Few things are more frustrating than hitting Print Preview in Microsoft Word only to see a blank screen or an error message saying “Print Preview is not available.” Whether you are preparing a report for work, a school project, or a personal document, this glitch can bring your workflow to a screeching halt. The good news is that the problem is usually easy to solve with a few simple tweaks. This article walks you through the most effective methods to fix print preview not available in MS Word, so you can get back to printing with confidence.
Why Does Print Preview Stop Working?
Before diving into the fixes, it helps to understand why this error occurs. The print preview feature relies on your system’s print spooler service and a functioning default printer. If either of these components is misconfigured or not running, Word cannot generate the preview. Other common culprits include corrupted add-ins and picture placeholder settings that hide images. Fortunately, each cause has a straightforward solution.
Restart the Print Spooler Service
The most common reason for the “print preview not available” error is a stalled or misbehaving Print Spooler service. This background service manages print jobs and previews. Restarting it often resolves the issue instantly.
To restart the Print Spooler:
1. Press the **Windows key**, type “Services,” and open the Services console.
2. Scroll down until you find **Print Spooler** in the list.
3. Right-click on **Print Spooler** and select **Restart** from the context menu.
4. Wait a few seconds for the service to stop and restart, then close the window.
After completing these steps, open your Word document and try Print Preview again. In many cases, this single action fixes the problem without further tinkering.
Install and Set a Default Printer
Word requires a printer—even a virtual one like “Microsoft Print to PDF”—to calculate page layout for the preview. If no printer is installed or none is set as default, the preview cannot generate. This is a frequent cause of the “print preview not available” message.
To set a default printer:
1. Open **Windows Settings** (Windows key + I) and go to **Bluetooth & devices** > **Printers & scanners**.
2. Look for any listed printer. If none appears, click **Add device** and follow the prompts to install one. You can use “Microsoft Print to PDF” if you do not have a physical printer.
3. Once a printer is listed, click on it and select **Set as default**.
After setting a default printer, return to Word and check Print Preview. This fix is especially effective if you recently changed printers or updated Windows.
Disable Picture Placeholders
Another subtle cause of a blank or incomplete print preview is the “Show picture placeholders” option. When enabled, Word displays empty boxes instead of images, which can confuse the preview engine. Turning this off often restores the full preview.
To disable picture placeholders:
1. In Word, go to **File** > **Options** > **Advanced**.
2. Scroll down to the **Show document content** section.
3. Uncheck **Show picture placeholders**.
4. Click **OK** to save the change.
If the problem persists, also check your add-ins. Go to **File** > **Options** > **Add-ins**. At the bottom, select **COM Add-ins** from the drop-down menu and click **Go**. Uncheck all the add-ins in the list, click **OK**, and restart Word. This disables any third-party add-ins that might interfere with the preview feature.
Additional Tips to Prevent Future Errors
Once you have fixed print preview not available in MS Word, a few preventive steps can keep the issue from recurring. Regularly update Windows and Office to ensure all services run smoothly. Avoid installing too many printer-related add-ins, as they can conflict with Word’s native preview. If you use a network printer, check that it is online and properly configured.
In addition, consider running the built-in printer troubleshooter if the error reappears. Go to **Settings** > **System** > **Troubleshoot** > **Other troubleshooters** and run the **Printer** troubleshooter. This tool can automatically detect and resolve common printing and preview problems.
Watch the Full Tutorial
If you prefer a visual walkthrough, the video below demonstrates each of these fixes in real time. It covers the Print Spooler restart, default printer setup, and add-in management steps from start to finish. Watching the tutorial can help you follow along more easily, especially if you are less familiar with Windows settings.
Don’t let a stubborn error slow you down. With these proven techniques, you can fix print preview not available in MS Word and keep your documents looking professional every time you print.
