2 days, 4 hours ago -
Windows hosting exposes additional bugs
by
Susan Bradley
2 days, 17 hours ago -
No more rounded corners??
by
CWBillow
2 days, 13 hours ago -
Android 15 and IPV6
by
Win7and10
2 days, 3 hours ago -
KB5058405 might fail to install with recovery error 0xc0000098 in ACPI.sys
by
Susan Bradley
3 days, 5 hours ago -
T-Mobile’s T-Life App has a “Screen Recording Tool” Turned on
by
Alex5723
3 days, 8 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.4202 (24H2) released to Release Preview
by
joep517
3 days, 3 hours ago -
Windows Update orchestration platform to update all software
by
Alex5723
3 days, 15 hours ago -
May preview updates
by
Susan Bradley
3 days, 3 hours ago -
Microsoft releases KB5061977 Windows 11 24H2, Server 2025 emergency out of band
by
Alex5723
2 days, 18 hours ago -
Just got this pop-up page while browsing
by
Alex5723
3 days, 8 hours ago -
KB5058379 / KB 5061768 Failures
by
crown
3 days, 5 hours ago -
Windows 10 23H2 Good to Update to ?
by
jkitc
2 days, 7 hours ago -
At last – installation of 24H2
by
Botswana12
4 days, 7 hours ago -
MS-DEFCON 4: As good as it gets
by
Susan Bradley
5 hours, 15 minutes ago
Recent blog posts
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2025 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.