# MS Word: printer refuses to print less than 4 copies

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-printer-refuses-to-print-less-than-4-copies/238370>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 5, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-printer-refuses-to-print-less-than-4-copies/238370 "2004-04-05T15:34:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hyjyljyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hyjyljyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyjyljyj)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-printer-refuses-to-print-less-than-4-copies/238370/1 "2004-04-05T15:34:13Z")

</div>

Today I had the audacity to enter 4 in the Number of Copies field when printing a document in Word. It printed the 4 copies all right. But now no matter what I do or how many times I go back and put a 1 in the box, it insists on reverting back to 4 after I click OK, and printing me 4 copies again! (I have Windows XP.)

Can anyone help me force this thing back to its one-copy default? This is burning up paper and ink quick! Thanx

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-printer-refuses-to-print-less-than-4-copies/238370/2 "2004-04-05T15:52:15Z")

</div>

In the Control Panel go to Printers, then from the menu on the left side under the heading Printer Tasks choose Select Printing Preferences. Change the number of pages there, hit ok, and you should be good.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-printer-refuses-to-print-less-than-4-copies/238370/3 "2004-04-05T15:54:38Z")

</div>

You must select your printer before you see the proper menu. Meanwhile, I’ll be printing _must proofread_ a thousand times as penance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hyjyljyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hyjyljyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyjyljyj)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-printer-refuses-to-print-less-than-4-copies/238370/4 "2004-04-07T14:31:31Z")

</div>

> [@IrreverentTone](#):
>
> You must select your printer before you see the proper menu. Meanwhile, I’ll be printing _must proofread_ a thousand times as penance.

Thanks, Rev!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-printer-refuses-to-print-less-than-4-copies/238370/5 "2004-04-07T18:03:00Z")

</div>

Have you treid **fewer** than 4? 😉