Printout is cutting off text or images at the edges

Symptoms

• Text or images are missing along one or more edges of the page
• Content that fit on screen doesn't fit on the printed page
• Problem happens with specific documents, like from certain apps
• Margins look inconsistent on different sides

Likely causes

• CommonPaper size mismatch between the document and printer settingsIf the document is set to one size (like A4) and the printer is loaded with another (like Letter), content can be cut off.
• CommonMargins set smaller than the printer's minimum printable areaEvery printer has a minimum border it physically can't print within, and documents with edge-to-edge content can be clipped.
• PossibleScaling set to 'Fit to page' incorrectly, or not enabled when neededScaling settings can shrink or crop content depending on how they're configured.
• PossibleBorderless printing not properly enabled for edge-to-edge photosPrinting a full-bleed photo without enabling borderless mode can cut off intended edges.

What to do

1. Check the paper size setting in the print dialog and make sure it matches what's actually loaded in the tray.
2. Reduce margins in the source document, but keep them within your printer's minimum printable area (often around 0.2 inches on standard printers).
3. For documents meant to fill the entire page, try enabling 'Fit to page' or 'Scale to fit' in the print dialog.
4. For photos meant to print edge-to-edge, look for and enable a 'Borderless' printing option specifically, since this uses a different scaling method.
5. Print a test page directly from the printer's own menu (not from a document) to see if the physical printable area itself looks correct.
6. Try printing the same document from a different app to see if the cutoff is specific to how one program is sending the print job.

Tools and parts

• None

When to call a pro

This is a settings issue rather than a hardware problem; if a printer's built-in test page also shows cut off content in the same spot every time, the printer's registration/alignment may need adjustment through its maintenance menu.

Safety