Printer Preview Shows Jumbled Document

Heather Lenz 0 Reputation points
2026-08-22T14:01:06.3133333+00:00

When I go to print my document, the margins are changed of what is written are changed and items from the following page are pushed onto the first page. I have even tried to save the document as a pdf and print from that, and the same thing happens. How do I fix this?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For education | Windows
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  1. Stefan Blom 349.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-08-22T15:48:32.28+00:00

    I have even tried to save the document as a pdf and print from that, and the same thing happens.

    Are you saying that the problem occurs in a PDF as you create the PDF, or only when you print the PDF? The distinction here is important.

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  2. Suzanne S Barnhill 278.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-08-23T01:31:31.4+00:00

    At File | Options | Advanced: Print, make sure that "Scale content for A4 or 8.5 x 11" paper sizes" is not checked.

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  3. Helen Luu 2,045 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-22T15:57:49.7633333+00:00

    Hello Heather Lenz,

    Based on the information you provided, I understand that you are experiencing an issue with the margins of your Word document when attempting to print.

    To begin troubleshooting, please verify that the document page size matches the paper size you intend to use for printing. You can check this in Word by going to Layout > Size and confirming that the selected paper size is correct.

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    In addition, when printing the document, please ensure that the paper size selected in the printer settings matches both:

    • The page size configured in the Word document.
    • The physical paper loaded in the printer.

    A mismatch between these settings may cause the document margins or layout to appear incorrectly when printed.

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    As an additional test, you can try printing the document from another device or from a newly created Windows user profile. This can help determine whether the issue is related to the current Word or Windows configuration. For guidance on creating and managing Windows user accounts, please refer to the following Microsoft article: Manage User Accounts in Windows | Microsoft Support

    Could you also let me know if there are any specific elements in the document, such as comments, tracked changes, text boxes, headers/footers, or other content that appear unusual when printing? And does the issue occur when you print a new test document?

    Since the AI assistant has already suggested several helpful troubleshooting steps, could you please try those recommendations and let me know whether the issue persists?

    If possible, please share any updates, screenshots, or additional details regarding the printing behavior after completing the suggested checks. This will help me better understand the situation and provide further assistance.

    Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

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  4. AI answer

    2026-08-22T14:01:25.86+00:00

    This usually points to a Word print-layout or printer-setting mismatch rather than a problem with the document content itself. Since the same layout shift happens when printing the PDF, start with the printer and page setup path first.

    1. Test whether the issue is specific to this document or app.
      • Try printing a different file from Word.
      • Try printing from another app such as Notepad or Paint.
      • If other apps print correctly, continue with the Word checks below.
    2. Verify the correct printer is selected.
      • In Word, go to File > Print.
      • Make sure the intended printer is selected.
      • Confirm the printer status shows Ready.
      • Also make sure Print to PDF or Print to file is not selected.
    3. Check Word print settings that can reflow the page.
      • In File > Print, confirm the page size, orientation, and layout match the document and printer.
      • Check the pages to print setting and make sure it is not using an unexpected page range.
      • If the document is supposed to be A4, make sure A4 is the default paper size for the printer.
      • Check that Scale content is not enabled at File > Options > Advanced > Print.
    4. Check whether Word is reserving space for markup.
      • A large blank or shaded area at the right side of the page can be the markup area for comments or tracked changes.
      • In the Print dialog, disable Print Markup and check whether the preview returns to normal.
    5. Check for margins outside the printer’s printable area.
      • If Word shows a message that margins are outside the printable area, some text can be truncated or pushed onto another page.
      • Open File > Print and review the margins.
      • If Word warns that one or more margins are outside the printable area, choose Fix to increase them to the minimum permitted setting.
      • If the document has multiple sections, correct the margins in each affected section.
    6. Find the printer’s minimum printable margins.
      • Open WordPad.
      • Go to File > Page Setup.
      • Set Left, Right, Top, and Bottom margins to zero.
      • Windows will reset them to the minimum supported by the printer.
      • Use those minimum values as a guide for the Word document margins.
    7. 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, troubleshoot the printer or driver first.
    8. If the printer works elsewhere, repair Office.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
      • Select Microsoft 365 > Advanced options.
      • Run Quick Repair.
      • If the issue continues, run Online Repair.
    9. Restart the print spooler.
      • Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
      • Find Print Spooler.
      • Right-click it and select Restart.

    If the preview specifically changes only when entering print view, the most likely causes from the available guidance are:

    • wrong printer or paper size selected
    • Scale content enabled
    • Print Markup reserving space
    • margins set closer to the paper edge than the printer can print
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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