Fix: Page Borders Not Showing or Printing in Word

By GenText Editorial Team April 2, 2026 formatting
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Quick Answer

Your printer may not print to the edge. Go to Design > Page Borders > Options and increase the margin values so the border is within the printable area.

Page Borders Not Showing or Printing in Word

How to fix page borders that appear on screen but don’t print or are cut off.

Quick Solution

Your printer may not print to the edge. Go to Design > Page Borders > Options and increase the margin values so the border is within the printable area.

Detailed Steps

  1. Identify the problem — Note exactly when the issue occurs and any error messages
  2. Try the quick fix — Apply the solution described above
  3. Start Word in Safe Mode — If the issue persists, press Windows + R, type winword /safe, and test
  4. Check for updates — Go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now
  5. Repair Office — If nothing else works, go to Settings > Apps > Microsoft Office > Modify > Online Repair

When to Contact Support

If the issue persists after trying all steps, contact Microsoft Support or visit answers.microsoft.com. Include your Word version (File > Account > About Word) and a description of the steps you’ve already tried.

Prevent This Issue

  • Keep Microsoft Office updated with the latest patches
  • Regularly back up important documents
  • Avoid installing untrusted add-ins
  • Use .docx format for all documents (not .doc)

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