Fix Word and Excel Files That Won’t Print in Microsoft Office 2013
Question details
The user needs to restore printing for Microsoft Office 2013 documents, including Word files and XLSX workbooks, which appear locked or cannot be printed.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2013 Word and Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing documents and spreadsheets from multiple Office 2013 applications.
- Observed behavior
- Both Word and Excel files fail to print. No specific error message has been provided.
Record the exact error message, if any, and note whether the print job appears in the printer queue. Confirm that the intended printer is powered on, connected, and selected under File > Print.
Test printing outside Office to identify the source of the problem
Start here to determine whether the issue affects the printer system or only Office documents.
Open an affected file in Word or Excel, select File > Print, and verify the selected printer. Try printing one page and record any error message.
Open a simple web page in your browser, press Ctrl+P, select the same printer, and print one page. If this also fails, follow the Windows printer troubleshooting steps below.
In Word, select File > New > Blank document, type a short sentence, and try File > Print. In Excel, create a blank workbook, enter text in cell A1, and try printing it. If new files print but existing files do not, focus on document permissions or file-specific problems.
Check the Windows printer queue, spooler, and driver
Use these checks on Windows when the same printer also fails from a browser or another non-Office application.
Check document restrictions and repair Microsoft Office 2013
Use this approach when other applications print successfully but Word or Excel still cannot print.
Print Word Documents and Excel Workbooks with WPS Office
WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative with a familiar interface and support for Microsoft Word and Excel formats, making migration straightforward. Try printing unrestricted documents in WPS Writer or Spreadsheets while troubleshooting Office 2013; WPS does not repair Windows printer faults or bypass document permissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do both Word and Excel fail to print?
They may share a printer connection, driver, or Windows print spooler problem, or the Office installation may need repair. Print from a browser using Ctrl+P and select the same printer. If that succeeds, test new Word and Excel files to narrow the issue to Office or particular documents.
Can a read-only Word document or protected Excel worksheet still print?
Usually, yes. Read-only status limits editing, and ordinary worksheet protection does not normally block printing. Try File > Print. Rights-managed documents can explicitly restrict printing; check File > Info and any permission messages, then contact the file owner if access is denied.
What should I do if print jobs stay in the queue?
On Windows, open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click the printer, and select See what's printing. Cancel stuck jobs and check that printing is not paused. If the queue remains stuck, open services.msc and restart Print Spooler, with administrator approval if required.
Where do I repair Office 2013?
Close Office applications, then open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Select Microsoft Office 2013, click Change, and choose the available repair option. Some installations offer Quick Repair and Online Repair; Online Repair requires an internet connection.
Can WPS Office print my existing Word and XLSX files?
WPS Writer supports Word documents, and WPS Spreadsheets supports XLSX workbooks. Open the file in the corresponding application, select File > Print, choose the printer, and review the preview. Printing still requires a working printer and permission to print the document.
