my printer will not print from word but has printed test pages after I set printer up

[Dashy2]

I have just installed the above printer.  Every time I try to print from word it shows me PDF files that I have and not the word document that I want to print

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Dashy2 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for explaining that—what you’re seeing sounds like a misconfiguration in the print dialog or a default app association issue. Since your HP DeskJet 2820e prints test pages correctly, the printer itself is functioning, but Word may be redirecting the print job or misinterpreting the file type.

Here’s how to get Word printing your actual documents:

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Check Default Printer in Windows

• Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners
• Make sure HP DeskJet 2820e is set as the default printer
• If not, click on it and select Set as default

 

2. Verify Print Dialog in Word

• Open your Word document
• Press Ctrl + P or go to File > Print
• In the Printer dropdown, make sure HP DeskJet 2820e is selected—not “Microsoft Print to PDF” or any other virtual printer
• Click Print and confirm the job goes to the correct device

 

3. Check Print Queue:

• Sometimes print jobs may get stuck in the queue, causing confusion in selecting the right file.
• Go to 'Devices and Printers', select your printer, and open 'See what’s printing'. Clear any stuck jobs in the queue.

 

4. Reset Word’s Print Settings

• Close Word completely
• Reopen Word and a document
• Go to File > Options > Advanced
• Scroll to Print section and click Reset Print Settings

 

5. Microsoft Office Troubleshooting:

• Make sure Word is not malfunctioning by attempting to print from another Office application like Excel or Outlook.
• Repair or reinstall Microsoft Office if necessary.

 

6. Convert to a Different Format: (If Applicable)

• Ensure the document is saved and closed in Word. Try saving the document in another format supported by Word, such as a .docx, and attempt to print again.

 

7. Reinstall the Printer Driver

• Visit the HP DeskJet 2820e support page
• Download and install the full feature software for Windows 11
• This ensures Word and other apps recognize the printer properly

Let me know if Word still insists on showing PDFs or if the issue shifts after these steps—I’ll help you dig deeper if needed.  You're close to getting this sorted.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye