Each device driver can be configured as to allowed formats AND most preferred.
Connect the device: Right click the DEVICE icon: Configure: <add or remove ticks. Use the green arrows on right to reorder (no tick are ignored, so the overall is all that counts).

This is where you make changes for existing uses , NOT in preferences.

Once configured, the Configured version is stored in the Calibre Configuration Folder.
eg
Code:
device_drivers_SMART_DEVICE_APP.py.json
Back that up. You can also copy that to a second Caliber)
Note: some have pairs of files. Grab all with the same root name