You may have designed a Word document with a colored background or placed an image behind the text, only to find that the colors and images vanish when you print or preview the document. This happens because Word, by default, does not print background colors and images to save ink and improve performance. This article explains the single setting that controls this behavior and provides the exact steps to enable printing of background colors and images in Word for Windows.
Key Takeaways: Enable Background Printing in Word
- File > Options > Display > Printing options > Print background colors and images: This checkbox controls whether Word prints page background colors, fill effects, and watermark images.
- Check before printing using Print Preview: After enabling the setting, always open Print Preview (Ctrl+F2) to confirm that background elements appear correctly on the printed page.
- Print background colors and images applies to watermarks and page borders: Enabling this option also prints watermarks and page borders that rely on background formatting, not just solid fill colors.
Why Word Does Not Print Background Colors and Images by Default
Word treats background colors and images as decorative elements that are not essential for the document’s text content. When you apply a page color via the Design tab or insert a picture behind text, Word marks those elements as non-printing by default. This behavior reduces ink and toner usage, avoids slower printing speeds on older printers, and prevents visual artifacts on duplex prints or transparencies.
The setting that controls this is located in the Word Options dialog, not in the printer properties. It is a global Word setting, meaning it applies to every document you print from that Word session until you change it back. The option is named Print background colors and images and is turned off by default in all recent versions of Word for Windows, including Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word for Microsoft 365.
When this setting is disabled, the following elements will not appear in print or Print Preview:
- Page color fills (solid colors, gradients, textures, and patterns set via Design > Page Color)
- Background images placed via Design > Page Color > Fill Effects > Picture
- Watermarks inserted via Design > Watermark
- Page borders that rely on background fill (though some page border types still print)
Steps to Enable Printing of Background Colors and Images
Follow these steps to turn on the setting so that Word prints all background colors and images you have applied to your document.
- Open Word Options
Click the File tab in the top-left corner of the Word window. In the backstage view, click Options at the bottom of the left navigation pane. The Word Options dialog box opens. - Go to the Display tab
In the Word Options dialog, click Display in the left sidebar. This page contains settings for how Word shows and prints page elements. - Locate the Printing options section
Scroll down to the section labeled Printing options. It is near the middle of the Display settings page. - Enable Print background colors and images
Check the box next to Print background colors and images. A checkmark indicates the setting is enabled. - Confirm with OK
Click OK at the bottom of the Word Options dialog to save the change and close the window. - Test with Print Preview
Press Ctrl+F2 to open Print Preview. Verify that your background color or image now appears on the preview page. If it does not, return to Step 1 and confirm the checkbox is checked.
After enabling this setting, Word will print background colors and images for all documents you open in the current session. The setting persists across Word restarts, so you only need to enable it once unless you later disable it manually.
If Background Colors Still Do Not Print
“Print Preview shows no background even after enabling the setting”
If Print Preview still shows a white page after you check the box, the document may not actually have a background applied. Go to the Design tab and click Page Color. If no color is selected, click a color to apply it. Then return to Print Preview. If the document uses a watermark instead of a fill, verify that the watermark is visible on the screen. Some watermarks are set to appear only on the first page or only on certain sections.
“Background prints in one document but not in another”
The setting in Word Options is global, so if it is enabled, it applies to all documents. If a second document still does not print its background, open that document and check whether a background is actually applied. In the Design tab, click Page Color. If No Color is selected, the document has no background to print. Apply a color or fill effect and test again.
“Background prints correctly on my screen but not on the physical printout”
This issue is usually caused by the printer driver or printer settings. Open the printer properties dialog from File > Print > Printer Properties. Look for a setting named Background Printing, Print Background, or Skip Blank Pages. Disable any option that suppresses background elements. If your printer has a toner-saving mode, turn it off. Also ensure you are using the latest printer driver from the manufacturer’s website.
| Item | Word Setting Enabled | Word Setting Disabled |
|---|---|---|
| Page color fill (Design > Page Color) | Prints as applied | Does not print |
| Background image (Fill Effects > Picture) | Prints behind text | Does not print |
| Watermark (Design > Watermark) | Prints as shown | Does not print |
| Page border (Design > Page Borders) | Prints border and any fill | Border may print but fill does not |
| Text highlight color (Home > Text Highlight Color) | Always prints regardless of setting | Always prints regardless of setting |
| Table cell shading | Always prints regardless of setting | Always prints regardless of setting |
After enabling the Print background colors and images option in Word Options, you can reliably print page backgrounds, watermarks, and background pictures. Remember to check Print Preview before sending the job to the printer. If you work with documents from other people, confirm that their background elements are applied correctly on the Design tab. For watermarks that appear too faint, adjust the watermark washout setting by double-clicking the header area and modifying the watermark properties.