Printing Problems

Fix Arabic Characters Printing as Empty Squares in Microsoft Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 24, 2026 874 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve a printing error where Arabic characters output as empty boxes on paper despite rendering correctly within the document editor.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a text document that contains Arabic characters.
Observed behavior: Specific Arabic letters, such as 'ل', print as blank squares instead of the correct glyphs, even though they display perfectly on the computer screen.

Before you start

Check whether the Arabic text appears correctly in the Print Preview window, and try printing a different document to determine if the issue is isolated to a single file or affects your entire application.

Solution 1Recommended

Embed Fonts in the Document

Embedding fonts ensures that the printer receives the exact font data used in the document, preventing substitution errors that cause empty squares.

When you use specific Arabic fonts, the printer might not have the same font installed in its memory. By embedding the font directly into the document file, Word forces the printer to output the exact characters you see on screen.

Open Word Options

Click on 'File' in the top left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Save Settings

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Save' in the left-hand navigation pane.

Enable Font Embedding

Scroll down to the section titled 'Preserve fidelity when sharing this document'. Check the box next to 'Embed fonts in the document'.

Save and Print

Click 'OK' to apply the changes, save your document, and try printing again.

Reduced File Size: You can also check 'Embed only the characters used in the document' to keep the file size smaller if you are only using a few Arabic characters.

Solution 2

Save as PDF and Print

Bypassing Word's direct printing process by exporting to PDF often resolves font rendering and script processing issues.

Solution 3

Troubleshoot Add-ins and Templates

Conflicting add-ins or a corrupted Normal.dotm template can interfere with how Word processes complex scripts like Arabic.

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1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installation package.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do fonts look fine on screen but print as empty squares?

This happens when the specific font used for the characters is not recognized by the printer's driver or internal memory. Embedding the font into the document ensures the exact letter shapes are sent directly to the printer.

Does changing the default printer fix the empty squares issue?

Sometimes. If your current printer driver handles complex fonts poorly, switching to another printer or a virtual 'Print to PDF' driver can bypass the error entirely.

Which Arabic fonts are safest to use for printing in Word?

Standard system fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, and Tahoma are highly optimized for printing. They are much less likely to output as empty squares compared to custom, third-party Arabic fonts.

How do I know if the document or the application is the problem?

Open a completely new document, type a few Arabic characters, and print it. If the new document prints correctly, the issue is isolated to your original file. If it still prints squares, the issue lies with Word settings or your printer driver.

Document & File Issues