when I try to print from Excel I often get printing error

Below are the most likely causes and practical fixes, starting with the ones that actually work in real environments.

Fixes that usually stop this permanently:

 1. Disable Excel’s background printing (high success rate)

This is the #1 fix in corporate environments.

1. Open Excel
2. Go to File → Options → Advanced
3. Scroll to Printing
4. Uncheck:
5. Enable background printing
6. Click OK
7. Close all Excel windows
8. Reopen Excel and test

This prevents Excel from losing the printer handle when multiple files are open.

 2. Force Excel to refresh the printer without restarting (quick workaround)

When you’re in a crunch and can’t close Excel:

1. In Excel, go to File → Print
2. Change the printer to Microsoft Print to PDF
3. Wait 2–3 seconds
4. Change it back to your HP printer
5. Try printing again

This often resets the stuck printer connection.

 3. Turn off Excel add-ins (especially PDF / print add-ins)

Some add-ins interfere with print spooling.

1. Excel → File → Options → Add-ins
2. At bottom: COM Add-ins → Go
3. Temporarily disable:

• Adobe PDF
• PDFCreator
• Any document management add-ins

     4. Restart Excel and test

 4. Check Windows print spooler (if it happens system-wide later)

If Excel starts failing and then other apps follow:

1. Press Win + R
2. Type:
3. services.msc
4. Restart Print Spooler

(This is less likely since other apps print fine, but good to know.)

If you want the issue basically gone:

 Disable background printing

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.

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