Let’s get **Word printing again**. Quick triage:
• Windows 10 or 11? Microsoft 365/Word build (if you know it).
• Do **PDF/XPS** and **Test page** print, but **.docx** jobs vanish or hang?
• Is output to **Microsoft Print to PDF** working from Word?
• Any message like “No printers installed”, **paper size mismatch**, or **access denied**?
• Using a vendor driver (HP/Epson/Canon/Brother) or Windows **IPP Class** driver?

When **PDF prints but Word doesn’t**, the bottleneck is usually in **Word’s profile** (corrupt Normal.dotm, bad **add-ins**, registry options) or the **Windows Print Spooler**/driver handshake that Word uses.
We’ll: 1) test **Word Safe Mode**, 2) reset **Normal.dotm** and Word options, 3) clear the **Print Spooler**, 4) test with an **alternate driver/queue**, 5) fix **paper/permission** issues for specific docs.

Step 1 — Launch Word in Safe Mode
Press Win+R → type winword /safe → OK. Try printing a 1-page test doc.
• If it prints in Safe Mode, the issue is **Normal.dotm, add-ins, or Word options**.

Step 2 — Rebuild Normal.dotm (non-destructive)
Close Word. Press Win+R → paste:
%appdata%\Microsoft\Templates → rename Normal.dotm to OldNormal.dotm. Reopen Word (it creates a fresh template). Try print again.
Optional: disable third-party add-ins in **File → Options → Add-ins → COM Add-ins → Go** (uncheck suspects like PDF tools, label software, citation managers).

Then the file likely has a **layout or permission** blocker.
Step 3 — Fix per-document issues
• Paper/driver mismatch: In **File → Print**, choose the real printer, set **Paper = A4/Letter** that matches the tray; uncheck **Scale to fit** if it forces a custom size.
• Corrupt content: Copy all (Ctrl+A → Ctrl+C) and **Paste Special → Unformatted Text** into a new doc; reapply styles. Or save as **.docx** (not .rtf/.doc).
• Protected/Read-Only or permissioned sources: If it came from email/Teams, use **File → Info → Enable Editing** and move it to local **Documents** before printing.
• Test printing to **Microsoft Print to PDF** from Word; if that works but hardware fails, the issue is driver/spooler.

Step 4 — Reset Windows Print Spooler & clear stuck jobs
1) Press Win+R → type services.msc → stop **Print Spooler**.
2) Go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete files inside (requires admin).
3) Start **Print Spooler** again; set **Startup type = Automatic**.
4) In **Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners**, remove old/duplicate printers. Set your model as **Default**. Print the Word doc again.

Quite possibly. Word stresses features (n-up, booklet, PCL/PS) differently than PDFs.
Step 5 — Test a clean queue/driver
• In **Printers & scanners → Add device**, add the same printer via **IPP** or **TCP/IP** as a new queue.
• In **Printer properties → Advanced**, flip **driver** between vendor (PCL/PS) and **Microsoft IPP Class** to test.
• Disable **bidirectional support**, and try **Print directly to the printer** (bypasses spooling) for a test.
• Update firmware/driver from the manufacturer. Then retry the Word doc.

Step 6 — Make the fix stick
• Keep **one default** printer/driver; remove stale devices.
• Periodically clear **%temp%** and keep **Word add-ins** to essentials.
• If problems return, run **Microsoft 365 → Quick Repair** (or **Online Repair**) and re-create the queue.
• Back up a known-good Normal.dotm after you customize it (%appdata%\Microsoft\Templates).

Summary: If you can **print PDF but not Word**, start with **winword /safe**, rebuild **Normal.dotm**, disable **add-ins**, clear the **Print Spooler**, and test an **alternate driver/IPP queue**. Fix paper size/permissions for stubborn docs. Want hands-on help with Word/driver tuning? Open the chat.