How to Change Printer Settings to Color on Windows 10?

When printing documents or images, you may want to change the printer settings to color for better quality or for specific print jobs. By default, printers may be set to print in black and white (grayscale), but you can easily switch to color printing in Windows 10. This article will guide you through the steps to change your printer settings to color, regardless of the program you’re using to print.

1. Change Printer Settings from Windows 10 Settings

If you need to adjust the color settings for your printer directly from Windows 10, you can access it through the Printers & Scanners settings.

Steps to change to color printing:

1. Open Settings:
   • Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Devices:
   • Click on Devices, and then select Printers & Scanners from the left-hand menu.
3. Select Your Printer:
   • Under the Printers & Scanners section, find your active printer and click on it.
4. Open Printer Preferences:
   • Click on Manage to open the printer management settings.
   • Select Printing Preferences to open the printer’s preferences menu.
5. Change the Print Mode to Color:
   • In the Printing Preferences window, navigate to the Color tab or a similar section (this may vary by printer model).
   • Select Color instead of Grayscale or Black & White.
6. Save Settings:
   • Once you’ve selected Color, click OK or Apply to save the changes.
7. Print Your Document:
   • Now, when you print a document, it should print in color.

2. Change Color Settings via the Print Dialog Box

If you don’t want to go through the settings menu every time you print, you can also adjust the color settings directly from the Print dialog box in most applications, like Microsoft Word, Google Chrome, or Adobe Reader.

Steps to change print color via the Print dialog box:

1. Open the Document:
   • Open the document or image you want to print.
2. Open the Print Dialog Box:
   • Press Ctrl + P to open the print dialog box, or go to File > Print.
3. Choose Your Printer:
   • Select your printer from the list of available printers.
4. Click on Printer Properties:
   • In the print dialog box, click on the Printer Properties or Preferences button (this can vary by software).
5. Set the Printer to Color:
   • Under the Color or Quality tab (or similar), choose Color instead of Grayscale or Black & White.
6. Confirm and Print:
   • After selecting Color, click OK to confirm, then click Print to start the print job in color.

3. Check Printer-Specific Software (for Advanced Settings)

Some printers, especially high-end models or those from manufacturers like HP, Canon, or Epson, may come with their own software that allows more advanced printing options. These software suites typically offer more granular control over print quality, color management, and other print settings.

Steps to use printer-specific software:

1. Open the Printer Software:
   • Check if your printer came with dedicated software or download it from the printer manufacturer’s website.
2. Access Print Settings:
   • Within the printer software, locate the Print Settings or Preferences section.
3. Change Color Settings:
   • Look for a section that allows you to choose between Color and Grayscale or Black & White. Make sure Color is selected.
4. Save the Settings:
   • Apply and save the changes to ensure that the printer will print in color by default.

4. Adjust Color Settings for Specific Applications

Many programs, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Reader, let you set print color preferences for each print job individually. Here’s how to do it in a few popular applications:

For Microsoft Word:

1. Open the Document:
   • Open the Word document you want to print.
2. Go to Print Settings:
   • Click on File > Print.
3. Choose Printer Properties:
   • In the Print menu, click on Printer Properties.
4. Set Color Preferences:
   • In the Printer Properties window, go to the Color tab and select Color.
5. Print Your Document:
   • Click OK and then print your document.

For Google Chrome (Web Pages):

1. Open the Page to Print:
   • Navigate to the webpage you want to print.
2. Open Print Dialog:
   • Press Ctrl + P (or go to the three-dot menu > Print).
3. Choose Printer Preferences:
   • In the print dialog box, click on More settings.
4. Select Color:
   • Ensure that Color is selected in the Color section.
5. Print the Page:
   • After adjusting settings, click Print.

For Adobe Acrobat Reader:

1. Open the PDF File:
   • Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader and open the PDF you want to print.
2. Open Print Settings:
   • Click on File > Print.
3. Choose Printer Preferences:
   • In the print dialog, click on Properties or Preferences.
4. Set Printer to Color:
   • Make sure the Color option is selected in the Color or Print Quality tab.
5. Print Your Document:
   • Click OK and then Print.

5. Reset Printer Settings to Default

If you’ve made multiple changes to your printer settings and want to revert to the default settings, you can reset your printer settings.

Steps to reset printer settings:

1. Open Settings:
   • Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Devices:
   • Click on Devices and then go to Printers & Scanners.
3. Select Printer:
   • Click on the printer you want to reset.
4. Open Printer Preferences:
   • Click Manage > Printing Preferences.
5. Reset to Defaults:
   • In the Printing Preferences menu, click on Restore Defaults or reset the color settings manually.

Conclusion

Changing your printer settings to color on Windows 10 is a simple process, whether you’re using the Settings app, the Print dialog box, or printer-specific software. The key is to locate the Color settings within the print preferences or properties and ensure you choose the color option over grayscale. If you frequently print in color, setting your default print mode to Color can save you time in the future.