How to Fix OneNote Headers and Footers Not Printing
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where headers and footers in Microsoft OneNote are not printing correctly despite showing up in the print preview.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to print notes and documents that contain header and footer formatting from OneNote.
- Observed behavior
- Headers and footers appear correctly in the print preview but print out faintly, incompletely, or entirely outside the printer's physical printable margins.
Before proceeding, check if your printer has sufficient ink or toner and ensure that your paper is loaded correctly, as low ink levels can sometimes cause faint printing.
Verify Printer Margins and Update Printer Drivers
Rule out hardware limitations or outdated printer software by testing other applications and updating your printer drivers.
Often, headers and footers that appear in a digital print preview are cut off because they fall outside the physical, non-printable margins built into the printer hardware itself.
Open another program like Microsoft Word, create a test document with headers and footers, and print it to see if the issue is isolated to OneNote.
Consult your printer's manual to find its minimum margin requirements and ensure your OneNote content is not extending beyond these hardware limits.
Right-click the Start menu, select 'Device Manager', locate your printer under 'Print queues', right-click it, and select 'Update driver'.
Start OneNote in Safe Mode
Launch OneNote in Safe Mode to bypass customized settings and add-ins that might be interfering with the printing process.
Run an Online Repair for Microsoft Office
Use the Windows built-in repair utility to fix underlying software corruption within your Microsoft 365 installation.
Experience Hassle-Free Printing with WPS Office
If Microsoft OneNote printing issues persist, consider using WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free alternative with excellent format compatibility, a familiar user interface, and reliable printing functions without the complex troubleshooting.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free, lightweight installer.
- 2. Install the Application: Run the downloaded file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to set up the software.
- 3. Open and Print Documents: Launch WPS Office to easily open your existing documents, adjust margins, and print with perfectly aligned headers and footers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do OneNote headers and footers appear in the print preview but not on the printed page?
This typically occurs when the headers and footers fall outside the physical printable margins supported by your specific printer hardware. Most printers have a hardcoded unprintable border where the mechanical rollers grip the paper.
Does using the 'Print to OneNote' feature affect how headers and footers are printed?
Yes. If the headers and footers originated in a source document (like a Microsoft Word file) rather than OneNote itself, layout inconsistencies can occur during the digital 'Print to OneNote' transfer process.
How can I check if the printing issue is caused by OneNote or my printer?
You can isolate the issue by creating and printing a test document with headers and footers from another Office application, such as Microsoft Word. If the test document prints perfectly, the problem is likely specific to your OneNote settings.
