unable to print from office365 application (Windows)

Because Notepad prints successfully while Word, Excel, and PowerPoint do not, test and correct the Microsoft 365 application-level print configuration on one affected PC before changing the organization’s network or printer infrastructure.

1. Test a new Microsoft 365 file

On one affected computer:

1. Open Word and select File > New > Blank document.
2. Type a few words, save the document, and print it.
3. Repeat with a new blank Excel workbook and PowerPoint presentation.

Microsoft recommends this test to distinguish damaged documents from an application-wide printing issue.^1^

• If new files print: The original files may contain corruption, an incompatible font, table, image, or drawing object. Try changing the font and copying the content into a new Office file.
• If no new Office file prints: Continue below.

2. Check the Office-specific print selections

Although the printer and network settings have already been reviewed, these selections are stored or presented inside each Office application:

1. In Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, open File > Print.
2. Select the intended physical printer and confirm its status displays Ready.
3. Ensure Microsoft Print to PDF, Print to file, or another virtual printer is not selected.
4. Select All Pages rather than a custom page range.
5. Verify the document’s paper size, orientation, and layout are supported by the printer.
6. Print the new test file.

If only a page range fails, check the document’s actual page numbering. For example, a document whose numbering begins at page 47 requires 47-48, not 1-2, to print its first two numbered pages.^2^

3. Confirm the Windows test page still works

On Windows 11:

1. Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select the printer.
3. Open Printer properties > General.
4. Select Print Test Page.

If this succeeds while all new Office files fail, proceed with Office repair. If it fails, the remaining issue is at the Windows queue or driver layer rather than being limited to Microsoft 365.^3^

4. Repair Microsoft 365

Test this on one computer before deploying it across the organization:

1. Close all Office applications.
2. Right-click Start and select Installed apps.
3. Find Microsoft 365, select the … menu, and choose Modify.
4. Run Quick Repair and test printing.
5. If it still fails, return to the same location and run Online Repair.
6. Restart the computer and test a new Word document.

The repair affects the complete Office suite, not only the selected application. Online Repair is more comprehensive than Quick Repair.^4^

Modifying Microsoft 365 may require local administrator credentials.

5. Conditional Windows and driver fallbacks

If Office repair does not resolve it:

• Restart the spooler: Press Windows+R, enter services.msc, right-click Print Spooler, and select Restart.^3^
• Update Office: In an Office application, select File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.^5^
• Update or reinstall the printer driver: Use the printer manufacturer’s current Windows driver rather than relying only on an automatically installed generic driver. Test this first on one PC. Driver installation may require local or print-administrator credentials.
• If every affected PC uses the same shared print queue, have the print administrator test a newly created queue with the current manufacturer driver. Avoid replacing the production queue until the test queue prints successfully from Office.

If the issue remains, record the Windows version, Microsoft 365 build (File > Account > About), printer model and driver version, whether a new Office file prints, and whether the Windows test page prints. Those results identify whether escalation should go to Microsoft 365 support or the printer/driver vendor.

References

1. Troubleshoot printing problems in Microsoft 365 apps | Microsoft Support
2. Word Document not printing - Microsoft Q&A
3. Windows 10
4. Repair an Office application
5. My Print button and some printer settings aren't available | Microsoft Support