Printing Problems

How to Fix Microsoft Word Printing Documents in a Very Small Font

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Word documents are printing with unusually small text, despite PDFs printing at the correct size.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Printing Documents in a Very Small Font

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing text documents from Microsoft Word on a new computer.
Observed behavior: The text in the printed Word documents is significantly scaled down and unusually small, while other file types like PDFs print normally.

Before you start

Verify that your printer drivers are properly installed on the new computer, and confirm that the paper size in your printer tray matches the paper size set in your document.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Print Scaling and Hide Document Markup

Word will often automatically shrink the document's printed text to accommodate track changes, comment balloons, or unintended multi-page scaling settings.

When a document contains comments or tracked changes, Microsoft Word may reduce the scale of the page to print the markup balloons in the margins. Disabling the markup print settings or adjusting the page scaling resolves the most common causes of small printed fonts.

Open Print Settings

Click on File in the top ribbon and select Print, or press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.

Check Page Scaling

Look at the very last drop-down menu under Settings (which usually defaults to '1 Page Per Sheet'). Click it and ensure 'No Scaling' is selected, rather than a setting that forces scaling to a specific paper size.

Disable Print Markup

Click the first drop-down menu under Settings (usually labeled 'Print All Pages'). Look at the bottom of this menu list and uncheck 'Print Markup'. The preview should refresh and display the text at its normal size.

Disable Print Scaling and Hide Document Markup

Quick Workaround: If you are in a rush, saving the document as a PDF and printing the PDF file directly will bypass Word's internal scaling and markup formatting issues.

Solution 2

Verify Font Size and Normal Style Settings

Incorrect default style settings or accidentally applied subscript/superscript formatting can make standard text print much smaller than expected.

Print Documents Seamlessly with WPS Writer

Avoid frustrating print scaling and formatting issues by using WPS Writer. It features an intuitive, what-you-see-is-what-you-get printing interface that guarantees your documents will print exactly as they appear on screen without unexpected shrinking.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to print.
2. Access Print Settings: Click the Menu icon in the top left corner and select Print, or press Ctrl + P.
3. Verify Print Zoom: In the print dialog, check the 'Print Zoom' section and ensure it is set to print at actual size without unwanted scaling.
4. Preview and Print: Review the accurate real-time Print Preview on the right side of the window, then click Print.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) files and formattingStraightforward print dialog with clear, easy-to-manage page scaling optionsBuilt-in 'Export to PDF' feature for secure, reliable printingLightweight, fast, and completely free to use

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word document look normal on screen but print extremely small?

This commonly happens when Word automatically shrinks your document to make room for track changes or comment balloons in the margins. It can also occur if 'Print to fit paper size' scaling is enabled in your print dialog.

How do I stop Word from printing track changes and comments?

Go to File > Print. Under the Settings section, click the first drop-down menu (which usually says 'Print All Pages') and uncheck 'Print Markup' at the bottom of the list.

Can printer driver issues cause documents to print in a small font?

Yes. If Word's internal settings are correct but the document still prints small, an outdated or corrupted printer driver might be misinterpreting the page size. Updating your printer drivers from the manufacturer's website can resolve this.

Will saving the Word document as a PDF fix the printing issue?

Saving or exporting the document as a PDF locks the layout and formatting. Printing the resulting PDF typically bypasses Word's specific markup scaling rules, ensuring the document prints at the intended size.

Document & File Issues