Why Is the Outlook Print Option Greyed Out and How to Fix It?
If you use Microsoft Outlook on a regular basis, chances are you may have encountered the issue where the Print option appears greyed out. When this happens, it can be confusing and frustrating, especially if you’re unsure how to fix the problem quickly. Don’t worry, you’re in the right place to find a clear and effective solution on how to fix the Outlook print option greyed out.
Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used email clients and offers a variety of useful features such as email management, contacts, calendar, reminders, and appointment scheduling. In this blog, we’ll explain why the Outlook print option stops working and guide you through both manual and professional methods to resolve the issue. Make sure to read till the end to find the most suitable fix.
Let’s begin by understanding the common reasons behind this problem.
Common Causes of the Outlook Print Option Being Greyed Out
- A damaged or corrupted Outlook profile can prevent the print function from working properly.
- Running an outdated version of Outlook may lead to feature malfunctions, including printing issues.
- Conflicting third-party add-ins can interfere with Outlook’s normal operations and disable the print button.
- If your printer is not properly connected or the printer drivers are outdated, Outlook may disable the print option.
- Installing heavy software applications, such as antivirus programs, can sometimes affect Outlook’s functionality.
- Restricted system permissions or incorrect settings may also cause the print option to appear disabled.
These are some of the most common reasons why the Print button is not working in Outlook.
How to Fix Outlook Print Option Not Working Manually
If the Print option in Outlook is greyed out, you can try the following tried-and-tested manual solutions to resolve the issue.
Step 1: Restart Outlook and Your Computer
Start by closing Microsoft Outlook and restarting your computer. In many cases, a simple restart can fix temporary glitches that cause Outlook features to stop working.
Step 2: Check Printer Connection
Make sure your printer is properly connected to your system. Try printing a document from another application to confirm that the printer is working correctly.
Step 3: Update Microsoft Outlook
Using an outdated version of Outlook may lead to printing issues. Updating the application can help resolve this.
Steps:
- Open Outlook on your computer.
- Click on File and select Office Account.
- Choose Update Options, then click Update Now.
- Wait until the update process is completed.
Step 4: Disable Problematic Add-ins
Some third-party add-ins can interfere with Outlook’s printing functionality.
Steps:
- Open Outlook and click File from the menu bar.
- Go to Options and select Add-ins.
- Disable add-ins that may be causing the issue.
- Restart Outlook to apply the changes.
Step 5: Verify Printer Settings
Incorrect printer settings or outdated drivers can also cause the print option to be disabled.
Steps:
- Open Outlook and navigate to the Print section.
- Select the correct printer.
- Update the printer driver to the latest version if needed.
Once you’ve completed these steps, the Outlook print option should work normally.
Limitations of Manual Methods
Although the above methods may resolve the issue, they do come with certain limitations:
- Restarting Outlook and the system: This solution may not work if the problem is related to deeper software or hardware issues.
- Checking the printer: Connectivity or outdated driver problems may still prevent printing.
- Updating Outlook: Updates can fail to install correctly and may take a long time due to slow internet speed.
- Disabling add-ins: Identifying the problematic add-in can be confusing and may impact Outlook functionality.
- Printer settings: Compatibility issues may persist if drivers remain outdated.
- Risk of account issues: In some cases, repeated manual troubleshooting can lead to Outlook profile corruption, increasing the risk of data loss.
Due to these limitations, manual solutions may not always provide a permanent fix.
Professional Solution to Resolve Outlook Print Option Greyed Out
Since manual methods don’t always deliver consistent results, using a professional solution can be a safer and faster alternative. CubexSoft PST to PDF Converter is a reliable tool designed to help users bypass printing issues by converting Outlook PST files directly into print-ready PDF documents.
The tool preserves the original folder structure and ensures complete data integrity during the conversion process. It delivers fast and accurate results within minutes and works seamlessly on both Windows and macOS, making it suitable for users across different operating systems, with no technical expertise required.
Steps to Fix Outlook Print Button Not Working Using a Professional Tool
Follow the steps below to quickly resolve the Outlook print button issue and generate printable files:
- Launch the tool on your Windows system and click Next to begin the process.
- Select the option to convert the configured Outlook mailbox data and proceed by clicking Next.
- Choose the required mailbox folders, then click Next.
- Specify the destination location where the converted files will be saved.
- Click Next to initiate the conversion process.
- Once the process is complete, a confirmation message will appear. Click OK to finish.
That’s it, your files are now ready to be printed without any issues.
Advantages of Using a Professional Solution
Using a dedicated professional tool offers several benefits, including:
- Allows selective export of specific PST folders to PDF format
- Supports bulk PST file conversion without file size restrictions
- Provides advanced filter options to export only the required data
- Enables conversion of selected PST files from chosen folders
- Ensures complete data accuracy and integrity throughout the process
- Maintains the original folder structure during conversion
- Features a user-friendly interface suitable for both technical and non-technical users
Final Thoughts
In this guide, we explained the reasons behind the Outlook print option being greyed out and discussed both manual and professional methods to fix the issue. While manual solutions can help when the problem is caused by minor or basic errors, they may not always deliver reliable results. On the other hand, a professional solution resolves the issue quickly and efficiently by creating ready-to-print PDF files in just a few moments. Choosing a professional tool ensures a hassle-free experience and saves time while protecting your data.
