Printing Problems

How to Fix Word Margin Shifts in Print Preview and PDF on Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users experience shifting document margins or 'margins too small' warnings when viewing documents in Print Preview, exporting to PDF, or printing from Microsoft Word on macOS.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Previewing, exporting to PDF, or printing a document.
Observed behavior: The document margins shift from their intended layout during preview or export, often accompanied by an error prompt stating the margins are too small for the printer.

Before you start

Ensure your printer is properly connected to your Mac and that you have installed the latest manufacturer printer drivers, as generic drivers may incorrectly report minimum margin limits.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Printer Paper Size and Borderless Settings

Fix layout shifts by matching your document margins to the printer's minimum margin requirements or by enabling borderless printing options.

Margin shifts typically occur because Microsoft Word relies on the active printer's hardware margins to render the layout in both Print Preview and PDF exports. If your document margins are smaller than what the printer physically supports, macOS forces a layout shift to prevent content from being cut off.

Open Page Setup

In Microsoft Word, click on the 'File' menu at the top of the screen and select 'Page Setup'.

Select the Correct Paper Size

Click the 'Paper Size' dropdown menu. Browse the list for your specific paper size. If your printer supports it, look for a 'Borderless' version of your paper size (e.g., 'US Letter (Borderless)') and select it.

Adjust Custom Paper Sizes

If a borderless option is not available, click 'Manage Custom Sizes' in the Paper Size menu. Select your paper size and manually set the non-printable area margins (Top, Bottom, Left, Right) to 0, then click 'OK'.

Fix Remaining Margin Warnings

If you still receive a 'margins too small' prompt when trying to print, click the 'Fix' button on the prompt to allow Word to automatically adjust the layout to fit the printer's hard limits.

Documenting the Issue: If the problem persists and you need to ask for help on support forums, press 'Command + Shift + 4' on your Mac to capture a screenshot of the Print Preview showing the shifted margins.

Print and Export Flawlessly

Use WPS Office to Print and Export PDFs Without Margin Shifts

WPS Office provides an independent, highly reliable print and PDF export engine on macOS. By opening your document in WPS Writer, you can bypass Word's strict hardware margin checks and ensure your PDF layout remains exactly as intended.

1. Open Your Document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the affected .docx file.
2. Verify Document Layout: Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab to confirm your margins are set exactly how you want them.
3. Export to PDF or Print: Click the 'Menu' button and choose 'Export to PDF' to generate a perfect digital copy without margin shifts, or choose 'Print' to send it directly to your hardware.

Directly open and edit Microsoft Word (.docx) files natively.Export to PDF with 100% layout and margin accuracy, unaffected by printer drivers.Built-in print preview that matches your final digital output perfectly.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word say my margins are too small?

This warning triggers when your document's margins are set narrower than the physical unprintable area required by your specific printer's hardware mechanism.

How can I force Word to print outside the default margins on Mac?

You can only print outside standard margins if your printer hardware supports borderless printing. You must select a borderless paper size profile in the Page Setup dialog to unlock this.

Why do my document margins look different in a PDF export than in Word?

On macOS, Word often relies on the default printer's formatting metrics to generate PDFs. If the printer driver enforces a minimum margin, Word alters the layout during the PDF conversion process.

How do I take a screenshot of my print preview on a Mac?

Press Command + Shift + 4 on your keyboard, then click and drag the crosshairs over the print preview window to capture exactly what you see.

Document & File Issues