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Browser default action for CTRL+P cannot be prevented

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Warning

The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ.

This article describes that browser default action for CTRL+P cannot be prevented.

Applies to:   Internet Explorer 11, Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 9
Original KB number:   3167077

Summary

Beginning in Internet Explorer 9, you cannot use the preventDefault() or stopPropagation() method to prevent the browser default action for the Ctrl+P key combination. The default action is to open the Print dialog box.

Note

This action applies only if the page is rendered in standards mode.

If you try to attach a different action to this key combination, the attempt fails and the default action persists.

More information

The following example demonstrates this behavior.

If Internet Explorer is running in standards mode, the following code does not prevent the default action:

function handleKeyDown (oEvent) {
    if (oEvent.keyCode == 80 && oEvent.ctrlKey )
    {
        if (oEvent.preventDefault) oEvent.preventDefault();
        if (oEvent.stopPropagation) oEvent.stopPropagation();
    }
}

However, if Internet Explorer is running in IE5.5 quirks mode, you can use the following code, instead:

function handleKeyDown (oEvent) 
{
    if (oEvent.keyCode == 80 && oEvent.ctrlKey )
    {
        // IE Quirks
        oEvent.returnValue = false;
        oEvent.keyCode = 0;
    }
}

Caution

If you change the browser document mode, the page layout may be adversely affected.

Status

This behavior is by design.