Can a firewall or antivirus software block printing from Microsoft Word?

Yes, firewall or antivirus software can sometimes interfere with printer communication. Temporarily disabling your firewall or antivirus (exercise caution when doing so) can help determine if they are the cause of the problem. If disabling the software resolves the issue, you'll need to configure the firewall/antivirus to allow communication with the printer. Check the firewall/antivirus settings for exceptions or allow access for the printer driver.