Choose Color or Black & White on Windows 11

Questions

  • How do I print in color on Windows 11?
  • How do I print in black and white on Windows 11?
  • How do I switch between color and grayscale in the Windows print dialog?
  • What is Find-Me-Print-Color and when do I use it?
  • Why isn't my color print job printing in color on Windows?
  • How do I change the default color setting for a printer on Windows 11?
  • How do I stop printing in color by default to save my print balance?
  • I don't see a color option in the Windows print dialog — what do I do?

Environment

This article applies to:

  • Who: Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff printing from a Windows 11 computer
  • OS: Windows 11 only
  • Printers: Bowdoin campus printers including Find-Me-Print and Find-Me-Print-Color
Note: For color and black & white printing on a Mac, see Choose Color or Black & White on Mac and Save Print Settings in the Related Articles section.

Resolution

Students — color printing: Student color printing is available at the H&L Library basement and Hatch Science Library. To print in color as a student, you must do both of the following:
  • Select Find-Me-Print-Color as your printer (not the standard Find-Me-Print queue)
  • Set the color mode to Color in the print dialog (see steps below)
Selecting only one or the other will not produce a color print — and if you select Find-Me-Print-Color but print in black & white, you will still be charged the color rate.

Switch between color and black & white for a single print job

  1. Open the document you want to print and press Ctrl + P, or choose File > Print.
  2. In the print dialog, select your printer — Find-Me-Print for black & white, or Find-Me-Print-Color for color (students only at color-capable locations).
  3. Click More settings or Printer properties (the exact label varies by application) to expand the full print options.
  4. Look for a Color or Output Color setting:
    • Choose Black and White or Grayscale to print without color.
    • Choose Color to print in color.
  5. Set any other options you need, then click Print.
Don't see a color option? The color setting location varies by application and printer driver. Try these locations:
  • In the main print dialog under Color or Output
  • Under Printer properties > Paper/Quality tab
  • Under Printer properties > Advanced tab > Graphic section

Change the default color setting for a printer

To make black & white the default so you don't have to change it every time:

  1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
  2. Select the printer you want to change (e.g., Find-Me-Print).
  3. Click Printing preferences.
  4. Find the Color or Output Color setting and change it to Black and White or Grayscale.
  5. Click OK to save. This setting will apply to all future print jobs sent to that printer from any application.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

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