Word background batch doc print to PDF - Change Default to NOT 'print markup'

Question

I print multiple word docs at once by selecting 10 of them in explorer and 'right clicking' and choose 'print' so I can batch print to pdf faster. As there are over 100 docs, I would rather not open each and every one of them to print, and so use the explorer method to print 10 at a time. These are work in progress copies, so the track changes items are still on, but we want an in-progress clean set. I would like to know if there is an easy way to turn off the 'print markup' or in review tab select the 'no markup' by default (without opening each file) for printing purposes.
Can you help with this?

Answer 1

Hello @LN Arsenault

Unfortunately, Word does not provide any global setting to turn off “Print Markup” for multiple documents being batch‑printed from File Explorer. 

Besides, you can try to use a VBA batch‑print macro as my guidance:

1/ Prepare your files 

• Put all the Word documents you want to print into "one specific folder" (e.g., C:\BatchPrint). 
• Ensure your Default Printer in Windows is set to "Microsoft Print to PDF" or your preferred PDF creator. 

2/ The VBA Code 

Copy the code below. it is designed to specifically disable the printing of markups. 

Sub BatchPrintWithoutMarkup()

Dim fileDialog As FileDialog

Dim selectedFolder As String

Dim fileName As String

Dim doc As Document

' Select the folder containing your documents

Set fileDialog = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)

If fileDialog.Show = -1 Then

selectedFolder = fileDialog.SelectedItems(1) & "\"

Else

Exit Sub

End If

fileName = Dir(selectedFolder & "*.doc*")

' Speed up the process by hiding the work in the background

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

Do While fileName <> ""

Set doc = Documents.Open(FileName:=selectedFolder & fileName, Visible:=False)

' CRITICAL: Set the view to "No Markup" and hide revisions for printing

doc.ActiveWindow.View.ShowRevisionsAndComments = False

doc.ActiveWindow.View.RevisionsView = wdRevisionsViewFinal

' Print the document (Item:=wdPrintDocumentContent ensures no markup prints)

doc.PrintOut _

Range:=wdPrintAllDocument, _

Item:=wdPrintDocumentContent, _

Copies:=1

' Close without saving changes to ensure the original files stay "Dirty"

doc.Close SaveChanges:=wdDoNotSaveChanges

fileName = Dir

Loop

Application.ScreenUpdating = True

MsgBox "Batch printing complete!", vbInformation

End Sub

3/ How to Run It

• Open Word and press "Alt + F11" to open the Visual Basic editor.
• In the top menu, go to "Insert -> Module".
• Paste the code above into the blank white window.
• Press "F5" or click the green "Run" arrow in the toolbar.
• A folder picker will appear. Select the folder where your 100+ docs are stored

Finally, this automated VBA method provides a clean batch print of 100+ documents by instantly hiding all track changes, saving you from the tedious manual task while keeping your original files untouched.

If you still need my assistance, please come back with screenshots or any additional details so I can review it again and see if there’s anything more I can help you with. 

Have a nice day! 

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Answer 2

The available context does not describe any way to change Word’s default “Print Markup” / “No Markup” behavior globally for multiple documents, nor any method to batch‑update that setting for many files without opening them. It also does not document a way to alter the default print options used by the File Explorer right‑click → Print batch operation.

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References:

• Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word
• Print in black and white
• You cannot print multiple copies of a Word 2007 document
• Universal Print Known Issues
• Support for label printers in Universal Print
• Printer will print entire document but not select pages - Microsoft Q&A
• I want to ALWAYS open Word files in Draft view AUTOMATICALLY. How can I do this? - Microsoft Q&A
• How to globally turn off autosave for all documents? - Microsoft Q&A
• Subdocument Formatting - Microsoft Q&A
• Why does WORD ask to save a doc that hasn't been edited? - Microsoft Q&A