'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Word for Mac Printing Lines with Track Changes
Question details
Users experience unwanted lines and duplicated red markup when attempting to print Word documents while Track Changes is turned on.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Printing a document with Track Changes enabled.
- Observed behavior
- The printer outputs unwanted lines and duplicated red markup instead of the expected tracked changes formatting.
Ensure your printer is properly connected, turned on, and able to print test pages from other applications before troubleshooting Word-specific issues.
Update macOS, Office for Mac, and Printer Drivers
Outdated software can cause communication errors between Word and your printer. Updating ensures you have the latest bug fixes.
Click the Apple menu and select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences'), then go to 'General' > 'Software Update' to install pending OS updates.
Open Microsoft Word, go to the 'Help' menu at the top of the screen, and select 'Check for Updates' to install the latest version of Office.
Visit your printer manufacturer's official website to download and install the latest printer drivers specifically designed for your macOS version.
Transfer Content to a Blank Document
If updating doesn't work, the document itself might be corrupted. Copying the text without the final paragraph mark leaves the corrupted data behind.
Print Tracked Changes Without Errors Using WPS Office
If Microsoft Word continues to struggle with corrupted documents or printing glitches, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a free, seamless, and highly compatible environment for editing and printing Word documents on Mac without losing your tracked changes.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document containing the tracked changes.
- 3. Print Without Glitches: Go to Menu > Print, select your preferred markup printing options, and print the document cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word for Mac print unwanted lines with Track Changes enabled?
This issue is typically caused by outdated printer drivers, pending Office for Mac updates, or underlying document corruption affecting how markup data is sent to the Mac printer spooler.
How can I print my document without showing the tracked changes?
In the Print dialog box on Word for Mac, look for the 'Copies & Pages' dropdown menu. Select 'Microsoft Word' and change the 'Print What' setting from 'Document showing markup' to simply 'Document'.
What is the final paragraph mark and why should I avoid copying it?
The final paragraph mark (¶) at the very end of a Word document stores critical formatting data, section breaks, and potentially corrupted background code. Leaving it behind when copying text into a new file often resolves unexplained document errors.
