Fix Microsoft Word for Mac Freezing When Printing Page Ranges
Question details
The user is seeking a solution for severe application lag and unresponsiveness when trying to specify a custom page range to print.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS 11.5
- Scenario
- Entering a specific sequence of pages in the print dialog box.
- Observed behavior
- The application freezes for several minutes between keystrokes when entering the page range, although single-page printing and printing from other apps like Adobe Acrobat work normally.
Before making system changes, use the 'Save as PDF' feature to safely export your document so you can print it using Mac Preview or Adobe Acrobat as a temporary workaround.
Reset the Mac Printing System and Reinstall Printers
Because the freezing happens only during page range validation, a corrupted or outdated printer driver is the most likely cause. Resetting the printing system forces macOS to build a clean connection.
Resetting the Mac printing system will remove all current printer and scanner queues. You will need to re-add your default printer afterward.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, select System Preferences, and click on Printers & Scanners.
Right-click (or Control-click) anywhere in the blank space inside the printer list on the left side of the window. Select 'Reset printing system...' from the context menu and confirm your choice.
Click the '+' button below the empty printer list to re-add your printer. If prompted, allow your Mac to download and install the latest printer drivers from the manufacturer.
Update macOS and Microsoft Office
Software bugs affecting print dialog performance are frequently patched in routine updates. Keeping your system and Office suite updated ensures maximum compatibility.
Test Word in Mac Safe Mode
Booting your Mac in Safe Mode clears system caches and prevents background software from launching, which helps determine if third-party software is interfering with Word.
Prevent Printing Freezes with WPS Office for Mac
If Microsoft Word continues to struggle with system freezes and driver conflicts on macOS, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly optimized environment for all your document processing and printing needs without the frustrating lag.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for Mac from the official website or Mac App Store.
- 2. Open Your Document: Right-click your existing .docx file and choose to open it with WPS Writer. Your formatting will remain intact.
- 3. Print Smoothly: Press Command+P to open the print dialog and effortlessly type in your custom page ranges without system freezes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word for Mac freeze specifically when typing page ranges?
Word communicates actively with the printer driver to validate page boundaries as you type. If the printer driver is outdated or has a communication error on macOS, this constant background querying causes the application to lag heavily between keystrokes.
How can I print my document immediately without troubleshooting the freeze?
You can bypass the Word print dialog entirely. Click File > Save As and choose PDF. Open the newly created PDF in Mac Preview or Adobe Acrobat—which handle printing independently—and print your page range from there.
Will uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Office fix this issue?
It might, if the issue stems from corrupted Word application files or a faulty user profile. However, because single-page and PDF printing still work normally, the issue is more frequently linked to the Mac printer driver itself. Always try resetting the printing system before attempting a full Office reinstall.
