Printing Problems

How to Fix the Universal Print Selection Error in SharePoint

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users encounter an error stating 'Unable to use Universal Print—try the local server printer' when attempting to print documents directly from SharePoint.

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to print a document from SharePoint using the cloud-based Universal Print service.
Observed behavior: The printing process fails, and the system prompts the user to bypass Universal Print and try using the local server printer instead.

Before you start

Verify that your local printer is connected and functional, and ensure you have a way to contact your Microsoft 365 IT administrator, as fixing this issue requires access to tenant-level printer configurations.

Solution 1Recommended

Review Microsoft 365 Universal Print Configurations

Contact your administrator to check the Universal Print settings and known service issues in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Universal Print errors in SharePoint are often caused by misconfigured printer shares, missing user permissions, or temporary Microsoft service outages. These settings can only be managed by administrators.

Contact your IT Administrator

Reach out to your organization's Microsoft 365 administrator and provide them with the exact error message: 'Unable to use Universal Print—try the local server printer'.

Review Troubleshooting Guidance

Ask the administrator to consult Microsoft's official Universal Print troubleshooting documentation to verify that the printer is correctly registered and shared with your user account.

Check for Known Issues

The administrator should review the Microsoft 365 Service Health dashboard to see if there are any ongoing outages or known bugs affecting Universal Print integration with SharePoint.

Solution 2

Investigate Windows Server Printing Configuration

Determine if the issue is isolated to SharePoint or affects the entire system, and troubleshoot the Windows Server print infrastructure accordingly.

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Edit and Print Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office

If SharePoint's Universal Print is preventing you from printing your documents, you can easily download them and use WPS Office to print directly to your local printers. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that manages all your document needs without complex cloud printing configurations.

1. Download the Document: Select the file in SharePoint and click 'Download' to save a local copy to your computer.
2. Open with WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the downloaded document.
3. Print Locally: Click the 'Menu' button, select 'Print' (or press Ctrl+P), choose your local printer from the list, and click 'Print'.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does SharePoint display the 'Unable to use Universal Print' error?

This error typically occurs when the Universal Print service is misconfigured by the administrator, experiencing a cloud outage, or when the user attempting to print lacks the proper permissions to access the assigned cloud printer.

Can I bypass Universal Print and use a local printer?

Yes. When you receive this error, the system usually prompts you to try a local server printer. You can bypass the cloud service by manually selecting a local or network printer directly installed on your computer.

Do I need admin rights to fix Universal Print errors in SharePoint?

Yes, troubleshooting and fixing Universal Print configurations require a Microsoft 365 global administrator or printer administrator role, as it involves managing tenant-level settings and printer shares.

Does this printing error affect other Microsoft 365 applications?

It depends on the root cause. If the issue is specific to SharePoint's cloud integration, other apps might print successfully. If there is a broader Universal Print connector or Windows Server issue, printing may fail across all applications.

Document & File Issues