Microsoft Print to PDF ignores A4 page size, while Word PDF export removes floating images

Question

Microsoft Print to PDF ignores A4 page size, while Word PDF export removes floating images

NinaDosRios 20

Title: Microsoft Print to PDF ignores A4 page size, while Word PDF export removes floating images

Post: I create educational materials in Microsoft Word in both A4 and US Letter versions. My A4 Word documents are correctly set to 8.27 × 11.69 inches (210 × 297 mm) in Page Setup.

I have two separate problems:

Microsoft Print to PDF ignores the A4 document size. Even when Word clearly shows the document as A4 and the Print screen also shows A4, the resulting PDF is actually 8.5 × 11 inches (US Letter).

Word’s native PDF export removes floating images. My coloring pages contain large images that are intentionally set as floating objects because they need to be positioned and resized precisely. When I use Save As PDF or other native PDF export methods, the text, title, and copyright remain, but the main floating image disappears completely from the PDF.

I have confirmed that:

The original DOCX contains the image correctly.
Printing through Microsoft Print to PDF preserves the image, but outputs Letter instead of A4.
Native Word PDF export preserves A4 size, but removes the floating image.
The same problem occurs consistently enough that it affects my workflow across multiple documents.

I need a reliable way to create PDFs that preserve both:

the exact page size already set in Word, whether A4 or Letter
all floating images and their exact placement

I produce both A4 and Letter editions regularly, so manually changing a hidden printer default between A4 and Letter for every document is not a practical solution.

Is there a way to make Microsoft Print to PDF automatically respect the Word document’s page size, or to make Word’s PDF export preserve floating images exactly as displayed in the document?

Environment: Windows 11 Microsoft Word / Microsoft 365 Microsoft Print to PDFTitle:

Microsoft Print to PDF ignores A4 page size, while Word PDF export removes floating images

Post:
I create educational materials in Microsoft Word in both A4 and US Letter versions. My A4 Word documents are correctly set to 8.27 × 11.69 inches (210 × 297 mm) in Page Setup.

I have two separate problems:

Microsoft Print to PDF ignores the A4 document size.
Even when Word clearly shows the document as A4 and the Print screen also shows A4, the resulting PDF is actually 8.5 × 11 inches (US Letter).

Word’s native PDF export removes floating images.
My coloring pages contain large images that are intentionally set as floating objects because they need to be positioned and resized precisely. When I use Save As PDF or other native PDF export methods, the text, title, and copyright remain, but the main floating image disappears completely from the PDF.

I have confirmed that:

The original DOCX contains the image correctly.
Printing through Microsoft Print to PDF preserves the image, but outputs Letter instead of A4.
Native Word PDF export preserves A4 size, but removes the floating image.
The same problem occurs consistently enough that it affects my workflow across multiple documents.

I need a reliable way to create PDFs that preserve both:

the exact page size already set in Word, whether A4 or Letter
all floating images and their exact placement

I produce both A4 and Letter editions regularly, so manually changing a hidden printer default between A4 and Letter for every document is not a practical solution.

Is there a way to make Microsoft Print to PDF automatically respect the Word document’s page size, or to make Word’s PDF export preserve floating images exactly as displayed in the document?

Environment:
Windows 11
Microsoft Word / Microsoft 365
Microsoft Print to PDF

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Answer 1

Hello Nina,

Thank you for posting your question on the Microsoft Windows Forum!

Based on your description, these appear to be two separate issues:

Microsoft Print to PDF is defaulting to Letter-sized output even when the Word document is A4.
Word's native PDF export is not rendering certain floating images correctly.Since you've already confirmed that:

The DOCX displays correctly.
Microsoft Print to PDF preserves the image.
Word PDF export preserves the paper size.
The issue is reproducible across multiple documents.

I would recommend troubleshooting each issue independently.

Step 1: Verify Microsoft Print to PDF Paper Size Settings

Although Word shows A4, Microsoft Print to PDF ultimately relies on the printer driver's paper settings.

Open:

Settings
→ Bluetooth & devices
→ Printers & scanners
→ Microsoft Print to PDF
→ Printing preferences

Verify that the default paper size is set to:

A4

Then test a new A4 document.

Also verify that Word's Print screen shows:

Printer: Microsoft Print to PDF
Paper Size: A4

before generating the PDF.

Step 2: Test the Floating Image Layout

Since the image disappears only during Word's PDF export, the issue may be related to the image wrapping method.

Select one of the affected images and temporarily change:

Wrap Text

from a floating layout such as:

In Front of Text
Behind Text
Tight
Through

to:

Square

Then export to PDF again.

If the image appears correctly, the issue is likely related to how Word is processing a specific floating object type during PDF generation.

Step 3: Check Object Anchoring

For one of the affected images:

Right-click the image.
Select:

Size and Position

Verify:
- "Move object with text"
- "Lock anchor"

Temporarily disable custom positioning and test whether the PDF export includes the image.

Step 4: Check Whether the Image Is Linked or Embedded

Go to:

File
→ Info
→ Edit Links to Files

(if available)

Confirm the image is embedded and not linked to an external source.

Linked images sometimes behave differently during export.

Microsoft Documentation

For reference:

My current suspicion is that the floating-image issue is related to a specific image wrapping/anchoring configuration, while the Print to PDF issue is related to the Microsoft Print to PDF driver's paper-size handling. The results of the image wrapping test should help identify which object property is triggering the PDF export problem.

I hope this answer has provided you with useful information. If so, please click "Accept answer" and consider upvoting it. This helps other community members find useful solutions to similar problems.