Word will not print some documents.. says no printer found.

Debbie Stowers 0 Reputation points
2026-09-13T20:36:36.23+00:00

I have tried unsuccessfully to print a document here and there and it gives me a message no printers available. I can print from other documents just word

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-13T20:36:52.9133333+00:00

    Since printing works from other documents and the error happens only in some Word files, start with app-specific checks in Word, then verify Windows can still see the printer.

    1. In Word, go to File > Print.
      • Make sure the correct physical printer is selected.
      • If Microsoft Print to PDF or Print to file is selected, Word may save instead of printing.
      • Check that the printer status shows Ready.
    2. In the same Print screen, verify the document print settings.
      • Confirm page size, orientation, and layout match the document and printer.
      • Check the pages to print setting. If only certain documents fail, an incorrect page range can block printing.
    3. Test whether the issue is document-specific.
      • Print a different file from Word.
      • Print from another app such as Notepad or Paint.
      • If other apps print normally, continue with Word and Office troubleshooting.
    4. Print a Windows test page.
      • In Windows 11: Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
      • Select the printer, then Printer properties.
      • On the General tab, select Print Test Page.
      • If the test page fails, the issue is with the printer connection or driver rather than the Word document.
    5. Restart the print spooler service.
      • Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
      • Find Print Spooler.
      • Right-click it and select Restart.
    6. Update or reinstall the printer driver.
      • Open Start > Device Manager.
      • Expand Printers.
      • Right-click the printer and select Update driver.
      • If no update is found, select Uninstall device, then restart the PC so Windows can reinstall the driver automatically.
      • The printer manufacturer’s website can also be used to get the latest driver.
    7. Repair Microsoft 365.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
      • Select Microsoft 365 > Advanced options.
      • Run Quick Repair and test printing.
      • If the problem continues, run Online Repair.
    8. If Word still reports no printer for only certain files, close Word, restart the PC, reopen the affected document, and try again.

    If the problem is only with a few Word documents after the printer is confirmed working, the issue is likely in Word’s document-level print settings rather than the printer itself.


    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Ferdinand Nanalig 32,840 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-13T21:36:49.8366667+00:00

    Hi, let me help you.

    Open Word, go to File, then Options, go to Display, and under Printing options, uncheck Print Document Properties. Then try printing again.

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  3. Stefan Blom 351.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-09-14T00:02:12.2133333+00:00

    If you save your Word document as a PDF and then open the PDF in Adobe Reader, can you print from Adobe Reader?

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
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