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How to Fix Persian Numbers Printing as Western Digits in Excel
Question details
Users need to resolve an issue where Persian digits change to Western numerals when a spreadsheet is printed or exported to a PDF file.
- Product
- Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a spreadsheet or saving it as a PDF when multiple fonts are used within a single cell containing Persian numerals.
- Observed behavior
- Persian digits display correctly on the screen but are converted to Western digits in the printed output or saved PDF document.
Before proceeding, test the output using 'Microsoft Print to PDF' to confirm whether the issue is an Excel rendering bug or a physical printer driver problem.
Apply a Consistent Font to the Entire Cell
Using a single, fully supported font for the entire cell prevents Excel's print engine from misinterpreting mixed fonts and reverting to Western digits.
Excel sometimes struggles to render complex scripts properly during print spooling when different fonts, such as Arial and Calibri, are mixed within the exact same cell.
By unifying the font, you ensure the Persian characters retain their intended encoding during the print process.
Click and drag to highlight all cells containing the Persian numbers that are printing incorrectly.
Go to the 'Home' tab and select a font from the dropdown that fully supports Persian digits, such as Tahoma, B Nazanin, or Arial. Ensure this font is applied to the whole cell, not just part of the text.
Press Ctrl + P to open the Print Preview screen and check if the digits now appear as Persian numerals.
Use Programmatic Digit Replacement
If standard formatting fails, you can use formulas or a macro to programmatically replace standard digits with standard Persian Unicode characters.
Report the Rendering Issue to Microsoft
Because this known issue spans multiple versions of Excel and affects built-in PDF exports, reporting it helps Microsoft prioritize a software patch.
Try WPS Office for Accurate Document Printing
If Microsoft Excel continues to struggle with rendering Persian numerals in print or PDF outputs, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with robust handling of international fonts and complex scripts.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website, download the free version, and follow the simple installation instructions.
- 2. Open your spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx file containing the Persian digits.
- 3. Print or export: Go to Menu > Print or select 'Export to PDF' to generate a document with correctly rendered Persian numerals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Persian numbers display correctly on screen but not in print?
Screen rendering and print spooling use different graphical subsystems in Excel. When multiple fonts are mixed in a single cell, the print engine may fail to apply the complex script font properties correctly, causing the numbers to revert to standard Western digits.
Does changing my physical printer fix the Persian digit printing issue?
No. The issue typically occurs even when using virtual printers like 'Microsoft Print to PDF' or the built-in 'Save as PDF' feature, indicating it is an application-level rendering bug rather than a physical printer hardware fault.
Which fonts are best for printing Persian text in Excel?
It is recommended to use dedicated Persian or Arabic fonts such as Tahoma, B Nazanin, or IranSans. More importantly, ensure the entire cell uses the exact same font to avoid rendering conflicts during print or PDF export.
