Why is my printer not printing the full page?
A missing part of a page can come from an application’s print area or page range, incorrect scaling, or a document longer than the loaded sheet. First separate a cropped layout from a printer that stops feeding halfway through. If the preview is complete but output ends abruptly or reports an error, check the job status and printer diagnostics as well as paper settings.
The three settings that must agree
- Document page size: the dimensions saved in the file or application.
- Printer driver paper size: the destination sheet requested by the print job.
- Sheet physically loaded: the actual paper in the selected tray, including its registered size on the printer.
For a paper-size or mismatch warning, one of these three usually disagrees; check them before assuming a fault. For cropped or incomplete output, check printable margins, the application's print area and scaling too. If you intentionally print onto a different size, select that destination and scale the source document to fit.
Fix it on Windows
Check selection, page range and print area
Open File > Print and select the intended pages, not Print Selection. In Excel, use Page Layout > Print Area > Clear Print Area if a saved area excludes cells, then inspect the page preview again.
Match the Windows driver to the loaded sheet
In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Printing preferences. In Windows 10, use Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Manage > Printing preferences. Select the loaded Paper Size and Paper Source. Drivers may place these under Paper/Quality, Layout or Advanced.
Check long pages and scaling
In Acrobat Reader, inspect File > Properties for the PDF page size, then File > Print > Size > Fit when using a smaller destination sheet. A Legal document is 76.2 mm longer than Letter; Actual Size on Letter can lose the bottom.
Send one fresh test page
Cancel the old job in the print queue and send one page again after changing the settings. A queued job can retain the earlier size. Check the preview and printed margins before printing the remaining copies.
Fix it on macOS
Inspect the preview and selected pages
Open File > Print and check the Pages range and preview thumbnails. In Excel, review Page Layout > Print Area; in Preview, check that selected thumbnails are not unintentionally limiting the job.
Match the macOS print job to the loaded sheet
Open File > Print, select the intended printer and choose Paper Size. Expand Show Details if your version displays that button. Under Paper Feed or the manufacturer’s printer options, select the tray holding that sheet. These controls vary by application, driver and AirPrint support.
Fit a longer document to the destination
Use File > Print > Paper Handling > Scale to Fit Paper Size, or Preview’s Scale to Fit, and select the loaded destination size. Check the bottom of a Legal document carefully when printing on Letter.
Send one fresh test page
Cancel the old job in the print queue and send one page again after changing the settings. A queued job can retain the earlier size. Check the preview and printed margins before printing the remaining copies.
If it still will not print
- Rest the tray guides against the stack without bowing the sheets. Use one size and type per stack.
- Check the selected tray. An automatic source can choose a different stack from the one you checked.
- For custom paper, confirm that the size is defined in the driver and supported by the chosen tray. A custom preset cannot make a narrow paper path wider.
- If the settings agree and a simple test still fails, check the manufacturer's support page for your exact model's driver and firmware updates. Follow its update instructions and keep power connected throughout.
Some models allow a mismatch override or Continue option. That may let the job print, but the margins can sit unevenly on the sheet or content can be cut off. Use it only after checking what will be printed; it is not a replacement for matching the settings.