Printing Problems

Fix Pictures in Word Not Printing or Appearing in PDF Files

Maira Mehtab Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where visual elements in a Word document fail to render on printed pages or in exported PDF files.

How to Fix Pictures in Word Not Printing or Appearing in PDF Files

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a document or exporting it to a PDF file that contains images, screenshots, shapes, or text boxes.
Observed behavior: Images, screenshots, shapes, and text boxes display correctly on the screen while editing but are completely missing from the printed paper or the final PDF export.

Before you start

Ensure that your printer has sufficient ink and that your printer drivers are up to date before modifying application settings, as outdated drivers can also cause rendering failures.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable the Print Drawings Option in Word Settings

This is the most common fix. Adjusting Word's display options ensures that floating objects and shapes are processed during printing and PDF exporting.

Microsoft Word includes a dedicated setting that controls whether drawings and floating objects are included when a document is printed or converted to a PDF. If this setting is disabled, objects that use specific text wrapping styles will simply disappear in the final output.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word. Click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner of the ribbon, and select 'Options' located at the very bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Display Settings

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Display' in the left-hand navigation pane to reveal screen and print rendering settings.

Enable Drawing Printing

Scroll down to the 'Printing options' section. Check the box next to 'Print drawings created in Word' and click 'OK' to save your changes. Try printing or saving your PDF again.

Enable the Print Drawings Option in Word Settings

Applies to Specific Text Wrapping: This setting directly affects objects such as images, shapes, and text boxes that use text wrapping styles other than 'In Line with Text'.

Solution 2

Run Word in Safe Mode and Repair Office

Use this solution if modifying the display settings does not work, which indicates a problematic add-in or a corrupted Office installation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my pictures turning into blank boxes when I print?

This typically happens if the 'Picture Placeholders' option is enabled to speed up document scrolling, or if the 'Print drawings created in Word' option is disabled in your Display settings under File > Options.

Does the drawing print setting affect documents saved as PDFs?

Yes, Word's internal printing options also govern its PDF export engine. If drawing printing is disabled, any floating images, shapes, or text boxes will be excluded from the generated PDF file.

What does 'In Line with Text' mean for printing images?

When an image's text wrapping is set to 'In Line with Text', Word treats it like a standard text character rather than a floating object. These images usually print without issue, whereas floating images (like 'Square' or 'Tight' wrapping) require the 'Print drawings' setting to be enabled.

Why do shapes appear on-screen but disappear in Print Preview?

Print Preview reflects exactly what the printer or PDF engine will receive. If the setting to print drawings and floating objects is turned off, Word intentionally hides them in the Print Preview to accurately represent the final output.

Document & File Issues