How to Fix Microsoft Word Freezing When Printing Long Documents
Question details
User experiences Microsoft Word freezing when attempting to print documents that are longer than four pages, particularly legal-size documents.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing multi-page or legal-size documents from Microsoft Word.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word freezes during the printing process, though the same file prints normally if exported as a PDF.
Ensure your printer is properly connected and turned on, and save any unsaved work in your Word document to prevent data loss before troubleshooting.
Workaround: Save Document as PDF and Print
Since printing as a PDF bypasses Word's native print spooling issues, this is the fastest way to get your long document printed successfully.
In Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Save As', and choose 'PDF' from the file format dropdown menu.
Locate the newly saved PDF file on your computer and open it using your preferred PDF viewer or web browser.
Click the 'Print' icon or press Ctrl+P within the PDF viewer to send the document to your printer without experiencing freezes.
Repair Your Microsoft 365 Installation
Running a repair on Microsoft 365 can fix corrupted application files causing Word to hang or freeze during operations like printing.
Update Microsoft Word and Printer Drivers
Outdated software or outdated printer drivers can cause compatibility issues resulting in application freezes when processing complex print jobs.
Print Long Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word continues to freeze during printing, consider switching to WPS Office. It's a free, lightweight alternative that handles long documents and complex print jobs with ease, while maintaining full compatibility with your existing Word files.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Document: Right-click your long document, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office to load it instantly.
- 3. Print Smoothly: Go to Menu > Print or press Ctrl+P to reliably print your multi-page document without freezing issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word only freeze on documents longer than four pages?
Larger documents require more system memory and printer spooling space. If there is a memory leak, heavy formatting, or a corrupted printer driver, the system might handle small files fine but freeze when processing heavier, sustained loads.
Can a specific font or image cause Word to freeze when printing?
Yes. Corrupted fonts, extremely high-resolution images, or complex formatting can overwhelm the print spooler. This forces Microsoft Word to hang while trying to render the multi-page data for the printer.
Does clearing the print spooler help with Word freezing?
Clearing the Windows print spooler can resolve stuck print jobs and sometimes fix freezing issues. You can do this by opening the Windows 'Services' app, locating 'Print Spooler', and clicking 'Restart'.
Will reinstalling the printer driver always fix the freezing?
Not always. As noted in some cases, Word may still freeze even after reinstalling the printer driver. This usually indicates the issue lies within the Word application itself, an outdated Office version, or document-specific corruption.
