How to Print a Word Document Without Borders: A Comprehensive Guide

Printing a document without borders can be essential for various purposes. Whether you’re creating a professional-looking resume, designing a flyer, or simply want to save paper, knowing how to print borderless is a valuable skill. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps of printing a Word document without borders, covering various methods and troubleshooting tips.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Problem: Why Do Borders Appear in My Printouts?

Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand why borders might appear on your printed documents in the first place. Here are some common culprits:

Default Page Margins: Word documents come with default margins, which can create a white border around the printed content.
Page Border Feature: Word offers a dedicated feature to add borders to pages, which can be accidentally enabled.
Printing Settings: Your printer’s settings can influence the appearance of borders on printed documents.

Removing Borders in Word: A Step-by-Step Approach

1. Adjust Page Margins:

The most common reason for borders in printed documents is excessive margins. Here’s how to adjust them:

Go to the “Layout” tab in the Word ribbon.
Click the “Margins” button.
Select “Narrow” or “Custom Margins” for greater control.
In the “Custom Margins” dialog box, you can manually adjust the top, bottom, left, and right margins to your desired size.

2. Disable Page Borders:

If you’ve intentionally added borders to your document, you’ll need to disable them:

Navigate to the “Design” tab in the Word ribbon.
Click on the “Page Borders” button.
Select “No Border” from the dropdown menu.

3. Check for Hidden Borders:

Sometimes, a document might have hidden borders that are not visible in the document view but appear when printed. To address this:

Go to the “Home” tab in the Word ribbon.
Click the “Paragraph” dialog box launcher (the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the “Paragraph” group).
In the “Indentation and Spacing” tab, check the “Borders” section.
Ensure that “None” is selected for all border settings.

4. Customize Printer Settings:

Your printer’s settings can sometimes override your Word document’s margins, causing borders to appear.

Open the print dialog box by pressing Ctrl+P.
Click on the “Properties” or “Preferences” button (the name varies depending on your printer model).
Navigate to the “Paper/Quality” or “Page Setup” tab.
Look for options related to “Margins,” “Paper Size,” or “Scaling.”
Adjust these settings to eliminate unnecessary borders.

5. Work with the Print Preview:

After making any changes to your document or printer settings, always use the “Print Preview” feature to ensure the borders are truly removed:

Click the “File” tab and select “Print.”
In the “Print” window, click on the “Print Preview” button.
Check the preview carefully for any remaining borders.

Advanced Solutions for Borderless Printing

1. Using the “Scale to Fit” Option:

The “Scale to Fit” option in Word can be a useful tool for printing borderless, especially when dealing with images or graphics. This option automatically adjusts the size of your content to fit within the printable area.

Go to the “File” tab and select “Print.”
In the “Print” window, locate the “Scaling” section.
Choose “Scale to Fit” from the dropdown menu.

2. Cropping Images and Graphics:

Sometimes, borders might appear due to images or graphics extending beyond the margins. Cropping these elements can solve the problem.

Right-click the image or graphic in your Word document.
Select “Format Picture” from the context menu.
Go to the “Size” tab.
Check the “Crop to Content” checkbox.

3. Utilizing a Third-Party Print Utility:

Third-party printing utilities like PDF printers often offer more customization options compared to built-in printing tools. They can be useful for eliminating borders in situations where Word’s default settings are insufficient.

Install a PDF printing utility of your choice.
Print your Word document to the PDF printer.
Use the software’s tools to adjust margins, crop content, or fine-tune printing settings.

Troubleshooting: Addressing Common Problems

1. Borders Persist Despite Adjustments:

If you’ve followed all the steps and borders still appear, you might encounter a specific issue:

Incorrect Printer Driver: An outdated or incompatible printer driver can cause printing problems, including border issues. Update your driver by visiting your printer manufacturer’s website.

2. Borders Only Appear on Specific Pages:

If borders are limited to particular pages, the problem might be related to page breaks or section breaks.

Check for page or section breaks that could be affecting the margins.
Examine any specific formatting applied to those pages.
Adjust or remove the formatting causing the border issue.

3. Printing Blank Pages with Borders:

Occasionally, you might print blank pages with borders. This usually indicates an error in the print settings or a problem with your printer.

Verify that you have selected the correct print range and that you are not accidentally printing blank pages.
Check your printer settings for any errors.

Final Thoughts: Printing Borderless with Confidence

Printing a Word document without borders can be achieved with a few simple steps and adjustments. By understanding the common causes of borders, utilizing the built-in tools of Word, and exploring advanced solutions like third-party print utilities, you can confidently produce professional-looking documents that are free from unwanted margins.

Remember to always use the print preview feature to verify the results before finalizing your print job. Happy printing!

FAQs

Q1: Why are borders showing up in my printed Word document, even though I don’t see them on screen?

The most common reason for borders appearing on a printed document is because they are set as “Print” borders in Word. These borders are invisible on screen but will be printed along with your document. Sometimes, a page border or other formatting styles applied to your document can also cause the issue.

To identify the source of the issue, carefully examine your document’s formatting. Check if any borders are set to “Print” under the Page Borders tab in Word. Additionally, review any formatting styles you’ve applied to the text or page to see if they contain hidden borders.

Q2: How do I remove borders from my entire document?

To remove borders from your entire Word document, follow these steps:

Go to the “Page Layout” tab in Word.
Click on the “Page Borders” option.
In the “Borders” tab, choose “None” from the “Settings” dropdown menu.
Click “OK”.

By selecting “None,” you effectively remove all borders applied to your document. This includes both visible and invisible borders, ensuring a clean print without any unnecessary lines.

Q3: Can I remove borders from specific paragraphs or sections of my document?

Yes, you can easily remove borders from specific parts of your document. To do so, select the paragraphs or sections where you want to remove borders. Then, follow these steps:

Go to the “Home” tab in Word.
In the “Paragraph” group, click on the “Borders” dropdown menu.
Choose “No Border” from the options.

This will remove any borders applied to the selected text, allowing you to have a clean print with borders only where you intend them to be.

Q4: How do I remove the border from a table in my document?

To remove borders from a table in Word, follow these steps:

Select the entire table you want to remove borders from.
Go to the “Table Design” tab in Word.
In the “Table Styles” group, click on the “Borders” dropdown menu.
Choose “No Border” from the options.

This will remove all borders from your table, resulting in a clean print without any table lines obstructing your content.

Q5: I want to keep some borders but remove others. How can I do that?

You can selectively remove borders from your Word document using the “Page Borders” feature. Here’s how:

Go to the “Page Layout” tab in Word.
Click on the “Page Borders” option.
In the “Borders” tab, choose the type of border you want to remove from the “Settings” dropdown menu.
Under “Apply to,” select the sections you want to apply the border removal to.
Click “OK”.

This allows you to remove specific borders while retaining others, giving you more control over your document’s appearance in print.

Q6: Can I print without borders on a Mac?

The process of removing borders on a Mac is very similar to using Windows. You’ll find the same options and tools in your Word application, making it a straightforward process. To remove borders from your Mac document, follow the steps outlined in the article.

Remember, you can also use keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation within Word on a Mac. For instance, you can use “Cmd + Option + B” to quickly access the “Page Borders” dialog box.

Q7: What are some additional tips for printing without borders?

Here are some additional tips for printing without borders in your Word document:

Preview Your Document: Always review your document in print preview mode before printing to check for any unwanted borders.
Check for Formatting Styles: Be sure to review any formatting styles you’ve applied to ensure they don’t include hidden borders.
Use a Simple Template: If you’re unsure about border settings, start with a basic Word template for your document.

By following these tips and the steps provided in this guide, you can easily print a Word document without unwanted borders, ensuring a clean and professional-looking output.