Are you wondering “Why is my HP printer not printing Microsoft Word documents?” This article will reveal the reasons behind this issue and how to fix it.
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HP Printer Not Printing Microsoft Word Documents [Reasons]
The following are the reasons why your HP printer is not printing Microsoft word documents:
i. Corrupted content or files in documents
ii. Microsoft Word itself has issues
iii. Outdated or corrupted printer driver
iv. Issues with the Windows operating system
v. Hardware or connectivity problem
HP Printer Not Printing Microsoft Word Documents [Troubleshooting Steps]
Determining which of the above reasons is responsible for your HP printer not printing word documents problem shouldn’t be done through assumptions and guesswork. Instead, follow the steps we will discuss below on how to troubleshoot the problem.
Test the Printing Function in Other Word Documents – Step 1
As we said above, the reason your HP printer does not print Word documents could be a result of corrupted content or files in documents. Therefore, you need to confirm if Microsoft Word itself can print before you begin to reinstall software and drivers.
Follow the instructions below on how to test whether Microsoft Word can indeed print depending on the version you are using.
How to Test Whether MS Word Can Print (MS Word 2007 to MS Word 2019)
Do the following to test whether MS Word can print:
Step 1: Open a completely new Word document.
Step 2: On the document’s first line, type “=rand(10)”. After that, press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
Note: Once you do step 2, the command will insert a sample text in 10 paragraphs.
Step 3: Print the document.
Step 4: If you can print successfully, use another font, or insert a drawing object, table, or clip art.
i. To use another font, do the following:
a. Highlight the sample text.
b. Click-open the tab labeled “Home”.
c. Click on the group labeled “Font” and then choose another font from the list.
ii. To insert a drawing object, do the following:
a. Click on “Insert”.
b. Select “Shapes”.
c. Double-click on any of the shapes.
iii. To insert a table, do the following:
a. Click on “Insert”.
b. Click on “Table”.
c. Click on “Insert Table”.
d. Choose how many rows and columns you want.
e. Click “OK”.
iv. To insert clip art, do the following:
a. Click on the tab labeled “Insert”.
b. Click on “Online Pictures. (For MS Word 2007 and MS Word 2010, click on “Insert”, and then click on “Clip Art”).
c. On the pane for “Clip Art”, don’t type anything in the box for “Search text”; just click on “GO”. (For MS Word 2013, type a search term in the search box for “Office. com Clip Art” and then click “Search”).
d. Right-click on any of the pictures.
e. Click on “Insert”.
f. Close the task pane for “Clip Art”.
Step 6: Try to print again.
The failure or success of the test above determines whether the MS Word program itself is able to print generally. You can also learn about the type of graphics or fonts that the Word program is unable to print.
If the test page doesn’t have any errors, but you can’t print the initial document that leads to the issue, it means that the original word document is corrupted. This is further confirmed if the same word document can be printed on a different computer. Such occurrence is possible because not all file corruption symptoms are evident on every computer.
Hence, you can either create a new document or try to troubleshoot the corrupted document.
If no document can be printed from MS Word in the least, or if it can’t print a certain graphic type or font, do the troubleshooting step below.
Test the Printing Function in Other Programs – Step 2
It could be that the printing issue affects MS Word only or it affects other programs. The scope of the issue can potentially reveal the root cause.
Therefore, do these tests to determine what other programs are affected apart from Word or the problem affects Word only.
Test the Printing Function in WordPad
How to Print a Plain Text in WordPad
To print a plain text in WordPad, do the following steps:
Step 1: Click on “Start”.
Step 2: Go to “Programs”.
Step 3: Click on “Accessories”.
Step 4: Click on “WordPad”.
Note: For Windows 8: Press your keyboard’s “Windows” key, and then type “WordPad”. After that, click on the icon for “WordPad”.
For Windows 7: Go to “All Programs”, and click on “Accessories”. After that, click on “WordPad”.
Step 5: Once WordPad opens, type “This is a test”.
Step 6: Click on the menu labeled “File”.
Step 7: Click on “Print”.
Step 8: Click “OK”.
Step 9: Click “Print”. This should print the WordPad file.
How to Print Certain Images or Fonts in WordPad
If during step 1, you found it difficult to print certain graphics images or fonts in MS Word, try to print those images and fonts again in WordPad. Hence, you need to insert those same images and use the exact fonts that caused the problem in Word.
To print certain images or fonts in WordPad, do the following steps:
Step 1: Click on “Insert”.
Step 2: Click on “Object”.
Note: For Windows 7 and Windows 8, choose “Insert Object on the tab labeled “Home”.
Step 3: Follow any or both of these instructions:
i. To create a new image, click on “Create New”. After that, choose an object type from the listed objects. For instance, choose “Paintbrush Picture” if you want to create a test bitmap.
ii. To insert an image from an already existing file, click on “Create from File”. After that, click on “Browse” to look for and choose a file.
Step 4: Click on “File”.
Step 5: Click on “Print”.
Step 6: Click “OK”.
Step 7: Click “Print”.
If you are unable to print from the WordPad program, use other programs such as your internet browser or another MS office program.
Alternatively, you can print a test page from your HP printer.
How to Print a Test Page from your HP Printer
To print a test page from your HP printer, do the following steps:
Step 1: Click on “Start” on your computer, click on “Settings”, before you finally click on “Printers”.
Note: For Windows 8: Press your keyboard’s “Windows” key, and then type “Printers”. After that, click on “Settings”, before clicking on “Devices and Printers”.
For Windows 7: Click on the “Start” button, and then click on “Devices and Printers”.
For Windows Vista: Click on the “Start” button, and then click on “Printers”.
Step 2: Right-click on your HP printer’s icon.
Step 3: Click on “Properties”.
Step 4: Click on the tab labeled “General”.
Step 5: Click on “Print Test Page”.
In case the test page fails to print, or another Windows programs fail to print, then the problem might be from your HP printer driver, operating system, internet connectivity, or hardware.
If the problem only occurs when you try to print a certain font, it could be that the font file is corrupted; hence, the problem. If you are particular about using that font, you will have to reinstall the font.
If other programs can print except Microsoft Word, we advise that you continue troubleshooting and move to the step below.
The issue might still be resolved using the Windows printing help and troubleshooters. The steps below will guide you on how to use this feature:
Step 1: Click on “Start”.
Step 2: Click on “Settings”.
Step 3: Type “Printer problems”.
Step 4: Click on “Find and fix problems with printing”.
Note: For Windows 10: We recommend that you click on this link to learn how to fix printer problems using this Windows troubleshooter.
For Windows 7 and Windows 8: Run the troubleshooter by clicking on “Start”, type “Printing”, before clicking on “Find and fix printing problems”.
For Windows Vista: Click on “Start”, and click on “Help and Support”. After that, search for “Printing troubleshoot” or “printing”.
Test the Printing Function using Other Printer Drivers – Step 3
If your HP printer will not print word documents from Microsoft Word but will print from other programs then it could be due to an issue with your printer driver. Unlike most of the other Microsoft-based programs, MS Word requires that the printer in use functions at optimal quality. Anything less than the best from the printer might cause MS Word not to print. Hence, before other programs begin to get affected by the driver, MS Word is usually the first to get affected.
Therefore, to confirm if your HP printer driver is indeed responsible for the printing problem, you can test the printing function using other drivers. If the printing issue happens only when certain image types or fonts are used, you should test the printing function on another printer.
In case you don’t have access to another printer, find out if your HP printer has an updated version or if there is an altogether different driver for your HP printer. If there is such, we recommend that you use that to test the printing function.
If the problem happens even when only-text documents are printed, you can try to print from MS Word using a generic, text-only printer driver. Do the steps below depending on your Windows version.
Note: To perform these tasks on a certain Windows version, you will need access to the Windows installation files either via a network drive or installation CD-ROM.
How to Test Printing using a Generic Text-Only Printer Driver on Windows 10
To test the printing function using a generic, text-only printer driver on Windows 10, do the steps below:
Step 1: Click on the Cortana icon to open your computer’s Windows search box.
Step 2: Type “Printers”.
Step 3: Click on “Printers & Scanners”.
Step 4: Click on “Add a printer or scanner”.
Step 5: Choose “Generic/Text Only”.
Step 6: Open a Microsoft Word document.
Step 7: Try to print using the printer option “Generic/Text Only”.
Step 8: Save the file as “Test.prn” in the Documents folder.
How to Test Printing using a Generic Text-Only Printer Driver on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
To test the printing function using a generic, text-only printer driver on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8, do the steps below:
Step 1: Do any of the actions below depending on your Windows version:
For Windows 7 and Windows 8: Click on “Start”, then click on “Devices and Printers”.
For Windows Vista: Click on “Start”, and then click on “Printers”.
Step 2: Click on “Add a printer” once the “Add Printer Wizard” screen comes up.
Step 3: Click on “Add a local printer”.
Step 4: Select the checkbox for “Use an existing port” if it is not selected. Ensure that you change the option of the dropdown to “File: “Print to file). After that, click on “Next”.
Step 5: Click on “Generic” in the list for “Manufacturers”.
Step 6: Click on “Next”.
Step 7: Don’t change the printer name, leave it as it is.
Step 8: Click on “Next”.
Step 9: Click on “Finish”.
Step 10: Once the installation of the driver is finished, open a Microsoft Word document, and do the instructions below depending on your MS Word version:
Word 2013 and newer versions: Click on “File”, and then click on “Print”.
Word 2010: Click on the printer dropdown menu. After that, click on “Print”.
Word 2007: Click on the Microsoft Office Button. After that, click on “Print”.
Other Word versions: Click the checkbox for “Print to File”, and then click on “OK”.
Step 11: Change the save destination to “My Document”.
Step 12: Save the file name as “Test.prn”.
Step 13: Click on “Print” or “OK” depending on the version you are using.
If MS Word displayed an error message when your printed text-only files but didn’t get an error when you used the generic, text-only printer driver, then it means your HP printer might be corrupted.
In this case, you will have to uninstall and then reinstall your HP printer driver. To do so, click this link: HP Printer Errors and Solutions – Reinstall your Printer Drivers, and then follow the instructions under the “Reinstall your Printer Drivers” section.
If you still experience the problem despite using another printer driver, move to the next troubleshooting step.
Read this: HP Printer Not Printing [Issues & Solutions] to learn how to resolve other HP printer not printing problems that you might encounter.
Test the Microsoft Word Program – Step 4
Once you are certain that the HP printer not printing from word problem is not peculiar to a certain document or driver but the MS Word program, then it is time to test the program. To do this, you will have to reset user options in MS Word.
How to Reset User Options and Registry Settings in MS Word
Warning: Incorrectly modifying the registry via the Registry Editor or another method could lead to serious issues. The issues might even necessitate the reinstallation of your computer’s operating system.
To reset a registry key manually, it has to be deleted first.
Important: Make sure that you export any registry key first of all before deleting it. This will ensure that you have a backup in case you need to restore the computer’s functionality that the key provides.
Step 1: Close all the Microsoft Office programs that are open.
Step 2: Open the Registry Editor.
Step 3: Find and choose the registry key you intend to delete.
The following are the locations of the Word registry key:
Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, and Word 2016: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word
Word 2013: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word
Word 2010: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word
Step 4: Click on “File”.
Step 5: Click on “Export”.
Step 6: Type a name that the registry key backup copy will be saved as.
Step 7: Click “Save”.
Step 8: Ensure that you select the correct key that you exported.
Step 9: In the menu for “Edit”, click on “Delete”.
Step 10: When you get a prompt asking any of the questions below, click on “Yes”:
- “Are you sure you want to delete this key?”
- “Are you sure you want to delete this key and all of its subkeys?”
Step 11: Close the Registry Editor.
After deleting the registry key, restart the Microsoft Word program. MS Word will then run a Setup program to rebuild the registry key correctly.
After doing the above, confirm if the problem has been resolved.
If the problem persists, reinstall any corrupted or missing program files by running the Detect and Repair for your MS Word.
How to Run Detect and Repair
To run Detect and Repair, do the steps below depending on your MS Word version.
How to Run Detect and Repair on MS Word 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019
To run Detect and Repair on MS Word 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019, do the following steps:
Step 1: Close all the Microsoft Office programs that are open.
Step 2: Click on “Start”.
Step 3: Type “Add remove”.
Step 4: Open the item “Add or Remove Programs”.
Step 5: Click on “Change or Remove Programs”.
Step 6: Click on “Microsoft Office (Microsoft Office Word)” or your currently installed Word or Office version.
Step 7: Click on “Modify” or “Change”.
Step 8: Click on “Repair Word (Repair Office) or “Repair”.
Step 9: Click on “Next” or “Continue”.
How to Run Detect and Repair on MS Word 2007
To run Detect and Repair on MS Word 2007, do the following steps:
Step 1: Open MS Word 2007.
Step 2: Click on the button for “Microsoft Office”.
Step 3: Click on “Word Options”.
Step 4: Click on “Resources”.
Step 5: Click “Diagnose”.
Step 6: Follow the on-screen prompts.
If your HP printer not printing documents from MS Word persists after doing all of the above, move to the troubleshooting step below.
Test Windows for Problems – Step 5
To test your Windows operating system for problems that might be affecting the print function of MS Word, you will have to start your computer in Safe Mode. After that, you will then test print to a file in Microsoft Word.
How to Start Safe Mode in Windows 10
There are two methods you can use to start Safe Mode in Windows 10; we discuss both methods below:
How to Start Safe Mode in Windows 10 from Settings
To start Safe Mode in Windows 10 from settings, do these steps:
Step 1: Press the “Windows” and “I” keys on your keyboard at the same time to open your computer’s settings.
In case the Settings fail to open that way, click on the Windows “Start” button on the taskbar and then click on the icon for “Settings”.
Step 2: Click on “Update & Security”.
Step 3: Click on “Recovery”.
Step 4: Under the “Advanced Setup” option, click on “Restart now”.
Step 5: Once your computer restarts and displays the screen “Choose an option”, click on “Troubleshoot”.
Step 6: Click on “Advanced options”.
Step 7: Click on “Startup Settings”.
Step 8: Click on “Restart”. You might get a prompt to enter your BitLocker recovery key if you had set up one.
Step 9: After your computer restarts, an option list will be displayed. Press F4 on your keyboard or click option 4 to start your computer in Safe Mode. Press F5 on your keyboard or click option 5 if you want to use an internet connection to start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking.
How to Start Safe Mode in Windows 10 from the Windows Sign-in Screen
To start Safe Mode in Windows 10 from the Windows Sign-in screen, do these steps:
Step 1: With the Windows sign-in screen open, press down the “Shift” key on your keyboard while you click on “Power” and then “Restart”.
Step 2: Once your computer restarts and displays the screen “Choose an option”, click on “Troubleshoot”.
Step 3: Click on “Advanced options”.
Step 4: Click on “Startup Settings”.
Step 5: Click on “Restart”. You might get a prompt to enter your BitLocker recovery key if you had set up one.
Step 6: After your computer restarts, an option list will be displayed. Press F4 on your keyboard or click option 4 to start your computer in Safe Mode. Press F5 on your keyboard or click option 5 if you want to use an internet connection to start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking.
How to Start Safe Mode in Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
To start Safe Mode in Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8, do these steps:
Step 1: Remove all external media from your PC such as CDs, DVDs, USB flash drives, etc.
Step 2: Click on “Start”.
Step 3: Click on the arrow beside the button labeled “Lock”.
Step 4: Click on “Restart”.
Note: For Windows 8, go to the menu for “Charms” and then click on “Settings”. After that, click “Power”, before clicking on “Restart”.
Step 5: Press down the “F8” key on your keyboard while your PC restarts.
Note: Ensure that you press the “F8” before your screen displays the Windows logo. In case the logo is displayed before you do this, you have to restart your PC. Hence, you will have to wait for the login prompt to appear before you can restart your PC.
Step 6: Once the screen for “Advanced Boot Options” opens, select the option “Safe Mode” using the keyboard’s arrow keys. After that, press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
Step 7: Sign in using an account with administrative credentials.
In case the printing issue from MS Word doesn’t occur while in Safe Mode, find out the cause of the issue with the aid of clean-boot troubleshooting.
If none of the troubleshooting above works, try this next set of troubleshooting steps…
HP Printer Not Printing Microsoft Word Documents [Other Troubleshooting Steps]
1. Reboot All your Devices
Reboot your computer, HP printer, and even your router. As simple as this task might be, it might just fix the problem since this process frees up CPU and RAM.
2. Check your Printer for the Following
i. The printer’s power cable, Ethernet, and USB cable (if in use) are properly connected.
ii. Confirm that your HP printer is connected to your wireless network if you are using a network printer.
iii. Confirm that there are no HP printer errors which you can easily identify via the LED indicators on your printer or error messages.
iv. Ensure there are no paper jams.
3. Uninstall and Reinstall your HP Printer
To learn how to uninstall and reinstall your HP printer, click HP Printer Won’t Scan to Computer – How to Uninstall and then Reinstall HP Printer Software, and follow the instructions under the “How to Uninstall and then Reinstall HP Printer Software” section.
4. Delete your Printer Driver at the Root Level
To delete your HP printer at the root level, do the steps below:
Step 1: Open the Windows search box, and type “Programs and features”.
Step 2: Click on “Programs and Features” from the search results.
Step 3: Click on your HP printer.
Step 4: Click on “Uninstall”.
Step 5: Open the Windows search box and search for “Devices and Printers”.
Step 6: Click on “Devices and Printers” from the search results.
Step 7: Right-click on your HP printer in the windows for “Devices and Printers”.
Step 8: Click on “Remove Device” or “Delete”.
Step 9: Press the “Windows” and “R” keys to open the Run app.
Step 10: Type “printui.exe /s”.
Step 11: Click “OK” or press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
Step 12: Click on the tab labeled “Drivers”.
Step 13: Click on your HP printer driver.
Step 14: Click on the “Remove” button.
Step 15: Click on “OK”.
Step 16: Click on “Apply”.
Step 17: Click on “OK”.
Step 18: Exit Devices and Printers.