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Excel for the web says "we're not able to contact the server", and I can't print my Excel files

PESMMegan

About a week ago, I stopped being able to print from Excel files. I have tried many of them. I now have to download the file to my computer before I can print what I need.

When I try to print from an Excel file, I get this error message: "We're not able to contact the server. It might not be responding, or your Internet connection may have been interrupted. Please try again."

I am using Chrome on my Lenovo laptop.

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Hannah

Sorry to see that you're having this issue, @PESMMegan.

Can you try this from a different browser or an incognito window and let me know if it helps?

Have you also restarted your computer ever since this started happening?

And are you only having this issue with Excel files? How about other Office files or other files in general?

Keep me posted.

PESMMegan

After restarting my computer, I tried from Chrome (incognito) and from Edge. No dice. Same error message.

I am only having this issue with Excel. My Word files open a PDF tab that I can print from. My PDF files are behaving as usual (preview-able, but download to print, or open in Dropbox Replay).

At least 80% of my working files are Excel. Most of my other dropbox files are archive.

Nancy

@PESMMegan, can you send me a screenshot of the error message you’re receiving?

If there’s any type of sensitive info appearing in the visual, please make sure to remove it first.

PESMMegan

Nancy

Thanks for the visual! Can you turn your printer off, and then back on? Do you keep seeing the same error then?

If you have the chance to test this with another printer, please try to do so as well, so that we can isolate this a bit more.

PESMMegan

The same problem occurs at work and at home (different printers), and it occurs before I can select which printer. It defaults to "local printer" and gives the error message before I can select a printer.

I have found some excel files that will print. They default to "local printer" and then open a PDF version in a new tab for me to print.

Megan

Hey there, @PESMMegan!

How large are the Excel files that fail to print? Could you also let me know the spreadsheets use features newer than Excel 2016, such as macros, advanced formulas, or embedded objects?

As another test, please open an example file on dropbox.com, click “...” next to the file name, hover over Open, and choose Excel for the web again, then try using the print option from inside Excel for the web rather than the browser’s print command if you were using the browser menu before.

Lastly, can you make a copy of one failing file, then save that copy to see whether it prints?