I can't print Word documents

Question

When I connect to my printer, it will print all types of document except Word. Can you help?

Answer 1

Hi Liz,

You can try the following steps below that might help in resolving the issue.

1. Open Word and print a different document. If only one file fails, that file may be corrupted.
2. In Word go to File > Print and make sure the correct printer is selected, not “Microsoft Print to PDF” or another device.
3. Update or reinstall the printer driver from the printer manufacturer’s website. Word is more sensitive to driver issues than other apps.
4. Start Word in Safe Mode by pressing Win + R, type winword /safe and try printing. If it works, an add-in is causing the problem.
5. Also try changing the default printer temporarily to Microsoft Print to PDF, then switch back to your printer. This often resets Word’s print settings.
6. If none of these work, repairing Office from Control Panel > Programs > Microsoft 365 > Modify > Quick Repair usually resolves it.

Answer 2

If you're unable to print Word documents while other types of documents print without issue, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check Printer Selection: Ensure that your local printer is selected in the print dialog. Sometimes, the default printer may be set to a virtual printer like 'Microsoft Print to PDF' or 'XPS Printer'.
2. Printer Properties: Right-click on your printer in the Devices and Printers section of the Control Panel and check the printer properties. Make sure the port is not set to "Print to File". Change it to LPT1 (for USB) or WSD (for wireless) if necessary.
3. Test Printing: Try printing a test page from the printer properties to ensure the printer is functioning correctly.
4. Repair Document: If the issue persists with a specific document, you can try repairing it. In Word, go to File > Open, select the document, click the arrow on the Open button, and choose Open and Repair.
5. Reinstall Printer Driver: If the printer driver is corrupted, reinstalling it might resolve the issue. Go to the Devices and Printers section, remove the printer, and then add it again using the Add Printer Wizard.
6. Check Disk Space: Ensure that there is enough disk space on your system drive, as insufficient space can prevent larger print jobs from being processed.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue with printing Word documents.

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References:

• Troubleshoot known issues for printing
• How to troubleshoot damaged documents in Word
• Print command results only in an invitation to save
• Windows Print Spooler remote code execution vulnerability
• A printer connected to the network doesn't print
• A driver is not listed
• A new print driver that you downloaded from the internet has to be installed