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How to Fix Word Letterhead Logos That Do Not Print
Question details
Users are experiencing an issue where letterhead logos in Microsoft Word appear correctly in Print Preview and exported PDFs, but fail to print on physical paper.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a Word document containing letterhead graphics or logos.
- Observed behavior
- The letterhead logos display normally in Print Preview and exported PDFs but are completely missing when the document is printed out on paper.
Ensure your printer is properly connected, has adequate ink or toner, and that its drivers are fully updated before proceeding with software-specific troubleshooting.
Apply the Microsoft Service-Side Fix
Microsoft has deployed a background service-side patch for this known graphical printing issue. Restarting your applications will typically allow the fix to take effect.
Since this was identified as a service-side bug by the product team, no complex configuration changes are needed. The patch is delivered automatically to your Microsoft Office installation.
Save all active documents to ensure you do not lose any unsaved progress during the restart.
Completely close out of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and any other Office programs you currently have running.
Launch Microsoft Word again. Opening the application will force it to connect to Microsoft's services and apply the deployed fix.
Open the document containing your letterhead logo and attempt to print it to verify the issue is resolved.
Manually Update Microsoft Office
If restarting the application does not pull down the service-side patch, manually checking for Office updates will force the latest bug fixes to install.
Gather Version Details and Contact Support
If updating and restarting does not resolve the missing letterhead logo, you will need to find your specific Word version to request further assistance from Microsoft Support.
Print Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word printing bugs are slowing down your workflow, consider trying WPS Office. It is a powerful, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that processes graphics flawlessly, ensuring that what you see in the preview is exactly what prints on the page.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install the software: Run the downloaded file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to install WPS Office on your device.
- 3. Open and print your document: Open your problematic Word document using WPS Writer and proceed to print it with your letterhead logos intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do images show in Word Print Preview but fail to print?
This is often caused by a service-side bug within Microsoft Office, but it can also happen if specific printing settings are disabled. Ensuring 'Print background colors and images' or 'Print drawings created in Word' is enabled in your Word Display settings can sometimes fix standard graphic issues.
How do I force background graphics to print in Word?
Go to File > Options > Display. Under the 'Printing options' section, check the boxes for 'Print drawings created in Word' and 'Print background colors and images', then click OK to apply the changes.
Does exporting a document to PDF bypass Word printing errors?
Yes. If Word's internal printing engine is failing to output logos, saving the document as a PDF (File > Save As > PDF) and printing it through a dedicated PDF reader is a highly effective temporary workaround.
Can an outdated printer driver cause missing letterhead logos?
Absolutely. If your printer driver struggles to process certain image layers or graphic formats sent by Word, parts of the document may be dropped during the print job. Updating your printer drivers from the manufacturer's website is always recommended.
