Originally published on DebugRadar.
Meta Description (134 chars): Word won't print after the November 2026 update? Zero-size images break GDI printing — no fix yet. Check your file and print via PDF.
Quick Fix Summary
- Problem: After the November 2026 Windows security update, Word documents fail to print when they contain images rendered with a height or width of zero at the selected printing resolution.
- Fix: No fix exists yet. Microsoft is investigating under service alert WI1549472 — no patch, no Known Issue Rollback, and no date given.
- Workaround: Remove the zero-size images or anchors from the document, or export to PDF and print the PDF instead. Do not uninstall the security update over this.
Technical Root Cause
| Error Code | Affected Version | Root Cause | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| No error code — printing fails for documents with zero-size images | Windows 11 26H2/25H2/24H2/23H2, Windows 10 22H2/21H2/LTSC 2016+, Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016; mainly Word via Windows GDI | November 2026 update changed GDI print handling of zero-dimension images (invisible watermarks, layout anchors, images from document-generation tools) | Still broken as of Nov 14, 2026 — under investigation, no fix or workaround published by Microsoft |
Step-by-Step: What to Do When Word Won't Print
Step 1 — Confirm the November Update Is the Trigger
Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history and check whether the November 2026 security update is installed. On Windows 11 that update is KB5132061 — the same update that broke Sage 50 (see our Fix: Sage 50 Crashes After KB5132061 Update). If printing worked before the update and stopped right after it, and the document contains images, watermarks, or anchored objects, this bug is the likely cause.
Step 2 — Test With a Plain Document
Print a new blank Word document with a few lines of plain text and no images. If that prints fine while your real document fails, the problem is inside the document — not your printer, driver, or cable. Do not reinstall the printer driver; it will not help.
Step 3 — Remove the Zero-Size Images (Reported Workaround)
The zero-size images are often invisible — watermarks, layout anchors, or images inserted by a document-generation tool with no visible graphic. In Word, turn on formatting marks (Home → ¶) and check the document for anchored objects, then remove any image or object that has a height or width of zero. Check the document template too, since a bad anchor in the template breaks every file built from it. Try printing again after each removal.
Important: Microsoft has published no workaround for this bug. Removing zero-size images and printing via PDF are reported workarounds from user reports and news coverage, not Microsoft-verified fixes. If neither works, the file is waiting on Microsoft's fix like everyone else.
Step 4 — Export to PDF and Print the PDF
If you cannot find the bad image, use File → Save As → PDF (or File → Print → Microsoft Print to PDF), then print the PDF from your PDF reader. The PDF path skips the broken GDI image handling, so documents that fail from Word often print cleanly from PDF.
Step 5 — Do Not Uninstall the Security Update
Uninstalling the November security update to fix printing leaves the machine exposed, and the update can reinstall itself — the same reinstall problem Sage 50 users hit after removing KB5132061. Printing is broken, but the update also patches security holes. Wait for Microsoft's fix instead. The same Patch Tuesday also broke Windows activation commands — see our Fix: slmgr.vbs 0x80041008 Invalid Parameter — so this is a bad update across the board, not a problem with your PC.
Back up before you edit templates: Before you start removing objects from a shared template or a long document, save a copy first. And if you do not already have a full-drive backup, Acronis Cyber Protect images the whole drive, so one bad edit never costs you a document. (Affiliate link — DebugRadar earns a commission if you sign up through it.)
FAQ
Is my printer broken?
No. Plain documents still print. The bug is in how Windows GDI handles zero-size images after the November 2026 update — the printer is fine.
Why does the PDF workaround work?
Printing from Word goes through Windows GDI, where the zero-size image breaks the job. Exporting to PDF and printing the PDF takes a different path that does not hit the same handling.
When will Microsoft fix it?
No date has been given. The issue is tracked under service alert WI1549472 and is still under investigation as of November 14, 2026. Check Windows Update for the fix when it lands.
Sources: BleepingComputer, November 13, 2026; The Register, November 12, 2026; HotHardware, November 13, 2026.
Read the full guide on DebugRadar: Fix: Word Won't Print After November Update
Top comments (0)