When you press Ctrl + P (or Command + P on a Mac) in Google Chrome, the browser intercepts the command and launches its own custom Print Preview dialog box. This custom interface is designed to simplify the printing process, offering basic options like layout, paper size, and margins.
However, Chrome’s built-in dialog lacks many advanced features required by professional environments. It often completely ignores advanced printer-specific features like secure PIN printing, specialized tray selection, binding options, and high-end color profiling. If you frequently need access to your printer’s native, full-featured driver interface, having to constantly bypass Chrome’s preview screen by clicking “Print using system dialog” is incredibly tedious. You can disable Chrome’s custom dialog entirely.
How to Disable the Chrome Print Dialog
You can force Chrome to skip its own preview screen and open your OS’s native print dialog by modifying the browser’s launch shortcut.
- Locate the Google Chrome shortcut you normally use to open the browser (on your Desktop, Start Menu, or Taskbar).
- Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
- Ensure you are on the Shortcut tab.
- Locate the Target text box (which usually contains something like
"C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"). - Click inside the Target box, place your cursor at the very end of the line, and press the Spacebar to add a single space.
- Type the following exact command-line switch:
--disable-print-preview - The Target box should now look something like this:
"C:\Program Files\..." --disable-print-preview - Click Apply and then OK.
You must close all running instances of Chrome for the change to take effect. Moving forward, whenever you launch Chrome using that modified shortcut, pressing Ctrl + P will instantly summon your operating system’s native, fully-featured print dialog, bypassing Chrome’s limited preview screen entirely.