- Open Task Manager, right-click on File Explorer and restart the process.
- Close unused apps to free-up memory and resources for File Explorer.
- Open File Explorer options, and clear Search Historu in the General tab.
Basic Fixes
- Restart PC: Restart your PC to fix temporary bugs and glitches.
- Close unused apps: Close unused apps on your PC to free-up RAM and other resources for File Explorer.
- Run SFC scan: Perform an SFC scan on your PC to detect and fix corrupted system files.
Fix 1: Restart Windows Explorer
One of the first things that you can do is restart the Explorer. If it’s a simple issue of corrupted cache files, the odds are that it will solve your issue.
Step 1: To restart File Explorer, bring up the Task Manager , and you will see Windows Explorer under Processes.
Step 2: Right-click on it and select Restart from the menu.
Restarting File Explorer through Command Prompt (CMD) can sometimes be more effective than simply restarting it using Task Manager because it ensures a cleaner restart of the process.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt from the start menu.
Step 2: Enter the following command :
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
This will close the file explorer. Do not minimize or close the command prompt window.
Step 3: Enter the following command to restart the File Explorer.
start explorer.exe
Fix 2: Clear File Explorer History
Explorer’s search comes in handy at many times. It saves every detail such as the names of files you have searched, and paths you have searched, among others. These search files can accumulate in time and cause the Windows File Explorer to respond slowly. Luckily, clearing the history is as easy.
Step 1: To get started, search for anything in the search box of Explorer. When the search is complete, click on the little arrow icon as shown below to expand the ribbon.
Step 2: Next, click on the Search tab, and select Recent Searches > Clear Search History .
Step 3: The above will work only when your system’s Explorer is working to some extent. However, if it’s frozen, you’ll have to go through Settings.
Step 4: Open Settings (Win key + I) and search for File Explorer Options . This will open a small window.
Now, click on the Clear button under Privacy to clear the Windows Explorer history.
Fix 3: Run Disk Clean-up
If the above fixes have failed to run Windows Explorer, you might want to run Disk Clean-up . As suggestive of its name, it gets rid of temporary files and folders that litter your PC.
Step 1: Search for Disk Clean-up . Select C: drive from the menu.
Step 2: Once the Disk Clean-up window is open, check the options for Downloaded Program Files , Temporary Internet Files , and Thumbnails from the list, and click on OK .
Fix 4: Rebuild the Index
Another possible reason for the Explorer not responding or acting slowly may be a slow indexing service. If the File Explorer is slow to load results (or crashes unexpectedly), it’s time you rebuilt the index.
Step 1: Search for the Indexing Option on the Search menu.
Step 2: Once you locate it, click on the Advanced button at the bottom. Now, under Troubleshooting , click on the Rebuild button.
Fix 5: Launch in a Separate Process
Even if you have managed to repair the issue with Windows Explorer, the odds are that it might occur again. Hence, it’s best to force the File Explorer window to run in a separate process.
Step 1: Search for File Explorer Options in the start menu. After you locate it, select View . Next, check the option for Launch folder windows in a separate process .
If it’s unchecked, check it and tap on OK to save your changes.
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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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- 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.
