How to Set Print Entire Workbook as Default in Excel
Question details
The user wants to configure Excel so that 'Print Entire Workbook' is automatically selected as the default option instead of 'Print Active Sheets'.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Preparing to print a multi-sheet workbook without having to manually change the print scope each time.
- Observed behavior
- Excel always defaults to 'Print Active Sheets' when the Print dialog is opened, requiring manual adjustment for users who frequently need to print the whole workbook.
Verify that your printer has enough paper and ink, as accidentally sending a massive, multi-sheet workbook to the printer can quickly consume resources.
Manually Select Print Entire Workbook (Recommended)
Because Excel is hardcoded to default to 'Print Active Sheets' to prevent paper waste, the most reliable and safest method is to manually select the entire workbook option at the time of printing.
Microsoft intentionally designed Excel to default to the active sheet to avoid accidental bulk printing. While frustrating for some workflows, changing this setting manually takes only a second and requires no advanced technical setup.
Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the Excel ribbon, then select 'Print' from the left-hand menu (or press Ctrl + P).
Under the 'Settings' section, locate the first dropdown menu, which will currently be set to 'Print Active Sheets'.
Click the dropdown and select 'Print Entire Workbook' from the list of options.
Verify your print preview updates to show all pages in the workbook, then click the large 'Print' button.
Use a VBA Macro to Automate Printing
If you frequently need to print the entire workbook and want to bypass the manual dropdown selection, you can create a VBA macro to execute the command instantly.
Print the Entire Workbook Easily in WPS Spreadsheet
While setting a permanent print default isn't natively supported by standard spreadsheet programs, WPS Spreadsheet offers an incredibly intuitive and fast Print dialog, making it seamless to manage your printing scopes alongside full Microsoft Excel format compatibility.
- 1. Open Your Workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your multi-sheet document.
- 2. Access the Print Interface: Click the 'Menu' button in the top left and select 'Print', or use the keyboard shortcut 'Ctrl + P'.
- 3. Select Print Entire Workbook: In the Print dialog box, locate the 'Print what' section and choose the 'Entire workbook' radio button.
- 4. Confirm and Print: Review your printer selection and click 'OK' to print all sheets in the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I permanently change the default print setting via the Windows Registry?
No. The default 'Print Active Sheets' behavior is hardcoded into Excel's core application architecture by design. It cannot be permanently changed via the Windows Registry, Group Policy, or Excel's Advanced Options.
Why does Excel default to printing only the active sheets?
This is a built-in safety measure designed by Microsoft to prevent users from accidentally wasting paper, ink, and printer time. Large workbooks can contain dozens of sheets and thousands of rows, which could cause massive print queues if accidentally triggered.
How do I print multiple specific sheets instead of the whole workbook?
Hold down the 'Ctrl' key and click on the specific sheet tabs you want to print at the bottom of your Excel window. Once they are highlighted, go to File > Print. The default 'Print Active Sheets' option will now print all of your manually selected sheets.
Will saving a Custom View remember my Print Entire Workbook setting?
No. While Custom Views in Excel can save specific worksheet-level print settings like margins, orientation, and print areas, they cannot override the application-level default to print only the active sheets upon opening the Print menu.
