Abstract: A print wheel and a method for automatically identifying the print wheel after insertion into a printer or a typewriter which makes it possible to automatically adapt certain printing parameters, such as imprint strength, pitch, ribbon advance step, without the operator having to make separate settings when changing print wheels. The method and print wheel make it possible to identify the type of print wheel in a simple manner in that the angle between a stop element and a coupling element of a pin/slot connection on the hub of the print wheel is given a different size in dependence on the set of type faces provided on the spokes of the print wheel. The blockage of the drive motor during a search run causes control signals to be generated in a control circuit from which the control circuit then calculates the size of the angle by counting the steps required until the zero position of the print wheel is reached and determines identification data from it which are stored as digital signals in a digital memory.