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10 Solutions for QuickBooks Not Printing Checks Correctly​

QuickBooks offers a feature to generate checks automatically. However, sometimes you can deal with QuickBooks not printing checks correctly, or that the check prints again the next week, as if the first one never existed. This is extremely time-consuming and frustrating, as it wastes your expensive check stock. There may also be alignment issues with your printed check, rendering it invalid. If you’re dealing with any of these problems, don’t worry, you’re not alone. We are here to help you wade through these waters easily with our guided solutions. 

So, let’s get started without further ado.

There are multiple reasons that can render QuickBooks unable to print checks. These can result in the workstation freezing while printing checks, printing duplicate checks, showing an error while printing payroll checks, being unable to print checks completely, or the check being displayed as invalid. This can throw your time management chart out of the window and can cost you the wastage of expensive resources.

Now, let us look at the causes of this error so that we can proceed to troubleshoot them later on.

You can encounter this problem in both QuickBooks Desktop and Online, and both are caused by different reasons. Let’s list them below:

  1. You can face this issue due to cookies and cache being piled up in your browser
  2. The QBprint.qbp file might be damaged
  3. You might be using an outdated version of the Adobe PDF reader
  4. You might face an invalid error in the Microsoft XPS writer

These are some of the factors that can lead to different check printing issues in your workstation.

If you’re trying to tackle QuickBooks not printing checks correctly, make sure to read and apply the things mentioned below before you try to patch this error:

  1. Always check and confirm that your printer is on
  2. Make sure you have an adequate amount of check paper in the paper tray
  3. Verify that your printer is online
  4. Additionally, check that you’re commanding the right printer
  5. Try to print a test page to make sure it’s not a hardware issue

Now, let’s proceed to fix this issue with easy-to-follow steps.

If your checks are not printing correctly in QuickBooks, below are given the methods through which you can solve this problem and start printing them again:

If the QBprint file is damaged, you can resolve this problem by following the steps given below:

  1. First, make sure that your File Explorer displays hidden files and folders
  2. Then, navigate to:
    • Windows 10 & 11: C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks 20XX
    • Server 2012: C:\Program Data\Intuit\QuickBooks year and C:\Users\**remote user**\AppData\Roaming\Intuit\ YEAR VERSION\TSPrinterSettings
  3. Now, right-click the QBprint.qbp file
  4. Press Rename
  5. Add .old in front of the name
    • The file name should look like: QBPrint.qbp.old
  6. Open QBDT
  7. Browse to the File menu
  8. Choose Printer Setup
  9. Pick any transaction in the Form Name list
  10. Hit OK
  11. A new QBprint file would be created
  12. Try printing again

You won’t have to deal with a damaged QBprint file now.

If your check did not print correctly in QuickBooks Online, it can be due to stored cookies and cache in your browser. You can fix that by opening QBO in a private window the next time you print checks with the following steps:

  1. Mozilla Firefox – Ctrl + Shift + P
  2. Google Chrome – Ctrl + Shift + N
  3. Microsoft Edge – Ctrl + Shift + N
  4. Safari – Command + Shift + N

If this works, you can clear cookies and cache from your browser with the next solution.

Clear cache and cookies from your web browser to fix QuickBooks Online checks not printing correctly:

Google Chrome

  1. Open Chrome
  2. Tap on the three dots at the top right corner
    Chrome Menu
  3. Scroll down and open Settings
    Chrome Setting
  4. Now, go to the Privacy and security tab
  5. Click on Third-party cookies
    See all site data and permissions
  6. Then, tap See all site data and permissions
  7. In the search bar, type Intuit
  8. Hit Enter
  9. Now, click on Delete displayed data
  10. Press Delete

Safari

  1. Open Safari
  2. Browse to Preferences
    Preference option in safari
  3. Navigate to the Privacy section
  4. Click on Manage Website Data
  5. In the search box, type and enter Intuit
  6. Click on Remove All
  7. Then, press Remove Now
  8. Restart your browser

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the three lines at the top right corner
  2. Browse to Settings
  3. Click on Privacy & Security
  4. Now, go to Cookies and Site Data
  5. Navigate to the Manage Data window
  6. Enter Intuit
  7. Then, press Remove All Shown 
  8. Finally, click on Save Changes

Microsoft Edge

  1. Run the Edge app
  2. Open the browser menu
  3. Then, click on Settings
    setting in edge browser
  4. Find your way to the Privacy, search, and services tab
  5. Then, click on Cookies 
  6. Select See all cookies and site data
  7. Enter “Intuit” in the search bar
  8. Then, press Remove all shown
  9. Click on Clear
  10. Restart the browser

This was all about clearing Intuit-related cookies from your choice of web browser.

To make alignment adjustments in QBDT, follow the steps given to you below:

  1. Make coarse alignment adjustments for your QuickBooks checks
    • Open the QB Desktop app
    • Navigate to the File menu
    • Click on Printer Setup
    • In the Form name dropdown menu, press Check/Paycheck
    • Open the Printer Type dropdown menu
    • Select Continuous (Perforated Edge)
    • Press Align
    • Choose a template you wish to use
    • Press OK
    • Choose Coarse
    • Then, click on OK again to print a sample
    • Check the pointer line that QuickBooks printed in the center of the example
    • Now, note the number nearest to the arrow points
    • Then, enter the value in the Pointer Line Position area
    • Click OK
    • QuickBooks may print one more example
    • Note down the alignment position for future reference
  2. Making fine alignment adjustments
    • Click and open the File menu
    • Press Printer Setup
    • Select the Form name dropdown menu
    • Choose Check/Paycheck
    • Now, press the Printer Type dropdown menu
    • Choose Continuous (Perforated Edge)
    • Press Align
    • Select a template
    • Hit OK
    • Click on Fine
    • Press OK to print a sample
    • Check the alignment grid on the sample
    • Estimate how far to move the text on the grid
    • Vertically and horizontally, enter a number to specify how much to move the text
    • Additionally, in what direction to move the text
    • Click on Print Sample
    • Keep on making changes until the alignment result is satisfactory
    • Then, choose OK to close the Printer Setup

This would make sure that from now on, your checks are aligned when you print them.

If you’re facing QuickBooks not printing checks correctly in the online version and they are misaligned, check out these steps:

  1. Open the QBO website
  2. Sign in to your company file
  3. Press Settings
  4. Then, select Payroll Settings
  5. Navigate to the Printing field
  6. Press Edit
  7. Select Paycheck on QuickBooks-compatible check paper
  8. Then, choose 1 of the two
    • Print paycheck and 2 pay stubs
    • Print paycheck and 1 pay stub
  9. Press Align Check
  10. Select Print alignment form
  11. Now, follow the instructions you see
  12. Enter the letter and number that is suitable for you
  13. Once you’re happy with the result, press Save
  14. Finally, select Done

Now you won’t have to tackle checks not printing correctly in QuickBooks Online.

QuickBooks Tool Hub is a program provided by Intuit that can help you solve various software-related issues. You can use it to fix the check printing issue with the following steps:

  1. Download and install QuickBooks Tool Hub
  2. Run the Tool Hub application
  3. Click on Program Problems
  4. Select Print & PDF Tool
    print and pdf repair tool
  5. Wait for the tool to finish working
  6. Press Okay

This would eliminate the issue of checks not printing correctly in QuickBooks Desktop. If you’re still facing this issue, you can try updating your QB Desktop workstation.

To do so, follow the steps given below:

  1. Open the Run menu (Windows + R)
  2. Type optionalfeatures
  3. Hit Enter
  4. Search for Microsoft XPS Document Writer
  5. Make sure it’s selected
  6. Press OK
  7. Print a file from another application
  8. Make sure that your antivirus is not blocking .xps files
  9. If you find that your Microsoft XPS writer is not working, connect with our experts

Issues with the service properties of your print spooler can be causing this issue. Find out how to fix the QuickBooks won’t print checks issue with the following steps:

  1. Open the Run menu
  2. Type services.msc
  3. Hit Enter
  4. Find the Print Spooler service
  5. Right-click on it and choose Properties
  6. Navigate to Startup type
  7. Choose Automatic
  8. Press Apply
  9. Hit OK
  10. Right-click on the Print Spooler service again
  11. Select start

Unable to print checks in QuickBooks Desktop? There might be inherent installation issues with your workstation. This can lead to QuickBooks not printing checks correctly. You can fix this using the Install Diagnostic tool.

  1. Run your QB Tool Hub software
  2. Go to the Installation Issues tab
  3. Select the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool
    QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool
  4. After the tool finishes its process, open the QBDT app
  5. Try to print checks again

Any inherent installation issues would now likely be resolved.

QuickBooks not printing checks correctly? Repair your workstation from the control panel through the following steps:

  1. Open the Start menu
  2. Type and open Control Panel
    Control panel
  3. Click on Uninstall a program
  4. Find and click on QuickBooks Desktop
  5. Press Repair
  6. Follow the guided steps on your screen
  7. Press Finish

This would eliminate the QuickBooks Desktop not printing checks problem.

A concise and compact summary of this blog is presented below in a tabulated format:

DescriptionDue to some software errors, you might deal with QuickBooks not printing checks correctly. Issues like misaligned checks, duplicate checks, app freezing while printing, or the app completely not printing the check.
CausesPiled up cookies and cache, damaged QBprint file, outdated Adobe PDF reader, and an invalid error from Microsoft XPS writer.
Ways to fix itRename the QBprint file, use private browsing mode, clear Intuit cookies and cache, alignment adjustment, and use the Print & PDF tool. Additionally, test the Microsoft XPS writer, update the service properties of Print Spooler, use the Install Diagnostic Tool, and repair the QBDT app.

In this blog, we helped you understand why your QuickBooks might not be printing checks correctly. We also provided you with an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide through which you can troubleshoot the “QuickBooks Not Printing Checks Correctly” Issue on your own. 

If you’re trying to tackle the printing checks problem and need help, contact our ProAdvisor Solutions experts today at 1-855-888-3080.

How do you adjust check printing in QuickBooks?

To adjust check printing in QBDT, open the File menu and press Printer Setup. Open the Form Name dropdown menu and select Check/Paycheck. Now, go to the Settings tab and click Align to make adjustments. Finally, press OK to save the changes.

Why are my QuickBooks invoices not printing correctly?

If your QB workstation is not printing invoices correctly, it can be due to several reasons. Factors such as printer problems, incorrect settings, damaged files, and other hardware and software issues can contribute to this error.

Why is my QuickBooks not printing checks correctly?

If you face QuickBooks checks not printing correctly, it can be due to several key factors. In QuickBooks Online, this can stem from stored cookies and cache in your browser, or your Adobe PDF reader might be outdated. While in the Desktop version, a damaged QBprint file or problems with your Microsoft XPS writer can cause this issue. Read the blog above to troubleshoot them.

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