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Print preview stops working when Excel cannot render the page layout, the printer configuration fails, or the worksheet settings block the preview.

Common Reasons Print Preview Fails

1. Incorrect or Missing Default Printer

Print preview depends on a valid printer driver. Excel loads the printer driver to generate the preview window.

• A missing default printer prevents the preview from opening.

• A corrupted printer driver blocks Excel from reading page settings.

2. Page Layout Rendering Issues

Excel switches to Page Layout View during print preview. A worksheet with damaged layout settings triggers the failure.

• Broken margins create rendering errors.

• Invalid paper sizes force Excel to cancel the preview.

3. Corrupted Excel Settings

Excel stores printer and display preferences in cached files. Corrupted cache data blocks preview generation.

4. Freeze Panes and Hidden Columns Affect Layout

Excel miscalculates the printable width when hidden columns or freeze panes distort the page width.

• A worksheet that exceeds the page boundary may fail to generate a preview.

5. Add-Ins and Background Processes

Add-ins intercept print commands and disrupt the preview engine.

6. Outdated Display or Graphics Drivers

Print preview uses display rendering. Outdated GPU drivers cause the preview window to show a blank page.

7. Page Break View Errors

Manual page breaks that overlap or exceed printable regions trigger preview failure.

How to fix print preview not working

To fix print preview in Excel:

1. Set a Default Printer

1. Open the system settings.

2. Select Devices.

3. Choose Printers & Scanners.

4. Select a physical or virtual printer as the default.

2. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

1. Open the device manager.

2. Expand Print queues.

3. Right-click the printer and update the driver.

4. Restart Excel.

3. Reset Page Layout

1. Open the worksheet.

2. Select Page Layout.

3. Click Margins and choose Normal.

4. Select Size and set Letter or A4.

5. Remove manual page breaks through Page Break Preview.

4. Clear Excel’s Cached Settings

Windows:

1. Close Excel.

2. Open Run and enter %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel.

3. Delete the Excel15.xlb or similar toolbar file.

4. Reopen Excel.

MacBook:

1. Close Excel.

2. Go to ~/Library/Preferences/.

3. Delete com.microsoft.Excel.plist.

4. Restart Excel.

5. Disable Add-Ins

1. Go to File → Options.

2. Select Add-ins.

3. Choose COM Add-ins.

4. Uncheck all add-ins.

5. Restart Excel.

6. Fix Hidden Columns and Freeze Panes

1. Select the whole sheet.

2. Right-click columns and choose Unhide.

3. Go to View → Freeze Panes → Unfreeze Panes.

7. Refresh Graphics Drivers

1. Open the device manager.

2. Expand Display adapters.

3. Update the graphics driver.

4. Restart the system.

Windows vs MacBook Differences

When print preview always shows a blank page

Print preview shows a blank page when Excel cannot match the worksheet width with the printable area.

Fix:

1. Select Page Layout.

2. Choose Scaling → Fit Sheet on One Page.

When print preview freezes Excel

Print preview freezes when the printer driver fails or the workbook has corrupted layout elements.

Fix:

1. Change the default printer to Microsoft Print to PDF.

2. Restart Excel.

3. Reopen print preview.

If you want, I can analyze your specific workbook layout and tell you the exact cause based on your file structure or settings.

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