Office Settings & Configuration

Why the Word PRINTDATE Field Shows an Old Date and How to Update It

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user wants to know why the PRINTDATE field in their Word document displays an older date instead of the current one, and why it doesn't update using F9 or Print Preview.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Updating the print date field before or during the document printing process.
Observed behavior: The PRINTDATE field displays an earlier date. Pressing F9 and using Print Preview do not update it; the field only changes after the document is printed or saved as a PDF.

Before you start

Verify that your document contains the PRINTDATE field rather than standard DATE or SAVEDATE fields, as they behave differently when updating.

Solution 1Recommended

Print or Save as PDF to Update the PRINTDATE Field

The PRINTDATE field is designed to show the last print date. It will only update after you actually print the document or export it.

The PRINTDATE field displays the exact date and time a document was last printed. Unlike standard date fields, it will not refresh by simply pressing F9 or opening Print Preview. This is the expected behavior designed to maintain accurate printing records.

Print the Document

Go to File > Print and send the document to a physical printer or a virtual PDF printer.

Save as PDF

Alternatively, navigate to File > Save As and choose PDF as the format. Word treats exporting to PDF as a print action.

Verify the Update

After the printing or exporting process is complete, check the original Word document. The PRINTDATE field will now display the current date.

Expected Behavior: If the document has never been printed, the PRINTDATE field may appear blank or show zero values until the first print job is completed.

Free Document Editing

Easily Manage Date and Print Fields with WPS Writer

WPS Office offers intuitive tools to insert and manage various date fields, including print dates, saving you time when organizing document metadata. It is highly compatible with Microsoft Word formats.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your text document.
2. Insert a Field: Go to the Insert tab, click on Field, and select the desired date field such as PrintDate or Date.
3. Update Fields: Right-click the inserted field and select Update Field to refresh the dynamic data.
4. Print or Export: Click Menu > Print or Export to PDF to finalize your document and trigger print-related field updates.

Free and lightweight office suiteHighly compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx)Easy insertion of dynamic date and time fieldsSeamless PDF exporting and printing capabilities

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the PRINTDATE field update when I press F9?

Pressing F9 updates most dynamic fields in Word, but the PRINTDATE field specifically pulls data from the document's print spool metadata. Since F9 does not trigger a print job, the print date remains unchanged.

How can I make the date automatically update to today's date when opening the document?

If you want the current date to show every time you open or refresh the document, use the standard DATE field instead of the PRINTDATE field. Go to Insert > Date and Time, and check the 'Update automatically' box.

What happens to the PRINTDATE field if the document has never been printed?

If a document has not yet been printed, the PRINTDATE field will typically display a placeholder like '0/0/0000' or remain blank. It will populate with a valid date immediately after the first successful print or PDF export.

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