Printing Problems

How to Fix Surface Pro Cannot Print Office Documents

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to print documents from their Surface Pro because the device fails to send print jobs to the printer successfully.

Product: Office Applications
Device & OS: Windows (Surface Pro)
Scenario: Attempting to print a document from an Office application to a locally connected or network printer.
Observed behavior: The Surface Pro does not send the document to the printer, resulting in a failed or stalled print job without producing a printed page.

Before you start

Ensure your Surface Pro is securely connected to the printer via Wi-Fi or USB, and confirm that the printer is powered on with sufficient paper and ink.

Solution 1Recommended

Print a Windows Test Page to Check Hardware

Printing a test page directly from Windows helps determine if the issue lies with the printer hardware, the network connection, or your specific Office application.

By bypassing the Office application and printing directly from the Windows operating system, you can easily isolate the root cause of the communication failure.

Open Windows Settings

Click the Start button on your Surface Pro and select the Settings gear icon, or press Win + I.

Navigate to Printers & Scanners

Click on 'Bluetooth & devices' in the left sidebar, then select 'Printers & scanners' from the right pane.

Select Your Printer

Click on the specific printer you are trying to use from the provided list.

Print a Test Page

Scroll down to the 'Printer settings' section and click on 'Print a test page'.

Evaluating the Result: If the test page prints successfully, your printer hardware and Windows connection are working perfectly. The issue is likely isolated to the Office application you are using.

Solution 2

Test Printing from Another Application

Checking other non-Office applications isolates whether a specific program's print module is malfunctioning.

Solution 3

Restart the Windows Print Spooler Service

Restarting the Print Spooler service can clear out stalled print jobs that are preventing your Surface Pro from sending new documents.

Seamless Printing with WPS Office

Print Documents Flawlessly on Surface Pro with WPS Office

If your current Office software frequently fails to communicate with your printer, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides an incredibly stable printing module that runs smoothly on Windows devices like the Surface Pro, ensuring your documents always reach the printer.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office on your Surface Pro and open the document you wish to print.
2. Access the Print Menu: Click the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply press Ctrl + P.
3. Select Your Printer: In the Print dialog box, choose your active printer from the 'Name' dropdown menu.
4. Print the Document: Adjust your desired settings (like copies or pages) and click the 'Print' button to send the job directly to the printer.

Highly optimized print spooler communication ensures your documents print correctly every time.Fully compatible with all Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight architecture uses fewer system resources on your Surface Pro.Free and intuitive interface makes migrating from other Office suites completely seamless.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Surface Pro show the printer as offline?

A printer may appear offline on your Surface Pro if it is disconnected from your Wi-Fi network, turned off, or if the printer driver is outdated. Verify the printer's network status and try removing and re-adding the printer in Windows Settings.

How do I clear a stuck print queue on my Surface Pro?

To clear a stuck queue, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click 'Open print queue'. Right-click any stuck documents and select 'Cancel'. If they won't delete, restart the Print Spooler service via services.msc.

Can I print a PDF directly from my Surface Pro without extra software?

Yes. You can open PDF files using the built-in Microsoft Edge browser or WPS Office, both of which allow you to press Ctrl + P to send the document directly to your connected printer.

Document & File Issues