Printing Problems

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Printing Issues and Missing Lines

Olivia Miller Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to determine why documents are printing incorrectly (such as printing every other line) or failing to print entirely when using Microsoft 365 applications.

How to Troubleshoot Microsoft 365 Printing Problems

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to print a document from a Microsoft 365 application like Word or Excel.
Observed behavior: The print job fails, or the printer outputs the document incorrectly by skipping every other line, making it unclear whether the fault lies with the printer, Windows settings, or Microsoft 365.

Before you start

Ensure your printer is powered on, has sufficient ink and paper, and is securely connected to your computer's network or USB port before changing software settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Diagnose and Isolate the Printing Issue

Use a process of elimination by printing from alternative applications and blank documents to identify if the issue is with the printer, the document, or the Microsoft 365 suite.

Printing issues can originate from faulty printer drivers, corrupted document files, or damaged Office installations. By testing different applications, you can pinpoint the exact cause of the problem.

Print a test page from WordPad

Press the Windows Key, type 'WordPad', and press Enter. Type a test sentence, then go to File > Print. If this fails, the problem lies with your Windows printer connection or drivers.

Test a blank Microsoft 365 document

If WordPad prints correctly, open the Microsoft 365 app (e.g., Word), create a new Blank Document, type some text, and attempt to print it. If this succeeds, your original document file is likely corrupted.

Run an Online Repair for Office

If both the original file and the blank document fail to print in Microsoft 365, go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Locate Microsoft 365, click Modify, and select 'Online Repair' to fix the application installation.

Printer Troubleshooting: If WordPad also fails to print, you should focus on troubleshooting your hardware. Try reinstalling the printer drivers from the manufacturer's website.

Solution 2

Repair a Corrupted Document

If you discover that only one specific file is failing to print correctly, use the built-in repair tool to fix the document corruption.

Print Your Documents Effortlessly

Use WPS Office to Print Your Documents Successfully

When Microsoft 365 apps are undergoing repairs or failing to print properly, you can use WPS Office to quickly open and print your files without losing any formatting.

1. Download and install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
2. Open your Microsoft document: Launch WPS Office, click on 'Open', and select your existing Microsoft 365 document from your files.
3. Access the print menu: Click the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
4. Print the file: Select your printer from the drop-down list, adjust any necessary print settings, and click 'Print' to output your document.

Seamlessly open and print Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formatsBuilt-in reliable printing engine that bypasses common Office printing glitchesLightweight software that loads quickly without heavy background processes

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my printer printing every other line in Word?

This is typically caused by a misconfigured printer driver, low ink levels, or document corruption. Testing a print job in another application like WordPad can help determine if the issue is specific to the Microsoft Word file or if it is a general hardware problem.

How do I run an online repair for Microsoft 365?

Navigate to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Scroll down to find Microsoft 365, click the three dots (or Modify), select 'Modify', and choose 'Online Repair'. Follow the on-screen prompts to redownload and fix the installation files.

Can a corrupted document cause printing issues?

Yes, if a specific document contains corrupted formatting or hidden code errors, it can cause the printer to skip lines or fail to process the print job. You can test this by copying the text into a brand new, blank document and printing that instead.

Document & File Issues