How to troubleshoot and fix a printer that is printing with incorrect margins or content being cut off on Windows and macOS

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to troubleshoot and fix a printer that is printing with incorrect margins or content being cut off on Windows and macOS. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

When a printer produces documents with content cut off, text running off the edge of the page, or margins that look wrong, the issue is almost always related to paper size, scaling, or margin settings rather than a hardware fault. This guide walks you through the most common causes and fixes for both Windows and macOS, starting with the quickest checks before moving into more detailed configuration changes.

If your printer is also showing as offline or not printing at all, address that first, as margin and scaling settings cannot be adjusted until the printer is communicating with your computer.

Quick Fix Steps

Try these in order. Most margin and cut-off issues are resolved within the first few steps.

1. Confirm the paper loaded in the printer tray matches the paper size selected in the print dialog (A4 is standard in Australia).
2. Set the print scaling to Actual Size or 100% to rule out automatic resizing.
3. Check that the correct printer is selected, particularly if multiple printers are installed.
4. Print a test page from the printer's own menu or via the operating system to confirm whether the issue is application-specific.
5. Update or reinstall the printer driver.

Detailed Instructions

Verify Paper Size and Type

A mismatch between the paper size in your document and the paper size reported to the printer is the single most common cause of cut-off content.

On Windows:

1. Open the document you want to print.
2. Press Ctrl + P to open the print dialog.
3. Click Printer properties, Preferences, or Advanced (the label varies by manufacturer).
4. Locate the Paper/Quality or Paper Source tab.
5. Confirm Paper Size is set to A4 (or the size you are using).
6. Click OK and print a test page.

On macOS:

1. Open the document and press Cmd + P.
2. In the print dialog, click Show Details to expand all options.
3. Open the Paper Size dropdown and select A4 (or your paper size).
4. If the option is greyed out, click the Page Setup dropdown at the top and choose Any Printer first.
5. Print a test page.

Adjust Scaling and Fit-to-Page Settings

Automatic scaling can shrink or enlarge a document so that content falls outside the printable area.

On Windows:

1. Open the print dialog with Ctrl + P.
2. Click Printer properties or Preferences.
3. Look for an Effects, Finishing, or Advanced tab.
4. Disable options such as Fit to Page, Shrink oversized pages, or Print document on unless you specifically need them.
5. Set the scale slider to 100% or Normal.
6. Apply and print a test page.

On macOS:

1. Open the print dialog with Cmd + P.
2. Click Show Details.
3. Open the Scale dropdown and choose Scale: 100% (or set a manual percentage).
4. If the document is a PDF, use Preview > File > Print and uncheck Scale to Fit in the print dialog.
5. Print a test page.

Set Custom Margins

If your document has unusually large or small margins, content can be pushed outside the printable area. Most printers cannot print to the very edge of the paper.

On Windows (Microsoft Word):

1. Go to Layout > Margins.
2. Select Normal for standard margins, or choose Custom Margins.
3. Set top, bottom, left, and right margins to at least 1.27 cm (0.5 inches).
4. Click OK and retry printing.

On macOS (Microsoft Word):

1. Go to Layout > Margins.
2. Choose Normal or Custom Margins.
3. Set each margin to a minimum of 1.27 cm and click OK.

Check the Application's Page Setup

Some applications, particularly older ones or specialized design software, have their own page setup that overrides system defaults.

• Adobe Acrobat / Reader: Go to File > Print > Page Setup and confirm the paper size matches your physical paper.
• Google Chrome: Click the three-dot menu > Print, then under More settings confirm Paper size is set to A4 and Scale is at 100.
• Microsoft Excel: Go to Page Layout > Size and select A4. Then Page Layout > Margins > Normal.

Update or Reinstall the Printer Driver

An outdated or corrupted driver can report the wrong paper size or printable area to your applications.

On Windows:

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Click your printer and select Manage > Printer properties.
3. On the Advanced tab, click New Driver or visit the printer manufacturer's website to download the latest driver.
4. Alternatively, right-click the printer, choose Remove device, then add it again.

On macOS:

1. Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Select your printer and click Remove Printer.
3. Add the printer again using the Add Printer button.
4. If macOS does not have a native driver, download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website.

Troubleshooting

Content Is Cut Off on One Side Only

This usually indicates that the paper size in the print dialog does not match the physical paper. For example, if A4 is selected but Letter paper is loaded, content will be cut off on the right-hand side. Double-check both the paper loaded in the tray and the size selected in the print dialog.

Margins Look Correct on Screen but Wrong When Printed

The on-screen preview uses your application's default printer settings, which may not match the printer you actually select. Always check the print preview against the specific printer you intend to use.

Printing from a Web Browser Produces Cut-Off Content

Web browsers often apply their own scaling to fit content to the page. In Chrome, Edge, or Safari, open the print preview and ensure Scale is set to 100 and the paper size matches your physical paper. Also check that Margins is set to Default rather than Minimum, as the minimum setting can push content outside the printable area.

Issue Persists After All Steps

If content is still being cut off after checking paper size, scaling, margins, and drivers, the issue may be with the printer's hardware, such as the paper feed rollers or the print head alignment. Test the printer from a different computer to rule out a software issue, and contact the printer manufacturer for hardware support if the problem continues.

Still Having Issues?