Printing Problems

How to Stop Word Documents from Printing Automatically After OneDrive Sync

John Wilson Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent Word documents from automatically sending print commands when opened on a different computer after being synchronized via OneDrive.

How to Stop Word Documents from Printing Automatically After OneDrive Sync

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening a Word document that has just been synchronized to a second computer via Microsoft OneDrive.
Observed behavior: The document automatically triggers a print job upon opening, without any manual prompt or print dialog being initiated by the user.

Before you start

Before you begin troubleshooting, temporarily pause your print queue or turn off your printer to prevent wasting paper and ink while you test different solutions.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable AutoOpen Macros in Word

Macros embedded in the document or normal template can contain an AutoOpen command that triggers printing as soon as the file loads.

OneDrive itself is purely a file synchronization service and cannot instruct Word to print files. The most common culprit for automatic printing is a Visual Basic (VBA) macro, specifically an 'AutoOpen' or 'AutoExec' script saved within the document or the global Word template.

Open Word in Safe Mode

Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog, type 'winword /safe', and press Enter. This opens Word without running any macros or add-ins.

Access the Trust Center

Navigate to File > Options > Trust Center, and click on 'Trust Center Settings'.

Disable All Macros

Select 'Macro Settings' from the left pane and choose 'Disable all macros without notification'. Click OK to apply the changes.

Inspect for Specific Macros

Open the problematic document. Go to the Developer tab (enable it in Ribbon customization if hidden), click on 'Macros', look for any macro named 'AutoOpen' or 'AutoExec', select it, and click 'Delete'.

Macro Security: Keeping your macro settings on 'Disable with notification' is a good security practice to prevent malicious scripts from running automatically.

Solution 2

Review Word Startup Add-ins

Third-party add-ins loaded during Word's startup phase might contain automated scripts that execute print commands.

Solution 3

Clear Print Queues and Check Printer Defaults

A stuck print job on the second computer's local print spooler can create the illusion of automatic printing when the system reconnects to a document.

Secure Word Processing

Safely Open and Manage Documents with WPS Writer

If complex macro configurations in Microsoft Word are causing unwanted behaviors, WPS Writer offers robust security settings to prevent unauthorized scripts from running. You can easily safely open synchronized documents and manage print settings.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free version of WPS Office and install it on your secondary computer.
2. Adjust Macro Security Settings: Launch WPS Writer, navigate to Menu > Options > Security, and ensure the Macro Security level is set to High to disable automatic macro execution.
3. Open the Synchronized File: Open the affected Word document from your OneDrive folder using WPS Writer. Because macro execution is restricted, the automated print command will be blocked.
4. Save as a Standard Document: To permanently remove the unwanted macro, go to Menu > Save As, and choose the standard WPS Writer Document (.docx) format rather than a macro-enabled format.

Built-in macro security controls to block unwanted automated actionsFully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .dotm)Lightweight application that loads documents quicklyClean, intuitive interface for managing print settings and add-ins

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can OneDrive synchronization settings cause documents to print automatically?

No. OneDrive is strictly a file storage and synchronization service. It ensures the file is identical across devices but does not possess the functionality to command a word processor to print a file upon opening.

What is an AutoOpen macro and how does it work?

An AutoOpen macro is a specialized VBA script saved within a Word document or template. By design, any instructions within this script—such as a print command—are executed immediately and automatically as soon as the file is opened.

Why does the document only print automatically on one computer?

Macro security settings, installed add-ins, and the 'Normal.dotm' template are local to each computer. If the first computer restricts macros or uses a different default template, the AutoOpen command will only successfully run on the second computer where those security measures might be relaxed.

Document & File Issues