How to Fix Missing Header or Footer Images When Printing Word on Mac
Question details
Users are unable to see header or footer images in Print Preview or on printed pages when using newer Macs.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac (M1 MacBook Pro / macOS)
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a Word document or template that contains graphics in the header or footer.
- Observed behavior
- Header and footer images are completely missing from the Print Preview and the final printed document, even though the 'Print Background Images' setting is checked.
Verify that your printer has sufficient ink and ensure the missing images are actively visible on the standard document editing screen before troubleshooting print settings.
Enable Drawing Objects in Print Preferences
The most common reason for images disappearing from printed headers or footers is that Word is not configured to print drawing objects.
Microsoft Word for Mac separates standard text printing from graphical object printing to save ink and rendering time. Enabling this specific setting forces the application to render shapes, images, and logos inserted into the document headers and footers.
Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac. Click on 'Word' in the top-left corner of the macOS menu bar and select 'Preferences' from the dropdown menu.
In the Word Preferences window, locate the 'Output and Sharing' row and click on the 'Print' icon.
Under the 'Print options' section, find the checkbox labeled 'Drawing Objects' and ensure it is checked.
Close the preferences window, open your affected document, and press Command + P. Check the Print Preview to confirm the header and footer images are now visible.
Adjust Image Margins and Table Layouts
Images placed inside tables or extending beyond the physical printable margins of the page may be omitted by your printer.
Update Mac Printer Drivers
Compatibility issues between newer macOS architectures (like Apple Silicon M1) and outdated printer drivers can cause graphics to drop during printing.
Print Documents with Headers and Footers Flawlessly in WPS Office
Bypass complicated print settings and formatting glitches by printing your documents with WPS Office. It provides full compatibility with Microsoft Word documents and ensures all graphics print exactly as they appear on screen.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for Mac from the official WPS website.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the Microsoft Word document containing the problematic headers and footers.
- 3. Print with Confidence: Press Command + P to open the print dialog. Verify the images in the Print Preview and click Print to get your perfect document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do images show on screen but not in Print Preview on Mac?
This typically occurs when 'Drawing Objects' or 'Print Background Images' are disabled in your word processor's print preferences. Enabling these options forces the application to render graphical elements for the printer.
Does the Apple M1 chip affect how Word documents print?
Transitioning to a newer architecture like the Apple M1 or M2 can occasionally trigger compatibility issues with older printer drivers. Updating to the latest macOS printer drivers from your manufacturer usually resolves these graphic processing errors.
How do I fix header images that get cut off at the edge of the page?
If a header image extends beyond the physical hardware margins of your printer, it will get cut off. You can fix this by shrinking the image to fit inside the margins, or by selecting a 'borderless' paper size in the print dialog if your printer supports it.
