How do I fix a printer paper size error?
A paper-size mismatch usually means the print job's requested size does not agree with the paper size configured for the selected tray. Depending on the printer, that configuration may come from tray guide positions, control-panel settings, driver settings, or automatic media detection. Start by checking what the print job requests before suspecting hardware faults. A document created for A4 can still be sent through a Letter driver preset, or the tray may be configured for a different sheet even when the paper loaded looks similar.
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 the document size
In Microsoft Word, open Layout > Size and select the intended document size. For a PDF, check File > Properties in Acrobat Reader for Page Size; a PDF’s page dimensions can remain fixed even when the driver changes.
In Microsoft Word, open the Layout tab and select Size to verify or change your document page dimensions before printing. 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 the current application print settings
Open File > Print > Printer Properties or Preferences and confirm the same destination size. If the document is intentionally a different size, use Fit in Acrobat Reader rather than pretending both sheets are identical.
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 source document
In Preview, open Tools > Show Inspector to check the PDF page dimensions. In applications that offer File > Page Setup, check the document Paper Size there.
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.
Choose intentional scaling
In File > Print > Paper Handling, enable Scale to Fit Paper Size only if the source page differs from the loaded sheet, then choose Destination Paper Size. Preview may instead show Scale to Fit in its print options.
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.
Check the actual paper dimensions
A4 vs Letter: dimensions and print scaling
A4 → Letter: use 94% to fit the full sheet in portrait orientation, rounded down. Printer margins may require a smaller scale. The A4 vs Letter comparison explains both directions.