Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Printing without Opening.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 18, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365
If you need to quickly print the contents of a workbook without individually opening the workbook yourself (manually), you can do so by using one of the helpful features of Windows. Simply follow these steps:
The only thing printed in the workbook is the single worksheet that was selected when the workbook was last closed. It is also printed to whatever you are using as the current printer. If you want to print using different specifications (i.e., a different printer or area of the workbook) then you must first open the workbook in order to print.
Note that even though you are don't need to manually open the workbook to print it, Windows does actually open it (step 4). The bottom line of the tip is that you don't need to manually open, press Ctrl+P, click on Print, and close the workbook; letting Windows do it is quicker.
The let-Windows-do-it approach becomes more valuable when you realize that you could create a selection set of files (select multiple workbooks) before you right-click on one and choose Print. Excel will dutifully print from each of the workbooks.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9839) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Printing without Opening.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
Tired of wasting paper when you print a worksheet? You can scale Excel's output so that it fits only the number of pages ...
Discover MoreWhen you press the Print button in Excel, you want your worksheet to go to your printer and produce output as you expect. ...
Discover MoreDon't like the print margins that Excel uses by default? You can change the default by changing the workbook on which ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
Comments