3 Ways To Fix Powerpoint Not Printing Properly

• PowerPoint presentations are printable, which makes it easy to hand copies of slides out as references or learning aids.
• Problems with PowerPoint not printing properly can occur when the slides won’t print or the printed version doesn’t seem to match the on-screen quality.
• Ways to fix these problems include configuring your printer settings correctly, converting the presentation to a PDF, and changing the slide size.

Fix PowerPoint Not Printing Properly by Configuring Printer Settings

Before starting any of these fixes, check the following:

• Your printer is turned on
• It’s connected to the same wireless network as your computer
• It has ink and all the cables are connected properly

Step 1. Open up the PowerPoint presentation you want to print and click File at the top of the window.

Step 2. Click Options at the bottom left.

Step 3. Click Advanced and scroll down until you see the Print options.

Step 4. Click your preferred options. For example, if some text was printing poorly — it may look blurred or out of focus — tick the Print TrueType fonts as graphics option. Similarly, ticking Align transparent graphics at printer resolution ensures everything on the page is printed at the same quality.

Note: Printing in higher quality takes longer and can slow the performance of PowerPoint. Wait for your printing to finish before you start working on PowerPoint again.

Fix PowerPoint Not Printing Properly by Converting Presentations to PDFs

Step 1. If you’re having problems with PowerPoint not printing properly, try converting the whole presentation to a PDF. Begin by opening up your presentation and clicking File, like before. If you have a premium Adobe subscription, just click Save as Adobe PDF.

Step 2. Choose a location to save your new PDF and click Save.

Step 3. If you don’t have an Adobe subscription, you can still create a PDF. Instead of clicking Save as Adobe PDF, click Export.

Step 4. Choose the second option down: Create PDF/XPS Document.

Step 5. Choose where to save the new PDF file, give it a name, and click Publish. Tip: You’ll notice two “Optimize for” options. Make sure you choose Standard, as it’s optimized for better printing.

Step 6. The presentation will now automatically open as a PDF allowing you to print it using the icon at the top left.

Fix PowerPoint Not Printing Properly by Adjusting the Slide Size

Step 1. Sometimes, your slides may be in an extended or widescreen mode. If you notice that the printed presentation is chopping some of the slide content off, this could be the problem. Start by opening your PowerPoint presentation and clicking Design at the top.

Step 2. Look for Slide Size, which you’ll find to the right near the top.

Step 3. Click the dropdown arrow next to Slide Size and you’ll see two options: Standard and Widescreen.

Step 4. Try switching to Standard instead of Widescreen and you should receive a prompt asking if you want to maximize your content or scale it down to fit.

Step 5. Click Ensure Fit to make sure everything fits properly on the new slide size. You should check through the presentation to ensure everything has scaled correctly. For example, on this slide, you can see that some text needs adjusting to ensure it’s all on one line.

Now, when you print your presentation, everything should be neatly on the page and no print cropping should occur.

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• PowerPoint presentations are printable, which makes it easy to hand copies of slides out as references or learning aids.
• Problems with PowerPoint not printing properly can occur when the slides won’t print or the printed version doesn’t seem to match the on-screen quality.
• Ways to fix these problems include configuring your printer settings correctly, converting the presentation to a PDF, and changing the slide size.

Fix PowerPoint Not Printing Properly by Configuring Printer Settings

Before starting any of these fixes, check the following:

• Your printer is turned on
• It’s connected to the same wireless network as your computer
• It has ink and all the cables are connected properly

Step 1. Open up the PowerPoint presentation you want to print and click File at the top of the window.

Step 2. Click Options at the bottom left.

Step 3. Click Advanced and scroll down until you see the Print options.

Step 4. Click your preferred options. For example, if some text was printing poorly — it may look blurred or out of focus — tick the Print TrueType fonts as graphics option. Similarly, ticking Align transparent graphics at printer resolution ensures everything on the page is printed at the same quality.

Note: Printing in higher quality takes longer and can slow the performance of PowerPoint. Wait for your printing to finish before you start working on PowerPoint again.

Fix PowerPoint Not Printing Properly by Converting Presentations to PDFs

Step 1. If you’re having problems with PowerPoint not printing properly, try converting the whole presentation to a PDF. Begin by opening up your presentation and clicking File, like before. If you have a premium Adobe subscription, just click Save as Adobe PDF.

Step 2. Choose a location to save your new PDF and click Save.

Step 3. If you don’t have an Adobe subscription, you can still create a PDF. Instead of clicking Save as Adobe PDF, click Export.

Step 4. Choose the second option down: Create PDF/XPS Document.

Step 5. Choose where to save the new PDF file, give it a name, and click Publish. Tip: You’ll notice two “Optimize for” options. Make sure you choose Standard, as it’s optimized for better printing.

Step 6. The presentation will now automatically open as a PDF allowing you to print it using the icon at the top left.

Fix PowerPoint Not Printing Properly by Adjusting the Slide Size

Step 1. Sometimes, your slides may be in an extended or widescreen mode. If you notice that the printed presentation is chopping some of the slide content off, this could be the problem. Start by opening your PowerPoint presentation and clicking Design at the top.

Step 2. Look for Slide Size, which you’ll find to the right near the top.

Step 3. Click the dropdown arrow next to Slide Size and you’ll see two options: Standard and Widescreen.

Step 4. Try switching to Standard instead of Widescreen and you should receive a prompt asking if you want to maximize your content or scale it down to fit.

Step 5. Click Ensure Fit to make sure everything fits properly on the new slide size. You should check through the presentation to ensure everything has scaled correctly. For example, on this slide, you can see that some text needs adjusting to ensure it’s all on one line.

Now, when you print your presentation, everything should be neatly on the page and no print cropping should occur.

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Basic Fixes

• Restart MS Word: If Word is not printing a document or takes forever to do so, try restarting the app. This will refresh the app and may get rid of the bug that was affecting it.
• Restart Printer: If there’s a connectivity issue with your PC, restarting your printer may help. This establishes a fresh bridge between your PC and the printer.
• Check network connection for wireless printing: If you’re using a wireless printer, ensure you’re not facing any issues with your internet.
• Run one print job at a time: Ensure you have one active printing job at a time. Trying to print multiple documents at once can deplete available memory and CPU for MS Word.

Fix 1: Restart Printer Spool Service

The print spooler, a Windows service managing print jobs, can face problems such as corrupted jobs or errors, affecting printing. Restarting the spooler clears stuck print jobs, enabling new ones to proceed, and resets the spooler, eliminating temporary issues.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run menu. Type services.msc and hit the Enter key.

Step 2: It will open the Services menu. Scroll down to Print Spooler . Right-click on it and open the Properties from the context menu.

Step 3: Select Automatic from the Startup type menu and ensure it shows the running service status.

Fix 2: Re-Install Printer Drivers

If the drivers installed on your PC are faulty, it may affect printing jobs within apps. Therefore, try reinstalling the printer drivers on your PC. This will install a fresh version of drivers that may be free from bugs or corrupted components.

Step 1: Open Device Manager from the Start menu.

Step 2: Expand Print queues . Right-click on your printer from the list.

Step 2: Select Uninstall device from the context menu.

Step 5: Close the Device Manager menu and restart the PC.

Your computer will install the required printer drivers during the reboot process.

Fix 3: Remove and Add the Printer

If the printer and its related components are not installed correctly on your PC, you may have issues printing documents. Therefore, try removing the printer from your PC and adding it once again.

Step 1: Open the Settings menu on Windows. Select Bluetooth & devices from the left sidebar. Select Printers & scanners from the right pane.

Step 2: Open your printer from the list of devices. Select Remove from the following menu.

Step 3: Now, go back to the Printers & scanners menu and select Add device . Connect your printer and wait for your PC to recognize it.

Fix 4: Export the Document as PDF and Print

If Microsoft Word stops responding when printing, you can move out of the environment and print it externally. You can do so by exporting the document as a PDF and printing the document.

To export the document, click File > Export and select the PDF option. Then, select a destination of your choice to save the document.

Open the saved PDF and try printing the same.

Also Read : Fix printer on Windows keeps printing landscape instead of portrait

Fix 5: Repair Microsoft Office

If Microsoft Office has a bug and Word does not respond when you print, try repairing the app. Your PC can help detect problems with Microsoft Word and quickly fix them.

Step 1: Open the Settings app. Click on Apps in the sidebar and go to Apps & features .

Step 2: Scroll down to find Microsoft Office > click on the three dots next to it > click on Modify .

Step 3: Use the options to repair Microsoft Office and click on Repair . You can repair and fix the issues affecting it.

If none of the above methods work, upload the Word document to Google Docs or Microsoft Office online and print it.

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Thanks for the info Mivi Roam 2

• Run the Printer troubleshooter from Windows Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
• Reset Microsoft Edge settings from the three-dot menu > Settings > Reset settings.

Basic Fixes

• Disable Edge Extensions: Click the three-dot menu at the top right of Microsoft Edge and select Extensions > Manage extensions. Toggle off the installed extensions to disable them.
• Update or Reinstall Microsoft Edge: Open the Microsoft Store, search for Microsoft Edge Browser, and click Update (if available). Alternatively, uninstall Edge from Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.

Fix 1: Manually Set a Default Printer

If Microsoft Edge isn’t responding when you select your desired printer, you can manually set the default printer in Windows Settings so Edge can automatically use it for printing.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I shortcut to open Settings, select Devices , and click Printers & scanners .

Step 2: Select your desired printer from the list to open its settings.

Step 3: Click Set as default to set it as your default printer. Retry printing in Microsoft Edge.

Fix 2: Run the Printer Troubleshooter

If your connected printer stops responding when you try to print a webpage via Microsoft Edge, an existing glitch is causing the issue. Run the Windows built-in troubleshooter to fix it.

Step 1: Open the Windows Settings app, select System , and click Troubleshoot .

Step 2: Scroll down and select Other troubleshooters .

Step 3: Click Run next to Printer to launch its troubleshooter. Wait a few seconds for Windows 11 to automatically resolve the printing issue.

Fix 3: Switch Between ‘Print to PDF’ and ‘Save as PDF’

The Print feature in Microsoft Edge provides two different options to save your webpage as a PDF . If the browser becomes unresponsive while using one, you can switch to the second alternative to save your webpage as PDF.

Step 1: Right-click your desired webpage in Microsoft Edge and select Print .

Step 2: Choose Save PDF or Microsoft Print to PDF to effortlessly save your document as a PDF.

Fix 4: Reinstall Printer Drivers

Corrupt printer drivers can lead to issues with Microsoft Edge’s printing function. Reinstall the printer drivers from the Device Manager app and try again.

Step 1: Press the Windows + X shortcut to open the Power User Menu, and select Device Manager .

Step 2: Expand Print queues , right-click your connected printer, and select Uninstall device .

Step 3: Restart your PC to let Windows 11 automatically install the compatible printer drivers.

Fix 5: Restart the Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler service manages printing documents on Windows. An existing issue with it can halt the print queue and make Microsoft Edge unresponsive. Restart it manually from the Services window to restore normalcy.

Step 1: Press the Windows key , search Services , and click Run as administrator .

Step 2: Locate the Print Spooler service, right-click it, and select Restart . Retry printing your document from Microsoft Edge.

Fix 6: Reset Microsoft Edge to Default Settings

Lastly, reset the Edge browser to its default settings, clearing any misconfiguration that makes it unresponsive when printing.

Step 1: Click the three-dot menu at the top right of Microsoft Edge and select Settings .

Step 2: Select Reset settings from the sidebar and click Restore settings to their default values .

Step 3: Click Reset when prompted to confirm.

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• Saving your Google Docs document as a PDF can be helpful if the printing issue is isolated to a specific file.
• Disabling extensions and clearing the browser cache is an effective method for resolving printing problems in Google Docs.
• If the printing issue persists across applications and programs, you may need to troubleshoot the connection between your printer and computer.

Fix 1: Check the Printer Connection and Select the Right Printer

You must perform some basic hardware checks to ensure everything is hooked up. Check if the cable connecting your computer to the printer is securely plugged in. While you’re at it, restart your printer to resolve any temporary glitches.

If more than one printer is available, ensure you send print requests to the correct printer. Press Ctrl + P to summon the print dialog. Use the drop-down menu next to Destination to select the correct printer device and click on Print .

Fix 2: Save the Document as a PDF and Print It

If Google Docs’ printing issue is limited to one odd file, save it as a PDF and print it. To do this, click the File menu at the top left corner and select Download > PDF document (.pdf) .

Open the downloaded file in a PDF viewer, and you should be able to print it without any issues.

Fix 3: Disable Browser Extensions

There’s a chance that one of your browser extensions is causing the problem. To verify this possibility, disable all browser extensions and enable them one by one.

In your browser, type chrome://extensions (Chrome) or edge://extensions (Edge) in the address bar and press Enter . Use the toggles to turn off all extensions.

After this, restart your browser and enable all extensions one by one. Print a test page from Google Docs after enabling each extension to identify the one causing the issue.

Fix 4: Clear Browser Cache

Old browser cache can also affect a browser’s performance and prevent it from communicating with your printer. So, if disabling browser extensions does not help, clearing the existing browser cache should be your next step.

To clear browsing data in Chrome or Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the Clear Browsing Data panel. Use the drop-down menu next to Time Range to select All time and mark the box for Cached images and files .

Then, hit the Clear now button.

Restart your browser and print your Google Docs document again.

Note : If the issue persists, there might be a problem with the browser. Try printing your Google Docs document from another browser. If you can print it, consider updating or reinstalling your previous browser to fix its issues.

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• Be sure to print in portrait mode instead of landscape mode by updating the printing preference.
• Paper size selection is important and should match the size of the physical paper.
• Adding the printer back to Windows can resolve the issue that prevented the printer from using the proper orientation.

1. Change the Default Orientation on the Printer Properties

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to launch the Settings app.

Step 2: On the left pane, click Bluetooth & devices , and on the right, click Printers & scanners and select the printer you want to fix.

Step 3: Click Printing preferences to open the printer’s configuration window.

Step 4: Select Portrait from the Orientation drop-down list, then click Apply and OK .

2. Change Orientation in Page Setup

You can make specific changes to the application or document you want to print from. For example, if you are trying to print from Microsoft Word, change the page orientation before printing, which will reflect when you print the page.

Step 1: Click the Layout section in the Word document, expand Orientation , and select Portrait .

Step 2: Proceed to print the document. It should automatically choose the orientation based on the document layout.

3. Change Layout in Print Setup

If you cannot change the orientation from the app as you would on a word processor, switch to Portrait on the print setup page before printing the document, as shown below.

Step 1: Press the Control + P keyboard shortcut to initiate the print process. This should open the print setup page.

Step 2: Under the Layout section, select Portrait > Print .

4. Check for and Correct Page Size Mismatch

One reason your printer prints landscape instead of portrait is a page mismatch. That means the printer may expect A4 paper even though you have loaded A5 sheets.

Go to Print Setup > expand More settings > select a matching Paper size > click Print .

5. Confirm Network Printer Settings Are Not Overriding Local Settings

This solution will apply if you are connected to a network printer. If the network printer has a set of print preferences different from what you want, you may need to contact the administrator to resolve the issue. Alternatively, switch to a local printer to perform the print job.

6. Re-Add the Printer to Windows

You can fix this problem by removing the printer from your computer and re-adding it. This is a valid fix because when the computer is re-added, it comes with a default set of configurations, and any misconfiguration that caused the problem would be removed.

Step 1: Go to the Printers & scanners in the Windows Settings app.

Step 2: Select the problematic printer and click on Remove .

Step 3: Restart the computer and return to Printers & scanners .

Step 4: Click Add Device and follow the wizard to complete the process. The issue should be resolved.

7. Factory Reset the Printer

If your printer keeps printing sideways or landscape, resetting it to factory settings can resolve the problem. A factory reset reconfigures all printer settings and restores them to default. The procedures for performing a factory reset vary depending on the printer brand. For instructions on properly executing this operation on your printer, consult your user manual.

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A duplex printer not only saves paper but is also more economical. Not to forget, it’s also much easier to photocopy documents on both sides of a paper. So, if you plan to upgrade your printer, here are the best duplex printers you can buy.

Canon PIXMA TR7020a: Best Affordable

• Printer type: Inkjet
• Color: Yes
• Functions: Print, scan, copy

Canon PIXMA TR7020a

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Canon’s all-in-one printer is feature-packed despite retailing at an affordable price. Apart from printing on both sides of the paper, the Pixma TR7020a offers mobile printing, automatic document feeding (ADF), and Alexa support. It is an inkjet printer, so it takes a while to churn out copies compared to a laser printer. However, it shouldn’t matter much considering this is primarily meant for home use.

The printer features a small OLED display and buttons on the front. If you don’t want to use the buttons, you can always use the smartphone app to interface with the printer to get work done. That said, there are connectivity issues while using the printer wirelessly. But if you can look past this, the Pixma TR7020a is an excellent auto duplex color printer for home use.

What We Like

• Inexpensive
• Alexa support

What We Don’t Like

• Slow printing speed
• Ink cartridges are expensive

Brother MFC-J1010DW: Best Overall

• Printer type: Ink tank
• Color: Yes
• Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax

What We Like

• Affordable ink
• Fax support

What We Don’t Like

• Slightly noisy

Brother HL-L2350DW Compact Printer: Best Laser Printer for the Price

• Printer type: Laser
• Color: No (Monochrome)
• Functions: Print

Brother HL-L2350DW Compact Printer

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If you print regularly, a laser printer like the Brother HL-L2350DW makes more sense. Here, the toner costs are low, and the prints are high quality. Plus, you’ll also get more prints in a stipulated time compared to ink-jet printers. All these factors make the HL-L2350DW a more efficient printer in the long run and is ideal for small businesses.

However, you will have to forgo a few features to get a competitively-priced laser printer. To that end, the Brother HL-L2350DW is a monochrome printer, so you cannot print colored images or text. Moreover, the printer doesn’t support features like scanning and copying and can only be used to print documents.

So, if you aim to print a truckload of documents, the Brother HL-L2350DW is the way to go. However, if you want to print pictures or occasionally take photocopies, the Brother MFC-J1010DW, mentioned above, is a better option.

What We Like

• Fast printing speed
• Toner is inexpensive

What We Don’t Like

• Monochrome
• No scanning or photocopying

Epson Workforce Pro WF-4830: Best for Small Business and Offices

• Printer type: Ink tank
• Color: Yes
• Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax

Epson Workforce Pro WF-4830

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As the name suggests, the Epson Workforce Pro is intended for small offices or businesses. The same can be attributed to the printer’s sizeable 500-page paper tray capacity and 50-page ADF capabilities. Despite being an ink tank printer, you can print up to 25 pages per minute, which is excellent. The device also gets a large touchscreen display for easy operation.

Like the Brother MFC-J1010DW, the Epson WF-4830 has four user-replaceable ink cartridges. The good part is that the ink doesn’t run out quickly or dry out if not used over a long period. Despite the above features, this printer has a slight drawback. If you have a special character in your Wi-Fi password, the Epson app poses some issues when linking to it. As such, you’ll have to switch to a simple password to set up the printer wirelessly.

What We Like

• Reliable and quick
• Large paper tray

What We Don’t Like

• Bulky, so takes up a lot of space

HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e: Best with Intelligent Features

• Printer type: Inkjet
• Color: Yes
• Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax

HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e

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If you’re okay with a slightly slower printer and want to save on ink costs, consider the OfficeJet Pro 9015e from HP over the Epson WF-4830. While the features remain the same, the cost of ink over a period is substantially lower. Along with inexpensive cartridges, HP gives you six months of free ink when you purchase the printer.

Speaking of smarts, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e has many intelligent features that make it stand out. For one, you can access the HP Smart app, which lets you print using your phone or update the printer’s firmware wirelessly. Second, the printer has its email ID, so if you want to print a document, just forward the attachment to the email ID, and you can print it. You can also use Alexa to print something straight from the web.

What We Like

• 6 months of free ink
• Good smart features

What We Don’t Like

• Noisy operation

HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw: Best Premium for Business

• Printer type: Laser
• Color: Yes
• Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax

HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw

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If you’re looking for a color laser printer that doesn’t just print efficiently but also bundles a truckload of features, your search ends here. Enter the HP LaserJet Pro printer, which churns out colored prints and offers everything but the kitchen sink to the end user. It is stupendously fast and boasts printing speeds of up to 35 pages per minute.

HP says the LaserJet Pro is perfect for small offices since the paper tray can hold up to 300 sheets, and the ADF can feed up to 50 sheets into the printer. While it’s an expensive printer, it’s a highly reliable machine. Whether you print or copy using the onboard LED display or wirelessly via a computer, the quality and speed are top-notch. The LaserJet Pro is undoubtedly overkill for most households. But if you’re running a business, it’s an excellent investment.

What We Like

• Color laser printing
• Good smart features
• Extremely fast

What We Don’t Like

• Expensive investment

Printers that have automatic document feeders or ADFs can also perform duplex copying.

While a duplex printer may be more expensive upfront, it saves paper making it more economical in the long run.

If you print a lot of documents regularly and need a printer that’s fast and reliable, a laser printer is a good investment. An inkjet printer, on the other hand, should suffice for occasional use.

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