Internet Explorer may not use the default system printer if you change printers

Microsoft Internet Explorer may not print to the default system printer if you change printers. This behavior may occur if you change the default system printer after you print an HTML document to the default printer, and then open a new HTML document and print it. The document may instead be printed on the old printer. The problem does not occur with XML documents.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1

Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Server 2003

Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP Service Pack 2

To apply this fix, add an AlwaysUseDefaultPrinter String value to the following registry key for each user who requires this functionality:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

Follow these steps, and then quit Registry Editor:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click String Value.
4. Type AlwaysUseDefaultPrinter, and then press ENTER.
5. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
6. Type yes, and then click OK.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

This hotfix and the associated registry setting make a more general change. Internet Explorer no longer contains a default printer for the current running instance. Instead, Internet Explorer always uses the default system printer when a print command is issued. This includes commands from automating Internet Explorer, from running it as a stand-alone program, or from hosting the Web Browser control.