Word doc prints with missing characters, windows 11

Question

P and B characters are missing from a printed Word document

Answer 1

Hi arlene wolkowycki,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I know how frustrating it is when a document looks fine on the screen but doesn’t print properly.

In some cases on Windows 11, Word may not print certain letters correctly. This doesn’t point to a problem with your document or printer hardware and is usually related to the printer driver.

To help narrow it down and get you printing normally again, please try the steps below:

Step 1: Test by printing to PDF

1. Open the document in Word
2. Go to File > Print
3. Select Microsoft Print to PDF
4. Save the file and open the PDF

If the PDF looks correct, that confirms the document itself is fine. In many cases, printing the PDF is a quick workaround while we address the underlying driver issue.

Step 2: Try a different font

1. In Word, press Ctrl + A to select all text
2. Change the font to something standard like Arial
3. Try printing again

Some fonts (especially Times New Roman) can trigger this behavior with certain drivers.

Step 3: Make sure Windows and the printer are fully updated

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update
2. Install all available updates (including Optional updates)
3. Restart the computer

If your printer uses a manufacturer‑specific driver, it’s also worth checking their website for a newer version.

Step 4: Switch to a Microsoft printer driver

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
2. Select your printer and open Printer properties
3. Click Change properties, then open the Advanced tab
4. Under Driver, select Microsoft IPP Class Driver or Microsoft PS Class Driver
5. Apply the change, close Word, reopen it, and test printing again

This has fixed the issue for many users on Windows 11.

If you’re still seeing the issue after trying these steps, just reply and let me know:

• The printer model you’re using
• Whether the PDF prints correctly
• Your Windows version

I’m happy to keep working through this with you.

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Answer 2

The issue of missing characters, such as "P" and "B," in printed Word documents on Windows 11 may be related to a known problem with print jobs. Specifically, there is a known issue where some print jobs may be missing characters starting from the third page onwards in the output. This issue can affect Universal Print printers hosted on the Universal Print connector running Windows Server 2022 and Windows 11. The Windows team is aware of this problem and is working on a fix.

If you are experiencing this issue, it may be helpful to check for any available updates for your Windows operating system and printer drivers, as these updates may contain important fixes and improvements.

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References:

• Universal Print Known Issues
• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 22H2