Top 6 Ways To Fix Print Screen On Windows Not Working Error

Every keyboard, whether external or laptop, comes with a print screen button abbreviated as PrtScr. Pressing the print screen button will capture the whole screen that you can later paste in an app like Paint . It is one of the fastest ways to take a screenshot on Windows. For some users, PrtScr key is unresponsive or just not working. In that case, you can use a keyboard shortcut or an app for taking screenshots. Why would you do that when you have a dedicated screenshot key on the keyboard?

The print screen is a universal button that’s available on all Windows 10 computers and works the same way. Typically, it is located at the top row after the function keys. Way before browser extensions and third-party apps were available, there was a print screen option, and many people still prefer to use it because it’s quick and works everywhere. So when it stops working, that inconvenience often irks.

Let’s find how we can fix the print screen not working error on your Windows 10 computer.

1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts

There are other ways to take screenshots using a combination of PrtScr buttons. Try using Alt+PrtScr shortcut instead. That will take a screenshot of the currently selected window instead of the whole screen—no need to crop or remove unwanted background now.

When you use the Windows key+PrtScr shortcut, the screenshots of the fullscreen gets saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder. If you use a keyboard or a laptop with Fn key, then you are in luck. You can use it along with Windows or Alt key combination.

Some keyboards come with an F Lock key instead of the Fn key. If that’s the case, you don’t have to press and hold it. Just press it once to activate it as you do with caps lock.

Pro Tip: Press Windows key+Shift+S to launch a new, flexible way to take screenshots. Your screen will fade, and you will notice a floating bar at the top. Use your mouse to select an area on the screen to take a screenshot of. The feature was earlier part of OneNote, but Microsoft included it with the Windows 10 Creators Update.

2. Taken Over as a Third-Party App Shortcut

The shortcut may have been associated with a third-party app like Dropbox, as noted by one user named gbbay in Microsoft support forums. It could be an app that you recently updated or installed. So, check if any third party app has taken over it.

3. Keyboard Hardware

Did you try with another keyboard? There may be something wrong with your current keyboard, and it needs fixing . Make sure everything is working with keyboard hardware and software. Connect your keyboard to another computer to check or borrow a friend’s keyboard for your computer instead. At times, the USB port may not be able to detect the keyboard properly.

4. Hardware Troubleshooter

All Windows 10 editions come with a hardware troubleshooter that will check for errors in external devices like mice, keyboards, printers, etc.

Step 1: Press Windows key+I shortcut to launch Settings. Once it opens, search for ‘Find and fix keyboard problems’ and click to open it.

Step 2: Select ‘Apply repairs automatically’ option at the bottom and click on Next to continue.

Windows will now look for problems and suggest a solution as required. It will then apply the solution if within its rights.

5. Registry Editor

Unlike Group Policy Editor, which comes preinstalled in Windows Pro and higher versions only, Registry Editor is available in Windows Home.

Step 1: Search for and open it from the Start menu. Make sure you run it with admin rights, as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 2: Drill down to the folder structure below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Step 3: Find a file named ScreenshotIndex in the right pane of the window. You don’t have to do anything if the file already exists. If the file is missing, right-click on a space in the right window-pane and select DWORD (32-bit) Value under New. I have the file, as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 4: Name the newly created file as ScreenshotIndex and double-click to open it. The Hexadecimal Value data should be set to 4.

Step 4: Navigate to this folder now.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Step 5: Locate and open this file.

{B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F}

Step 6: Double-click on the file to ensure that the Value data is set to %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\Screenshots . If the file is missing, create a String Value file instead of the DWORD file as we did above and enter the value as discussed.

If that doesn’t work, try 695 instead of 4 as the value in step 4 and try again.

6. Try Third-Party Apps

There are plenty of apps available that you can use to take screenshots. Microsoft has been offering the Snipping Tool for years now. Then there are browser extensions that you can use with additional built-in features like screen recording.

Put It on the Screen

I continue to use the print screen feature on my Windows 10 laptop. It helps me take screenshots of screens where other apps don’t work. For example, the Start menu. It disappears the moment you click on anything else. The print screen feature solves this issue, but so does some other apps and options discussed above.

Next up: Are you using a multi-monitor setup? Click on the link below to learn how to take screenshots on a specific monitor on Windows 10.

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• You may start by enabling the Microsoft Print to PDF feature.
• Running the printer troubleshooter will fix any underlying problems that cause this printer issue.
• If the issue is caused by outdated or corrupt drivers, uninstalling and reinstalling the printer should work.

Fix 1: Ensure Print to PDF Is Enabled in Windows Features

Microsoft Print to PDF integrates into the Print dialog box on your PC. Sometimes, the feature no longer appears when you open the Print dialog box for a certain file. Whatever the reason, you can ensure the feature is enabled with the following steps.

Step 1: Click the Start button, type Windows Features , and click the first result .

Step 2: Find and check the box for Microsoft Print to PDF .

Note : If it’s already enabled, disable it and wait a few seconds. Then, repeat the steps to open Windows Features and enable the feature again.

Step 3: After that, click on OK .

If you need to install it, follow the on-screen instructions and proceed. Reboot your PC and open the Print dialog once again. You should see the Print to PDF option back.

Now, you can save images and perform other functions using Microsoft Print as PDF.

Fix 2: Run the Print Troubleshooter

Using the built-in print troubleshooter would resolve most problems and is a good fix when Microsoft Print to PDF is not working on Windows 11.

Step 1: Click the Start button, type Control Panel , and press Ente r to open the Control Panel on your Windows 11 PC.

Step 2: Click on View devices and printers under Hardware and Sound.

Step 3: Click Printer & scanners .

Step 4: Click Microsoft Print to PDF .

Step 5: Click on Run the troubleshooter and follow the wizard to complete the process.

Step 6: Click Next and follow the wizard to complete the troubleshooting.

Fix 3: Uninstall and Reinstall Print to PDF Drivers

Your PC comes with Microsoft Print to PDF drivers pre-installed by default. If you haven’t updated these drivers recently, they could have become obsolete, preventing the feature from functioning. Uninstall the drivers and reinstall them using the steps below.

Step 1: Click the Start button, type Control Panel , and press Ente r to open the Control Panel on your Windows 11 PC.

Step 2: Click on View devices and printers under Hardware and Sound.

Step 3: Click Printer & scanners > Microsoft Print to PDF .

Step 4: Lastly, click on Remove .

Now, you may reinstall it by following the steps below.

Step 5: Click the Windows button, type Windows PowerShell , and select Run as Administrator from the right pane.

Step 6: Type the following command and hit Enter :

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features -All

Step 7: You should see the text True next to Online. This confirms that the feature has been re-enabled.

Step 8: Finally, restart your computer and check if Print to PDF works as intended.

Fix 4: Set Print to PDF as Your Default Printer

Print to PDF is essentially a software feature that emulates the presence of an actual printer. Hence, setting it as your default printer might be a good option. This way, giving the print command on any document should automatically trigger Print to PDF. Here’s how to set it as your default printer on Windows 11.

Step 1: Click the Start button, type Control Panel , and press Ente r to open the Control Panel on your Windows 11 PC.

Step 2: Click on View devices and printers under Hardware and Sound.

Step 3: Click Printer & scanners .

Step 4: Disable Let Windows manage my default printer .

Step 5: Click Microsoft Print to PDF .

Step 6: Lastly, click Set as default .

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Have you been told to take a screenshot using the Print Screen key on your Windows 10 computer? And now you are left wondering where the Print Screen button is? Even if you found the button and pressed it, nothing would have happened. So you are more confused now. Don’t worry. We are here to help. By the end of the post, you will be a champ in using the Print Screen button to take screenshots on Windows 10.

Questions like where is the Print Screen button, how to enable Print screen, and how to use the Print screen button are answered in this post. We have also covered how to take a screenshot in Windows 10 without the Print screen button.

Let’s get started on discovering the superpowers of the Print Screen button in Windows 10.

Where Is the Print Screen Button

The Print Screen button is usually present at the upper right side of your keyboard. You will see one of the text labels on the key:

• Prt sc
• PrtSc
• PrtScn
• PrntScrn

If something else is mentioned along with the print screen button, then you will have to trigger it with the function key (fn) on your keyboard. That is, hold the fn key and the Print screen buttons together to take a screenshot.

Tip : If your keyboard doesn’t have the Print Screen button , use the Function (fn) + Windows key + Spacebar to take a screenshot. In case the Print screen isn’t working , check out various ways to fix it.

How to Use Print Screen Button to Take Screenshot in Windows

There are several ways to take a screenshot using the Print screen button on Windows 10. Let’s check them out.

Method 1: Capture Entire Screen With Print Screen

This is the simplest method to take a screenshot on Windows 10. Pressing the Print Screen key on your keyboard copies the entire (active) screen to your clipboard . Even though a screenshot is technically captured, it’s not saved anywhere on your computer.

The screenshot resides in your computer’s clipboard for a temporary period till you copy something else. You need to paste the copied content (the screenshot) in a supported app such as MS Paint, Paint 3D, etc. Use Ctrl+V keyboard shortcut to paste the image. Once pasted, save the image using the app’s save button. It’s not necessary to paste the screenshot in photo-editing apps, you can even paste it in Microsoft Word or Google Docs .

Note: Use fn + Print screen combination if nothing is copied to the clipboard.

Typically, when you take a screenshot on your mobile phone, the screen will dim for a second, which indicates that a screenshot is taken. However, nothing will happen to the screen using this method. The screen won’t dim when you simply press the Print Screen button. So don’t get scared, just open any supported app and paste the copied screenshot.

Tip: If you use OneDrive, your captured screenshots will automatically be saved in your OneDrive folder. In case you are notified that screenshots are saved in OneDrive, find out how to turn off that notification and how to disable storing of screenshots in OneDrive .

Method 2: Capture and Save Entire Screen Using Print Screen

The above method doesn’t save the screenshot directly to your computer. To save screenshots on your PC without pasting them first, press the Windows key + Print screen button simultaneously. The screen will dim for a second, indicating that a screenshot has been taken. In this method, the entire screen is captured.

You will find the captured screenshots in the Pictures > Screenshots folder. If you don’t find that, follow this path C:\Users\username\Pictures\Screenshots.

Method 3: Capture Active Window With Print Screen

Instead of capturing the entire screen, this method will help you take a screenshot of an active window. Let’s say you want to take a screenshot of the minimized Word screen. You can do it by using the Alt + Print screen keyboard shortcut. Press both buttons simultaneously to take a screenshot of your active window.

Similar to method 1, the screenshot will not be saved directly. You will need to paste it into a supported app such as MS Paint and then save it.

Method 4: Assign the Snipping Tool to Print Screen Key

If the above methods do not meet your requirements, you can assign the Windows 10 Snipping tool to the Print screen key. When you do so, the Snipping tool will get activated when you press the Print screen key on your keyboard.

With the Snipping tool, you can take custom screenshots. You can choose the area whose screenshot you want to take, capture the selected window, and perform other advanced tricks. The screenshots will open in the Snipping Tool where you can annotate and draw on them. Finally, save the screenshot. Check out various tips and tricks related to the Windows 10 Snipping Tool .

To assign the Snipping tool to the Print screen key, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings on your Windows 10 PC from Start Menu. Alternatively, use Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open settings. Go to Ease of Access.

Step 2: From the left sidebar in Ease of access, scroll down and click on Keyboard. On the right side, you will find Keyboard settings. Scroll down and enable the toggle for Print Screen shortcut.

Bonus: How to Take Screenshot Without Print Screen on Windows 10

If you don’t want to remap the Print screen key to the Snipping tool or use Print screen to take a screenshot, you can still open the Snipping tool using the Windows key + Shift + S keyboard shortcut. Alternatively, open the Snipping tool from the Start Menu. You can also use the Snip and Sketch tool of Windows to take a screenshot without the Print screen button. Find out what’s the difference between the Snipping Tool and Snip and Sketch on Windows 10.

The Best Method

Methods 2 and 4 are convenient for taking and saving screenshots both. I mostly settle for Method 4 on my computer where I use the Snipping tool with the help of the Print screen button. It lets me take a screenshot with the ability to draw on them.

Next up: If for some reason, you are unable to take screenshots on your Windows 10 PC, check out 4 ways to fix it from the next link.

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• In most cases, running the printer troubleshooter or configuring the “Print Spooler Service” should resolve the error.
• Deleting old printer devices and print spooler files can also help fix the issue.
• If nothing works, you may need to delete corrupted print spooler registry entries.

Fix 1: Run Printer Troubleshooter

Windows comes with a dedicated printer troubleshooter that can automatically diagnose and fix any printing issues on your PC. It checks all of your printer configurations and corrects any inconsistencies. Here’s how to run it.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app and head to System > Troubleshoot .

Step 2: Go to Other troubleshooters .

Step 3: Click the Run button next to Printer to begin troubleshooting.

From there, follow the on-screen prompts to finish the troubleshooting process.

Fix 2: Check Print Spooler Service

If the Windows troubleshooter fails to identify any issues, you can check the Print Spooler service on Windows to see if it is properly configured. Here’s how.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type services.msc in the box next to the Open field and press Enter .

Step 2: In the Services window, scroll down to locate Print Spooler . Right-click on it and select Properties .

Step 3: Set the Startup type to Automatic from the drop-down, if it isn’t set already.

Step 4: On the Recovery tab, use the drop-down menus next to First failure, Second failure, and Subsequent failures to select Restart the Service . Then, click on Apply followed by OK .

Restart your PC and check if the print spooler stops again.

Fix 3: Remove Old Printers

Sometimes, the print spooler service may also stop working if several printers are connected to your PC. You can try deleting some of your old printer devices to see if that helps.

Step 1: Click on the search icon on the taskbar, type in printers & scanners and press Enter .

Step 2: Select the printer you want to remove.

Step 3: Click on the Remove button in the top right corner. Repeat this process to remove unwanted printers and try using the printing services again.

Fix 4: Delete Old Print Spooler Files

Existing print spooler cache data can also interfere with the service and cause it to crash repeatedly when corrupted. In that case, you can delete those old print spooler files to fix the issue.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open Windows Search. Type services in the box and select the first result that appears.

Step 2: Right-click on Print Spooler and select Stop .

Step 3: Press the Windows key + E to launch File Explorer on your PC and navigate to the following folder:

C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

Step 4: Select all folders and click on the trash icon at the top to delete them.

Restart your PC after you delete the files. The print spooler service should start automatically upon reboot.

Fix 5: Update Printer Drivers

Issues with your current printer drivers can also cause the print spooler to stop abruptly. If the printer drivers on your PC are outdated or corrupted, then updating them should help more often than not.

To update printer drivers, download the most recent drivers from the respective manufacturer’s website. Then, open the downloaded file to begin the installation.

Fix 6: Delete Print Spooler Registry Keys

If none of the above solutions work, you can try deleting a few registry keys associated with the print spooler. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box. Type regedit in the box and press Enter .

Step 2: Paste the following path in the address bar at the top to navigate to Print Processors:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Print Processors

If you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows, use the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Print Processors

Step 3: Delete all keys inside Print Processors except winprint . To delete a key, right-click on it and select Delete . Click on Yes on the prompt.

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• Corrupted Excel files, faulty add-ins, and outdated printer drivers are some of the most common causes of this issue.
• Try printing another Excel file to ensure the issue is not limited to a specific spreadsheet.
• You can try running the Microsoft Office repair tool if nothing else works.

Fix 1: Save Your Excel File in XPS Format and Try Again

If Excel can’t respond to print requests, save your file in the XPS format and try again. Several users on Microsoft Community post reported fixing the issue with this simple workaround. So, if you’re in a rush, try this method.

Step 1: Open the Excel file you wish to print and click the File menu at the top left corner.

Step 2: Navigate to the Print tab and use the drop-down menu under Printer to select Microsoft XPS Document Writer . Then, click the Print button.

Step 3: When the Save Print Output As dialog appears, save your Excel file in the XPS format. It should print without issues.

Fix 2: Open Excel in Safe Mode

You can try printing an Excel file in safe mode to see if one of the third-party add-ins is causing the problem. For that, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type excel -safe in the box and press Enter .

Check to see if Excel prints your file in safe mode. If it does, one of the third-party add-ins is to blame. You can disable all add-ins and re-enable them individually to isolate the culprit.

Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel and go to File > Options .

Step 2: In the Excel Options window, switch to the Add-ins tab from the left column. Select COM Add-ins in the Manage drop-down menu and click the Go button.

Step 3: Uncheck all the Add-ins and click OK .

After this, restart Excel and enable your add-ins one at a time. Print a test page after enabling each add-in to identify the one causing the issue.

Fix 3: Update Printer Driver

Issues with your printer driver can affect Excel’s ability to print spreadsheets and lead to problems. To avoid this, you should ensure that your printer driver is up to date and functioning properly.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Double-click on Print queues to expand it. Right-click on your printer and select Update driver .

Follow the on-screen prompts to finish updating the printer drivers. After that, try printing your file again.

Fix 4: Remove and Reinstall Your Printer

If Microsoft Excel still can’t print, try removing your printer and re-adding it on Windows. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Select Bluetooth & devices from the left sidebar and go to Printers & scanners .

Step 3: Select your printer from the list.

Step 4: Click the Remove button at the top to delete your printer.

Step 5: After that, return to the Printers & scanners menu and click on Add device . Then, follow the on-screen prompts to add your printer again.

Fix 5: Repair Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office offers a handy repair tool for any issues with Office apps. If nothing else works, consider repairing Microsoft Office by following the steps below.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Installed apps from the list.

Step 2: Scroll down to locate the Microsoft Office product on the list. Click the three-dot menu icon next to it and select Modify .

Step 3: Select Online Repair and hit Repair .

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Loved your instructions, I tried the first three instructions (which were easy to follow) and solution number 4 worked!!!! Thank you, thank you!

• Select all the files you want to print, and use the Ctrl + P shortcut.
• Alternatively, right-click on the selected files and go to Show More Options > Print.
• You can select multiple PDF files, but you can’t print them at once. You need to use third-party apps to batch-print PDF files.

Method 1: Print Multiple Word, Excel, and Other Media

We will first show you how to launch the current print queue on Windows. If any print process is running in the background, complete or cancel it. Otherwise, you may run into errors with batch printing multiple files.

Step 1: Open the Settings app, go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners .

Step 2: This will display all the printers you have installed.

Ensure the printer you want to use is present in the list.

Step 3: Navigate to the relevant file explorer location. Select all the files you want to print.

• You can only mark multiple files in the same location (for example, your Desktop), but not ones from two different places.

• If you want to do that, you’ll have to repeat the process for every directory location with some of the files you want to print – or you can move them into the same location first.

Step 4: When all the ones you want to print are selected, press the Control + P keyboard shortcut at the same time. The usual print menu will open up, and you’ll be able to select your printer.

Alternatively, you can right-click on the selected files, go to Show More Options , and select Print .

Step 5: Select your printer, paper size, quality, paper type, and number of copies of each. You can fit the picture to the frame and hit click Print.

If you are looking for efficient methods to select multiple files on Windows , you can read our article on the same.

Method 2: Print Multiple PDFs

You can select multiple PDF files using the steps above, but you can’t print them at once. You need to use third-party apps to batch-print PDF files. Wondershare PDFelement is one such capable app to manage PDFs like a pro.

Step 1: Download and install Wondershare PDFelements .

Step 2: Launch File Explorer and select multiple PDF files using the Ctrl key trick.

Step 3: Right-click on your selection and select Show more options .

Step 4: Select Batch Print with Wondershare PDFelements .

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the print job in no time.

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• Outlook saves its print settings in the Outlprnt file. Deleting the file can help fix print issues.
• Sometimes, Outlook plugins and extensions can interfere with the printing. Removing them can help you fix the issue.
• Ensure the email is completely downloaded before you can print it.

Try Basic Fixes:

• Restart Outlook: When Outlook relaunches, it loads all the modules, including extensions. This ensures that if Outlook or any of its modules are stuck, they will start working.
• Reset hardware connection : Powering off a printer might clear temporary issues, such as a print job stuck in the queue or a minor error.
• Update the Outlook app: If the Outlook app and Windows settings are out of sync, especially after a Windows update, check if an update is available for the app.

Fix 1. Check the Default Printer

Sometimes, we select a printer and wait to realize it isn’t the default printer. Windows Settings can quickly fix this, or you can manually select the printer whenever you print.

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings.

Step 2: Select Bluetooth & devices from the sidebar. Select Printers & scanners from the right pane.

Step 3: Find the connected printer from the list and click on it.

Step 4: Select the Set as default button from the following menu. Open Outlook and try to print the attachment again.

Fix 2. Save the Document and Print It From File Manager

If Outlook still gives you trouble printing an attachment, you can save the document locally on the PC and print it.

Step 1: Download the attachment from Outlook or choose the Save as option, and save it on your PC.

Step 2: Use the File Manager to find the document and double-click to launch it in the Microsoft Edge browser or any PDF app.

Step 3: Look for a printer icon and use it to print the document.

Fix 3. Run Printer Troubleshooter

A built-in Windows troubleshooter can reset some printer parameters, which can help you start printing again.

Step 1: Open the GetHelp App using the Start menu.

Step 2: Type printer troubleshooting in the text box, showing you the Printer troubleshooter .

Step 3: Launch the wizard and let it complete the process. Once done, open the Outlook app again and try printing a document.

Fix 4. Uninstall Printer Drivers

At times, corrupt or outdated printer drivers can lead to such issues. You can reinstall printer drivers and try your luck again.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows key and open the Device Manager from the menu.

Step 2: Scroll down and expand the Print queues listing.

Step 3: Right-click on the printer with which you have the issue and select Uninstall device from the context menu. This will also Uninstall the driver.

Alternatively, follow this guide to remove the printer and uninstall the driver .

Step 4. Confirm your decision and restart the PC. Once you log into your account, Windows will install the default driver for the driver. Check if you can print from Outlook.

Fix 5. Wait for Emails to Download Completely

If an email contains too many elements, such as images from external sources or linked documents, and you start printing as soon as it arrives, it might cause an issue.

It’s best to wait for the download to complete; you can see no broken images, etc. For such emails, it’s best to wait for the download to be complete and then print it.

Fix 6. Troubleshoot Outlook Com-Addins And Extensions

Some Com-Addins and extensions can interfere with the print experience. It would be best to remove and disable them and troubleshoot.

Step 1: Open the Run prompt using Win + R, type Outlook /safe , and press Enter .

Step 2: Once Outlook launches, check if you can print. If it works, check which extension is causing the problem.

Step 3: Launch Outlook the usual way > go to File > Options > click on Add-ins .

Step 4: Click the Go button next to COM Add-ins to open a list of installed Addons and extensions .

Step 5: Select the one to uninstall from the checked list and click the Remove button. Once you’ve done this, try to print. Repeat the steps until you find the one causing the issue.

Fix 7. Delete the OutlPrnt file (Print Settings)

The OutlPrnt file stores printer settings. If the file becomes corrupt, the print function will not work as intended. However, if you delete the file, it will be recreated.

Step 1: Go to %AppData%/Microsoft/Outlook using the Run prompt.

Step 2 : Locate the OutlPrnt file and permanently delete it.

Step 3: Relaunch Outlook and check if you can print a file.

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