Pressing the Print Button Asks You to Save a Document

Every time I press the print button on my PC, a “Save” window comes up. It doesn’t matter what program I use. I can’t get this to stop. What should I do?

It sounds like your default printer has been changed to something other than a printer.

Huh?!

It sounds weird, but it’s true. There are printers, and then there are programs that act like printers. They do things like generate PDF documents, and save special files. To fix this, you need to open up the Printers panel.

Windows XP

1. Click Start.
2. Click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Printers and Faxes.

Windows Vista

1. Click Start.
2. Click Control Panel.
3. Click Hardware and Sound.
4. Click Printers.

When the Printers window opens, look for the default printer. The default printer will have a small “check mark” icon next to it, which none of the other printers will have. Odds are that your default printer has been set to “Microsoft Office Document Image Writer”, or some PDF generator.

Now find the printer that should be your default printer. Unless you have changed its name, it will have the same name as the printer model, i.e. HP Photosmart. Right-click on this printer, and choose “Set as default printer”. Close the Printers window, return to your document, and try to print it again.