Print later default in customer invoices

Thank you for posting your concern here in the Community, Atropos.

I'd like to share what I know about QuickBooks Desktop preferences.

You can change the default delivery method when sending forms. This way, you're able to set your invoices to be sent through email and turn off the Print later option.

Let me show you how:

1. Go to the Edit menu.
2. Click Preferences.
3. Select Send Forms.
4. Select the Company Preferences tab.
5. In the Delivery Method Default field, select Email.
6. Go to the My Preferences tab and make sure the Auto-check the "Email Later" checkbox if customer's Preferred Delivery Method is e-mail box is checked.
7. Click the OK button.
   
   

Once done, you can close and then reopen QuickBooks. It will refresh the program and implement all changes to your sales forms accordingly.

You can also check this article about customizing forms in QuickBooks: Use and customize form templates

I'll be here if you have further questions and clarifications. Have a great week!

Thanks for the response.  However, this does not have an effect on the "Print Later" check box.  After making these changes and restarting QB, the "Print Later" check box is still checked when creating a new customer invoice.

I appreciate you for taking the time to perform the steps provided by my colleague above and for sharing its result, @Atropos.

Currently, the ability to turn off the printing option for customers in QBDT is indeed a great idea. While this option is not yet available, I’d recommend sending feedback directly to our Developer for the inclusion of this option in future product enhancements. I'll make sure to do the same thing on my end.

Here's how to send a feedback request:

1. Go to Help.
2. Click Send Feedback Online.
3. Choose Product Suggestion.
4. Enter your feature request.
5. Click Send Feedback.

For now, you'll need to manually uncheck the box when you create a new invoice for your customer.

Also, I recommend visiting our Firm of the Future site. This is where we share recent happenings and future developments, such as updates to newly added features.

Additionally, you're able to create and customize form templates to control how they look and what information to include. To do this, you can check out this article: Use and customize form templates. It also includes steps about importing or exporting form templates.

Leave a comment below if you have further questions or any other concerns. I'm here ready to assist further. Have a good one.

It's part of the autofill settings (like how it enters the next invoice number for you)

you need to create a new invoice, make sure all of the settings are the way you want them to stay and save it. your next new blank should be the same (excepting for customer specific settings)

@Archie_B 

The OP never said they want to email invoices.  And the email setting has nothing to do with the print setting.  Did you even try it?

This worked perfectly!  Thank you for sharing.

This worked perfectly.  Thanks for sharing!

I have a question along the same lines - can we mass uncheck boxes that are already checked? We have hundreds of boxes that have been checked throughout the time we have been in QB and is there a benefit to unchecking that box? Do the boxes being checked have an effect on our file size?

Nice to have you joined this thread, @SMI.

Currently, the option to mass unchecks invoices isn't available. You'll want to manually open each invoice and uncheck the Print later box.

Another way is to utilize a third-party app that lets you uncheck those invoices at once. Simply hover to the App Center inside your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) and look for an app from there.

I can see having the option to uncheck them at once can aid you in seamlessly running your business. I'd recommend sending your feedback to our Development team. This way, they can review your suggestion and might consider adding it in future updates. I'll show you how.

1. Go to the Help menu.
2. Select Send Feedback Online.
3. Then click Product Suggestion.
4. Enter your suggestions and details then click Send Feedback.

Additionally, I'm attaching this article that can guide you through the steps in case you want to modify your invoice: Use and customize form templates.

You can always count on me whenever you need help managing your invoice and QBDT. I'm always here to back you up!

What I did was File - Print Forms - Invoices - Select All, then Print to PDF. 

Then deleted the PDF. 

All invoices are now marked as Printed.

This was a great thread...thanks to all, and I hope my input also helps someone!

I used to have the Print Later defaulted in all of my client invoices.  All of a sudden, the field is not checked off.  How can I turn it back on in QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2020?

This has been several months but I didn't see a response.  You would simply perform the same (but opposite) action as stated above.  Create an invoice (or whichever document you are wanting to change this status on), click the Print Later button to "on" and then save the invoice.  Your next invoice should default the check box to "on".

THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMENT!!!! I've been breaking my head trying to figure out why one of my QB companies has the "to print" box ticked as the default for writing new checks, and the other one is unticked as the default! I've been searching online and reviewing my settings for over an hour, and this is the correct answer!! 

I created a new check with all of the settings as I wished them to continue, save & close, and then the next "write check" brought up all the same settings. THANK YOU CRISTINA!

This is incorrect and unhelpful. There may not be a setting to undo, but the requested task can be accomplished by creating a new invoice, unchecking the option, and saving it. As explained by other users above. 

wrong. it defaults to print later. nobody at quickbooks ever actually used the program in the real world.