Printing Problems

Fix INCLUDETEXT Fields Not Updating Before Printing in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

INCLUDETEXT fields fail to refresh automatically before printing in Microsoft Word, even when the option to update fields before printing is enabled.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows, macOS
Scenario: Preparing a document for printing that contains linked text or documents via the INCLUDETEXT field.
Observed behavior: The linked content inside INCLUDETEXT fields does not reflect the latest changes in the printed output.

Before you start

Ensure all source documents linked within your INCLUDETEXT fields are saved and accessible on your device before attempting to update the fields in your master document.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Update the INCLUDETEXT Field

Since automatic updating before printing is not consistently supported for INCLUDETEXT fields, a manual update is the most reliable solution.

Microsoft Word's automatic field update before printing applies to many fields, but INCLUDETEXT fields often require manual intervention to fetch the latest data.

Select the entire document

Press Ctrl+A on Windows (Cmd+A on macOS) to select all text in your document.

Update the fields manually

Right-click anywhere on the selected text and choose 'Update Field', or simply press the F9 key.

Verification: Always perform a Print Preview after manually updating to verify that the linked text reflects the latest changes.

Solution 2

Unlock the INCLUDETEXT Field

If your field still does not update manually, it might be locked. You must unlock the field before refreshing it.

Solution 3

Use the Exclamation-Mark Switch

If the included source content contains its own fields, adding an exclamation-mark switch prevents Word from incorrectly updating the source fields in the destination document.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I intentionally lock an INCLUDETEXT field so it won't update?

You can lock any field in Microsoft Word by clicking inside it and pressing Ctrl+F11. This prevents it from updating until you unlock it again.

Does the 'Update fields before printing' setting work for all field types?

No, certain dynamic fields, particularly INCLUDETEXT and sometimes linked Excel objects, are not consistently supported by this automatic setting and often require manual updates.

What does the exclamation-mark switch do in an INCLUDETEXT field?

The exclamation-mark switch (\!) prevents Word from updating fields that are contained within the inserted text, preserving the field values exactly as they appear in the source document.

Document & File Issues