Fix Microsoft Publisher Printing Color Pictures in Black and White
Question details
Users are experiencing a software conflict where color pictures in a Microsoft Publisher document print exclusively in black and white, despite the printer being configured correctly for color output.
- Product
- Microsoft Publisher
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a document containing color images directly from Microsoft Publisher or after saving it as an image file.
- Observed behavior
- The physical printout is completely black and white, even though the source images are in color and the printer's preferences are explicitly set to allow color printing. Exporting the document to a PNG format does not resolve the issue.
Verify that your printer currently has sufficient color ink or toner, and try printing a color test page from a different application (like a web browser) to ensure the issue is isolated to Publisher.
Set the Color Printer as the Windows Default
Microsoft Publisher sometimes defaults to generic or grayscale driver settings if your primary color printer is not officially set as the system's default device. Changing this setting usually restores full color functionality.
By enforcing your color-capable printer as the primary default in the Windows operating system, Publisher is forced to communicate with the correct color drivers rather than relying on cached or alternative grayscale settings.
Click the Start menu and select the gear icon to open Settings. Navigate to 'Devices' and then select 'Printers & scanners' from the left sidebar.
Scroll down and uncheck the box that says 'Let Windows manage my default printer'. This ensures your manual selection remains active.
Click on your specific color-capable printer from the list, select 'Manage', and then click the 'Set as default' button.
If it is already the default, temporarily set a different printer (like 'Microsoft Print to PDF') as the default, and then repeat the previous step to reassign your color printer as the default.
Update or Reinstall Your Printer Driver
Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can misinterpret print commands from Microsoft Office apps, stripping color data before it reaches the hardware.
Run a Repair on Microsoft Office
If Publisher's internal print spooler or registry configurations are damaged, running the built-in Office repair utility can restore missing functionality.
Create, Edit, and Print Stunning Documents with WPS Office
If printing glitches in Microsoft Publisher continue to disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and user-friendly suite for all your document layout and presentation needs without the complex printing bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my document print in black and white even though the printer preferences say color?
This typically occurs when Publisher loses communication with the proper color driver profile. Even if the local preferences are set to color, Publisher may default to a generic Windows grayscale driver if the color printer isn't explicitly set as the system-wide default.
Does exporting my Publisher document to PDF fix the color problem?
Exporting to PDF often acts as an excellent workaround. By saving the layout as a PDF, you bypass Publisher's printing engine entirely. You can then open the PDF in a dedicated reader like WPS PDF or Adobe Acrobat and print it in full color without issues.
How do I know if the hardware is broken or if it's a software issue?
The easiest way to check is to print a color webpage or a color photo from the default Windows Photos app. If those print in color perfectly, your printer hardware and ink levels are fine, confirming that the issue is strictly a software conflict within Microsoft Publisher.
