Printing Problems

How to Fix Word for Mac Print Preview Showing Documents Backward

John Wilson Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue where Microsoft Word for Mac displays documents backward or mirrored in the Print Preview window.

How to Fix Word for Mac Print Preview Showing Documents Backward

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: macOS (2014 MacBook Pro)
Scenario: Previewing a document before printing in Word.
Observed behavior: The document appears backward in the Print Preview screen, even though the actual printed document comes out completely normal.

Before you start

Ensure your physical printer is turned on and connected to your Mac, and save your current document to prevent any data loss before resetting the system printing settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset the Mac Printing System

Resetting the macOS printing system clears out corrupt printer queues and settings that often cause Print Preview rendering glitches in Word.

This is the most effective solution for resolving rendering conflicts between macOS and Microsoft Office. It will remove all current printer configurations, so you will need your network or USB printer available to reconnect it afterward.

Open System Preferences

Click the Apple menu icon in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer macOS versions).

Go to Printers & Scanners

Locate and click on the Printers & Scanners preference pane.

Reset printing system

Hold down the Control key on your keyboard and click anywhere in the list of printers on the left. Select 'Reset printing system' from the context menu that appears.

Confirm and re-add printers

Confirm the reset when prompted by entering your administrator password. Afterward, click the '+' button to re-add your printer using its latest drivers.

Printer Reconfiguration: You will need to re-add all your previously connected printers and scanners after performing this reset.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft Word for Mac

Installing the latest Office updates can patch known bugs affecting the Print Preview functionality in older versions like 16.66.1.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Flawless Printing Experience on Mac

If Microsoft Word continues to have Print Preview bugs on your MacBook, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for macOS with reliable document rendering and printing features.

1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS installer.
2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded package and follow the on-screen instructions to install WPS Office on your Mac.
3. Open and Print: Open your .docx files in WPS Writer and enjoy an accurate Print Preview and printing experience.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats.Accurate Print Preview and advanced printing settings without rendering bugs.Lightweight software that runs smoothly even on older MacBook models.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Print Preview showing upside down or backward on Mac?

This is typically caused by corrupted macOS printer preference files, an outdated printer driver, or a known rendering bug in the specific version of Microsoft Word you are using.

Will resetting the printing system delete my printer drivers?

No, resetting the printing system removes the printer queues and resets preferences to default, but the actual printer drivers remain installed on your Mac. You simply need to re-add the printer from the settings menu.

Does the backward Print Preview affect the final printed document?

In most cases, including this specific bug reported on Word 16.66.1, the physical document will print normally even though the digital Print Preview displays it backward.

Document & File Issues