'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Find Printer Metrics Layout Settings in Modern Microsoft Word
Question details
The user needs to locate the "Use printer metrics to lay out document" option in modern Microsoft Word to prevent extra pages from being generated when printing to PDF.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Preparing and formatting a document for accurate PDF export, such as for Amazon publishing, without unwanted blank pages.
- Observed behavior
- The specific printer metrics compatibility option does not appear in current Microsoft 365 formats, causing pagination discrepancies when using PDF writer tools.
Ensure your document is fully saved before changing file formats, as switching to an older legacy format to access compatibility settings may disable newer Word features.
Access Printer Metrics via Legacy .doc Format
Save your document in the older Word 97-2003 format to reveal legacy compatibility settings, including the printer metrics layout option.
Modern Microsoft 365 documents (.docx) use a newer rendering engine that hides obsolete layout options. To access the "Use printer metrics to lay out document" setting, you must force Word into compatibility mode by using the older .doc extension.
Go to File > Save As, choose a location, and select "Word 97-2003 Document (*.doc)" from the "Save as type" dropdown menu.
Click on File > Options, then select "Advanced" from the left-hand sidebar.
Scroll down to the very bottom to find the "Compatibility options for" section. Ensure your current document is selected in the dropdown.
Expand the Layout Options (or click "Compatibility Options" depending on your version) and check the box for "Use printer metrics to lay out document". Click OK to save.
Optimize Document for PDF Export without Legacy Settings
Use Word's built-in PDF export and ensure consistent page setup to avoid extra pages without needing the legacy setting.
Export PDFs Perfectly without Formatting Issues using WPS Office
Struggling with missing legacy settings and extra blank pages in Microsoft Word? WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with a built-in, highly accurate PDF exporter. Enjoy seamless formatting, precise pagination, and full compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats—all for free.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document. No format conversion is required.
- 2. Check page layout: Navigate to the Page Layout tab to easily confirm your margins and paper size perfectly match your publishing needs.
- 3. Export directly to PDF: Click Menu > Export to PDF. WPS Writer ensures your pagination stays exactly as it appears on screen without injecting extra blank pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Word insert extra blank pages when printing to PDF?
Extra pages usually appear due to mismatched paper sizes between the document layout and the virtual PDF printer driver, hidden section breaks, or paragraph formatting like "Page break before" being applied to empty lines.
Is the "Use printer metrics" setting strictly necessary for Amazon KDP?
No. While sometimes recommended in older tutorials to force accurate pagination, modern best practices suggest using built-in PDF export tools and ensuring your document's page size precisely matches your Amazon KDP trim size.
Can I permanently enable legacy compatibility options in modern Word 365?
No, modern versions of Microsoft Word hide these obsolete options for new .docx files so they can utilize the updated document rendering engine. They only appear when actively editing older .doc files in compatibility mode.
