How to Print Gridlines in Excel on iPad
Question details
The user needs to know how to make worksheet gridlines appear on the printed paper when printing an Excel file from an iPad.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- iPad
- Scenario
- Preparing an Excel workbook for physical printing directly from an iPad device.
- Observed behavior
- Worksheet gridlines are visible on the iPad screen while editing but are completely missing from the final printed document.
Ensure your iPad is connected to an AirPrint-compatible printer on the same Wi-Fi network and that your Excel app is updated to the latest version.
Enable Gridlines in iPad Print Settings
Adjust the print options directly within the Excel app on your iPad before sending the document to the printer.
By default, Excel for iPad hides gridlines during printing to give documents a cleaner look. You can manually enable this feature directly in the print setup.
Launch the Excel app on your iPad, open your workbook, and tap the File icon (or the three-dot menu icon) at the top of the screen. Select 'Print' from the dropdown list.
Choose 'AirPrint' or select your connected printer. Tap on the 'Print Options' or 'Layout' settings available on the preview screen.
Locate the 'Print Gridlines' switch and toggle it to the 'On' position. The print preview should update to display the gridlines.
Once you verify the gridlines are visible in the preview, tap 'Print' in the upper right corner to send the document to your printer.
Configure Gridlines Using Excel for Desktop
If the print gridline option is missing or unavailable on your iPad app, use a desktop computer as a fallback to configure the print layout.
Easily Print Worksheets with Gridlines on iPad Using WPS Office
WPS Office offers a comprehensive and free mobile spreadsheet tool for your iPad, making it simple to configure page layouts and print worksheets with gridlines directly from your device.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and open the free WPS Office app on your iPad.
- 2. Open Your Workbook: Locate and open your Excel (.xlsx) file within the WPS Spreadsheet application.
- 3. Access Print Setup: Tap the 'Tools' icon at the bottom, select the 'File' tab, and tap 'Print'.
- 4. Enable Gridlines: Navigate to 'Page Setup' or 'Print Options' in the menu, and toggle on the 'Print Gridlines' setting.
- 5. Print the File: Tap 'Print' to send the document to your AirPrint-enabled printer with the gridlines included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my Excel gridlines showing on the screen but not printing?
By default, Excel displays gridlines on the screen to help you align and edit data, but disables them for printing to provide a cleaner paper output. You must manually enable the 'Print Gridlines' option in the Page Layout or Print settings before printing.
How do I make gridlines darker when printing from an iPad?
Mobile spreadsheet apps generally do not support changing the default gridline color or thickness. If your printed gridlines are too light, select your data range and apply 'All Borders' from the Home tab. Borders print as solid black lines and are much more visible than default gridlines.
Can I print gridlines for only a specific part of my worksheet?
The 'Print Gridlines' setting universally applies to the entire active printed sheet. If you only want lines around specific data sections, leave the print gridlines setting turned off. Instead, apply standard cell borders to only the specific range of cells you wish to outline.
