How to Print in Color on Word: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

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To print a Word document in color, open File > Print, choose a color-capable printer, and select its Color setting. Depending on the printer, that setting may appear under Settings in Word or inside Printer Properties. Check the preview before printing a test page.

Contents hide
1 Print in color in Word for Windows
2 Word for the web and Mac
3 If a colored page background does not print
4 If the page still prints in black and white

Print in color in Word for Windows

  1. Open the document and choose File > Print.
  2. Select the printer you intend to use. A black-and-white-only printer cannot produce a color page.
  3. Under Settings, choose Color if your printer offers it there. Otherwise, select Printer Properties or Preferences and change the printer’s color mode from Grayscale or Black & White to Color. The name and location vary by printer.
  4. Check the preview, then select Print. Try one page first if color output matters.

Word for the web and Mac

Word for the web prepares a PDF for printing. Choose File > Print, open the PDF or print dialog, and select color in the printer settings. On Mac, choose File > Print or press Command+P, select a color printer, and check the color options in the Mac print dialog. The printer’s own controls determine which choices appear.

If a colored page background does not print

The printer’s Color mode and Word’s background-printing option are separate. Text and pictures can print in color while a page background remains white.

  1. In Word for Windows, open File > Options > Display.
  2. Under Printing Options, select Print background colors and images.
  3. In Word for Mac, open Word > Preferences > Print and select Print background colors and images.
  4. Return to File > Print, confirm the correct color printer and Color mode, then print one test page.

If you still see a white page, check whether you changed the document’s Page Color or only the screen appearance. Our page-color guide covers the document setting.

If the page still prints in black and white

  • Confirm that the selected printer supports color and that the document actually contains colored text or graphics.
  • Open Printer Properties and turn off Grayscale, Black & White, or Monochrome mode. Check the setting in the final system print dialog as well.
  • Print a color test page from another app. If that is also monochrome, check ink or toner and the printer manufacturer’s guidance.
  • If a colored page background is missing, check Word’s separate setting to print background colors and images.

Microsoft explains the Word print options and notes that available color settings depend on the chosen printer. Its printer properties guide also shows where color, grayscale, and black-and-white choices can appear. See Microsoft’s background-printing instructions for the separate page-color option.

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