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Print command results only in an invitation to save.

Mark Tovey 0 Reputation points
2026-02-06T15:13:43.56+00:00

I have a new Dell laptop. When using Word, Outlook, PowerPoint etc if a click on 'Print' it takes me to a save page. If I save something (a short note for example) and then click on Print it takes me back to Save. This seems to be a fault but I don't know where. Help! At the moment I cannot print anything.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. DaveM121 864K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-06T15:48:49.7733333+00:00

    1

    On the print dialog, ensure your local printer is selected, not the 'Microsoft Print to PDF' or 'XPS Printer' virtual printers.

    2

    If your printer is correctly selected, not a virtual printer, and you are asked to save the file, save it, then check the resulting file's properties, is that a .prn file that is being saved?

    If so, try this fix.

    Close all open Applications

    Open the old Control Panel (click the Start Button, then just type Control and press Enter)

    At the top right of Control Panel, set View to icons

    Select Devices and Printers

    Right click your printer and choose 'Printer Properties'

    On the resulting dialog, choose the Ports tab

    Is the Port set to Print to File?

    If so, change that to LPT1 (if your printer is connected by USB) or WSD (if your printer is wireless) and save that setting

    Then try printing again.

    3 people found this answer helpful.

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  1. BH 15 Reputation points
    2026-04-05T20:53:58.6633333+00:00

    I experienced the same problem with Windows 11. I was directed to save a file rather than print to pdf. I found that Windows Print to PDF disappeared from the installed printers list. I tried everything that's been suggested by other users - uninstall, reinstall, refresh drivers, etc. Nothing was working. I happened to read a comment from a user who used an HP printer and recently installed the HP Smart app. She uninstalled the app and MS print to PDF reappeared. I also use an HP printer and recently installed HP Smart. I repeated what the other user did and it worked!

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-06T15:13:55.5033333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you are encountering an issue where the print command in Microsoft Office applications is prompting you to save the document instead of sending it directly to the printer. This can happen if the printer settings are misconfigured or if the application is set to print to a file instead of a physical printer.

    Here are a few steps you can try to resolve this issue:

    1. Check Printer Settings: Ensure that the correct printer is selected in the print dialog. Sometimes, the default printer may be set to a virtual printer (like Microsoft Print to PDF) instead of your actual printer.
    2. Update Printer Drivers: Make sure that your printer drivers are up to date. You can usually find the latest drivers on the manufacturer's website.
    3. Check Print Spooler: Restarting the Print Spooler service can sometimes resolve printing issues. You can do this by typing services.msc in the Run dialog (Win + R), finding the Print Spooler service, and restarting it.
    4. Test Printing from Other Applications: Try printing from a different application to see if the issue persists. This can help determine if the problem is specific to Microsoft Office applications.
    5. Repair Office Installation: If the issue continues, consider repairing your Office installation through the Control Panel.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consult additional troubleshooting resources or support for further assistance.

    References:

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. Mark Tovey 0 Reputation points
    2026-02-07T15:16:06.5933333+00:00

    Thank you.

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