How to Fix Word Cannot Print a Specified Page Range
Question details
Users are unable to print a specific range of pages in Microsoft Word, particularly when the document contains numerous tables and NUMPAGES fields.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a specific selection or range of pages from a complex document.
- Observed behavior
- The print job fails silently without displaying any error messages.
Ensure your printer is properly connected and set as the default printer, and that your print spooler service is running normally.
Update Microsoft 365 Apps and Windows
Installing the latest updates for Microsoft 365 and Windows resolves underlying bugs that prevent page range printing.
Microsoft periodically releases patches that address silent printing failures. Updating Office to build 16.0.14729.20254 or later, and updating Windows to build 19044.1466 or later, has been confirmed to resolve this issue.
Open Microsoft Word, click on 'File', select 'Account', then click 'Update Options' and choose 'Update Now'.
Open Windows Settings, navigate to 'Update & Security', and click 'Check for updates' to install pending system updates.
After the updates are installed, restart your computer and relaunch Microsoft Word to apply the fixes.
Adjust NUMPAGES Fields and Cursor Position
Modifying the document by removing NUMPAGES fields or changing the cursor position can act as a workaround for the printing glitch.
Use WPS Office to Print Complex Documents Smoothly
If Microsoft Word continues to struggle with printing specific page ranges in complex documents, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. It handles complex DOCX files seamlessly, ensuring your print jobs execute perfectly without layout errors.
- 1. Open Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word document.
- 2. Access Print Settings: Click the 'Menu' button and select 'Print', or simply press 'Ctrl + P'.
- 3. Print Page Range: Under the 'Page range' section, choose 'Pages', enter your desired range, and click 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word fail to print only a specific page range?
This often occurs due to software bugs in certain builds of Microsoft Office when processing complex elements, such as multiple tables or NUMPAGES fields, causing the print job to fail silently.
How can I view accurate section and page numbers in Word?
Right-click the status bar at the bottom of the Word application window and enable 'Formatted Page Number' and 'Section'. This will display precise page data to help you troubleshoot.
Is there a quick workaround if I cannot update Word right now?
Yes, you can temporarily save your Word document as a PDF file ('File' > 'Save As' > 'PDF') and then print the specific page range using any PDF reader.
