How to Fix Excel Gridlines Not Printing: Printer and Settings Guide
Question details
The user is unable to get Excel gridlines to appear on printed documents, even after attempting software uninstallation and reinstallation.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a spreadsheet and expecting the cell gridlines to be visible on the physical paper.
- Observed behavior
- Gridlines do not print on the paper, which can be caused by empty or off-brand ink cartridges rather than a software failure.
Print a standard test page from your computer to verify that your printer is functioning correctly and producing clear lines in all colors.
Verify Excel Gridline Print Settings
Ensure that the option to print gridlines is actively enabled within your Excel spreadsheet.
By default, Excel does not print the faint gray gridlines you see on your screen. You must explicitly tell the program to include them in the printed document.
Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab on the Excel ribbon.
Locate the 'Sheet Options' group. Under 'Gridlines', check the box next to 'Print'.
Press Ctrl + P to open the Print Preview screen and verify that the gridlines are visible in the preview.
Check Printer Ink Cartridges and Quality Settings
Resolve physical printer issues where low ink or off-brand cartridges fail to render thin lines.
Easily Print Spreadsheets with Gridlines in WPS Office
If you are experiencing ongoing software glitches with your current spreadsheet tool, switch to WPS Office. It provides an intuitive, lightweight spreadsheet editor that handles page layout and print settings seamlessly.
- 1. Open your spreadsheet in WPS Office: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing document.
- 2. Navigate to Page Layout: Click on the 'Page Layout' tab located in the top menu ribbon.
- 3. Check Gridlines to Print: Find the 'Gridlines' section and tick the 'Print' checkbox.
- 4. Print the Document: Go to Menu > Print or press Ctrl + P to preview and print your spreadsheet with perfectly rendered gridlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my gridlines show on the screen but not on the printed paper?
Screen gridlines are visual guides, but they are turned off for printing by default. You must check the 'Print' box under Page Layout > Sheet Options > Gridlines. If it is checked and still doesn't print, your printer ink might be low, or print quality settings may be set too low to render fine lines.
Can I use borders instead of gridlines to ensure they print?
Yes. Cell borders act as formatting rather than background guides and are much more reliable for printing. Select your data range, navigate to the Home tab, click the Borders dropdown, and select 'All Borders'.
Does reinstalling Excel fix printer-related missing gridlines?
Typically, no. If the 'Print Gridlines' setting is already enabled and gridlines still fail to print, the issue usually stems from printer hardware, such as clogged print heads, draft quality settings, or off-brand ink cartridges, not a corrupted software installation.
