Why doesn't the printer print the entire page?
If a printer doesn't print the entire page, it doesn't necessarily mean the printer is defective. In many cases, documents print, but important content on the right-hand side is completely missing. Users often notice that tables are cut off, images appear incomplete, or entire sections of text are missing from the printout.
For example, one user reported that when printing, only part of the page was printed, with the right side being cut off. This problem occurred with PDF files , web pages, and regular documents alike. As a result, important information could not be fully read or archived.
This behavior is particularly problematic with invoices, forms, spreadsheets, or business documents. Even a few missing millimeters at the page margin can render the content unreadable.
Before installing new drivers or resetting printers, you should first check what is causing the cut-off content.
The 5 most common causes of cut-off printed pages
If the right side is cut off during printing, the cause is usually one of the following settings. These errors occur far more frequently than actual hardware problems.
1. Incorrect paper size
Many documents are created in letter format, while the printer is set to DIN A4. As a result, the content does not fit completely on the page.
2. Print scaling to 100%
If a document is printed without automatic scaling, content may extend outside the printable area. This problem occurs particularly frequently with websites and PDFs.
3. Borderless printing is disabled.
Many printer models have a limited print area. If borderless printing options are disabled, content at the edges will be automatically cut off.
4. Faulty PDF creation
If a PDF file has been exported incorrectly, the visible content may be larger than the actual print area.
5. Browser or document settings
Websites, in particular, often contain elements that are wider than the printed page. As a result, only a portion of the content is printed.
Knowing these causes will allow you to find the right solution much faster.
Correctly adjust print settings and page format
If only part of the page prints, the basic print settings should be checked first. Many users skip this step and look for the cause directly with the printer, even though the problem is often already visible in the print dialog.
Check the following settings:
-
Open print window
-
Check paper size
-
Select DIN A4
-
Check the side margins
-
Show print preview
The print preview is particularly important. It shows, even before printing, whether any content extends beyond the page boundaries.
Pay attention to the following:
-
Tables on the right-hand side
-
Wide images
-
Large diagrams
-
Long lines of text
-
Websites with multiple columns
If content is already cut off in the preview, the cause is almost always the print settings and not the printer.
Additionally, it is recommended to save the document as a PDF for testing purposes. This will allow you to determine whether the formatting is already faulty in the document or is only changed during the printing process.
Print PDF files in full
A particularly common issue is that the PDF is not printed in its entirety. Many PDF readers default to using the original document size. If the PDF file is wider than the printed page, content will be cut off.
Therefore, the scaling settings should always be checked before printing.
Recommended settings:
-
Open PDF
-
Start print menu
-
Select "Fit to page"
-
Activate "Shrink large pages"
-
Check print preview
-
Perform a test print
The following measures can also help:
-
Download PDF again
-
Export PDF again
-
Use a different PDF reader
-
Reduce print quality
-
Create new document
If the same file prints correctly on another computer, the cause is usually due to the local printing settings and not the PDF file itself.
Print web pages and documents without cut-off content
Besides PDFs, printing problems are particularly common with websites. Modern websites are optimized for screens and not necessarily for printing. As a result, menus, advertising areas, or large tables can be wider than the actual paper format.
If text is cut off when printing, the browser settings should be checked.
Proceed as follows:
-
Open print preview
-
Set the scaling to 90–95%
-
Disable background graphics
-
Use reading mode
-
Create PDF version
Many browsers also offer the option "Fit to page". This automatically shrinks wide content and transfers it completely to the page.
If you regularly print web pages, it is recommended to first save them as a PDF and then print them from a PDF reader. This often yields better results than printing directly from the browser.
Update printer driver and correct print area
If documents continue to print incompletely, the printer driver should be checked. The driver determines how Windows processes the print data and sends it to the printer.
Outdated or damaged drivers can cause print sizes to be calculated incorrectly, resulting in content being positioned outside the print area.
Here's how to update the driver:
-
Open Device Manager
-
Select printer
-
Restart your computer
-
Print test page
Then also check:
-
Paper size
-
Print quality
-
Advanced printing options
-
Borderless printing function
-
Manufacturer-specific settings
Many printer models have an option for borderless printing. When this function is activated, content can be printed closer to the edge of the page.
After the update, you should test the same printout again. This will quickly reveal whether the problem was indeed caused by the driver.
Further solutions if the printer still does not print the entire page
If the printer does not print the entire page, even though paper size, scaling and driver have already been checked, other potential sources of error should be ruled out.
The following measures have proven effective in practice:
-
Reinstall printer software
-
Update firmware
-
Restart printer
-
Create new document
-
Try a different PDF reader
-
Use alternative browsers
Also check:
-
Does the problem occur with all documents?
-
Are only PDFs being cut off?
-
Are websites also affected?
-
Is the Windows test page printing correctly?
If the test page prints completely, the problem usually lies with the document or the application being used. However, if the problems occur with all print jobs, the printer driver and printer settings should be examined more closely.
In most cases, the problem can be solved by correctly adjusting the paper size, scaling, and print area. This allows PDFs, web pages, and documents to be printed in their entirety again, without content being cut off at the right edge of the page.

Sandra






