If you frequently switch printers and want to check which one is available, you don’t necessarily have to go through the settings – you can create a “folder” and then pin it to the Desktop, so it’s always handy.
Right-click on a free area of the Desktop, then select New | Shortcut from the pop-up menu. In the Enter item location field, type “Explorer shell: PrintersFolder” and click Next. Choose a name for the shortcut (for example, “Printers”) and click Finish.