Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Can't locate Thunderbird printer setup/settings.

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 61 views
  • Last reply by Matt

Electrojim
Electrojim
more options

Running Thunderbird 115.4.3 (64-bit). I can't locate the setup and settings for my printer(s); that is, I cannot select the printer, specify single- or double-sided printing, print quality, etc. Under the Config Editor, I can see more than a dozen settings for my default HP Inkjet printer, but Thunderbird must have set all this up for me; I have no idea what most of the listings pertain to, and no other printer, like my PDF printer, show up there. I'm used to a Print Preview screen where the printer and its parameters can be set, but when I do a Ctrl+P, Thunderbird takes off and starts printing immediately on the default HP printer. Can someone give me a clue? Thanks.

Running Thunderbird 115.4.3 (64-bit). I can't locate the setup and settings for my printer(s); that is, I cannot select the printer, specify single- or double-sided printing, print quality, etc. Under the Config Editor, I can see more than a dozen settings for my default HP Inkjet printer, but Thunderbird must have set all this up for me; I have no idea what most of the listings pertain to, and no other printer, like my PDF printer, show up there. I'm used to a Print Preview screen where the printer and its parameters can be set, but when I do a Ctrl+P, Thunderbird takes off and starts printing immediately on the default HP printer. Can someone give me a clue? Thanks.

All Replies (3)

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

As far as I am aware Thunderbird only has print preview settings. Every print needs to go via that where the settings are displayed. Do you perhaps have the printing tools addon installed? It offers a ctrl+P print option. It also offers the traditional page settings which where removed when the print preview arrangement was implemented.

https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/printingtools-ng/?src=ss

Electrojim
Electrojim Question owner
more options

Thanks much for the quick reply, Matt. You are absolutely right, it's working now just as you described and, no, I have no add-ons. However, on an incoming email, if I go to File, the Print option does reference a Ctrl+P, but clicking on Print, or using the shortcut, I now get the Print Preview page just fine. This is strange, because a bit ago Thunderbird was bypassing this step and sending data to the printer immediately. Just a fluke, perhaps; I'll keep an eye on it.

While I've got you cornered, do you know, offhand, if there is a way to specify the Windows default System Dialog box for printer selection and setup, rather than the one that looks like the one below? I can get there by clicking a hyperlink at the bottom, but would prefer to skip that step if possible. Many thanks! https://assets-prod.sumo.prod.webservices.mozgcp.net/media/uploads/images/2023-11-17-16-05-22-ed4562.png

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

1. Windows does not have a default as such any longer so each app provides it's own. 2. The addon I linked to offers such a dialog for setting persistent preferences, including header and footer details that are non user set in the base product. 3. The reality is most of us do not change the basic defaults for the printer each time we print, they are set in the operating system and meet general printing needs most of the time unchanged. The choice of double sided Vs single sided perhaps being the dividing feature.