Win 32 application doesn't support Print Preview

Hello CHRIS PHILLIPPS,

The message "Win32 application doesn't support print preview" is behavior related to the modern print dialog introduced in recent versions, which doesn't support print preview for older Win32-based apps like Silhouette.

The fact that it stopped working a few days ago suggests a Windows Update may have reset a setting. Please try this:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Print\UnifiedPrintDialog
3. If the key doesn't exist, create it.
4. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named PreferLegacyPrintDialog and set its value to 1.
5. Restart the Silhouette application and test print preview.

This tells Windows to use the legacy print dialog, which supports print preview for Win32 apps. If a recent Windows Update reset this, you may need to reapply it after future updates.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

I will try these suggestions and return with my observations thank you

The issue is typically caused by a problem in the Windows print subsystem, the printer driver, or the specific app’s use of the Windows print APIs, not by a general lack of Win32 print preview support.

Based on similar Windows printing issues in the context, use these steps to troubleshoot and resolve it:

1. Test printing and preview from another app
   • Open Word or WordPad.
   • Create a simple document and use File → Print.
   • If print preview and printing work there, the problem is likely specific to the Silhouette program.
   • If preview fails or printing does not work in other apps, the issue is with the printer driver or Windows print system.
2. Check for printer driver issues
   • Make sure the latest printer driver from the printer manufacturer is installed. Out‑of‑date or incompatible drivers can cause preview failures in some applications while others still work.
   • If the problem appears only in certain apps (like Edge in the reference, or your Silhouette program), updating the printer driver is still recommended because some apps are more sensitive to driver issues.
3. Verify that a real printer is selected
   • In the Silhouette program’s Print dialog, confirm that a physical printer is selected, not a virtual device such as Microsoft Print to PDF or XPS Document Writer.
   • If a virtual printer is selected, change it to the actual printer and test preview again.
4. Test with another printer (if available)
   • If another printer is installed (network or local), select it in the Silhouette program and try print preview.
   • If preview works with another printer, the issue is tied to the original printer’s driver or configuration.
5. Reset the print spooler if jobs are stuck or behaving oddly
   • Open Run (Windows key + R), type services.msc, press Enter.
   • In Services, find Print Spooler, right‑click and choose Stop.
   • Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers and delete all files in that folder (this clears stuck print jobs).
   • Go back to Services, right‑click Print Spooler, choose Start.
   • Reopen the Silhouette program and test print preview again.
6. Check for Windows updates
   • Install any pending Windows updates. Some print/preview issues in Windows 8.1 and later were fixed by cumulative updates and hotfixes; similar fixes for Windows 11 are also delivered via Windows Update.
7. If the issue started “a few days ago” after a change
   • If a printer driver, Silhouette software update, or Windows update was installed just before the issue started, try:
     • Reinstalling or rolling back the printer driver.
     • Repairing or reinstalling the Silhouette software.

If print preview and printing work correctly in other applications after these steps, but still fail only in the Silhouette program, the remaining cause is likely within that program itself, and contacting the Silhouette vendor support for an app‑specific fix would be the next step.

References:

• Troubleshoot print issues in Microsoft Edge
• Uncommanded Printer Operation - Microsoft Q&A