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Fix Colored Emojis Exporting as Black in Word PDF Files
Question details
The user needs to retain the color of emojis when converting a Word document into a PDF file.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Exporting or printing a document containing colored emojis to PDF format.
- Observed behavior
- Colored emojis display correctly in the Word document but turn into black outlines or disappear completely in the exported PDF file.
Ensure you have your Microsoft account credentials handy, as fixing this software bug requires verifying your Office version and potentially reinstalling the application.
Update or Reinstall Microsoft Office 2019
Outdated Office builds (such as version 1808) have known rendering bugs with emojis in PDFs. Updating to the latest supported version resolves this issue.
Colored emojis failing to render during PDF export is a recognized issue in older Microsoft Office 2019 builds. By forcing an update or downloading the newest installer from your Microsoft account, you patch the internal PDF conversion engine.
Open Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top ribbon, and select 'Account'. Look under 'Product Information' to see your current version (e.g., Version 1808).
Click the 'Update Options' button next to your version details and select 'Update Now' to download and install the newest release.
If you are on a personal retail license and updates fail, log into account.microsoft.com/services, uninstall your current Office package, and download the latest available installation package.
Use Microsoft Print to PDF
Bypassing the standard 'Save As' function and using the Windows virtual printer can successfully preserve colored emojis.
Export Documents to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
Tired of formatting bugs and outdated software issues in Microsoft Word? WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that perfectly preserves emojis, fonts, and complex layouts when exporting to PDF without the need for constant troubleshooting.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free and install it on your device.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file containing the colored emojis.
- 3. Export to PDF: Click on 'Menu' in the top left corner and select 'Export to PDF' to generate a file with perfect color retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my colored emojis turn into black outlines in a PDF?
This is typically caused by a rendering bug in older versions of Microsoft Word's built-in PDF converter (such as version 1808). When the engine processes the document, it fails to embed the multi-layered color data of the emoji font, reducing it to a standard black vector outline.
Does 'Save As' PDF work differently than 'Print to PDF' for emojis?
Yes. The 'Save As' or 'Export' function uses Microsoft Word's internal PDF conversion code, which may struggle with colored emojis in older builds. 'Microsoft Print to PDF' utilizes the Windows system-level virtual printer, which often bypasses these application-specific rendering bugs.
Will updating my Windows operating system fix the emoji issue in Word?
While keeping Windows updated ensures you have the latest system fonts (like Segoe UI Emoji), the PDF export bug is specifically tied to your Microsoft Office version. You must update Office itself, rather than just Windows, to resolve the built-in PDF conversion issue.
