Fix Word 365 Freezing When Printing DOCX Files to PDF
Question details
The user needs a solution for Word 365 freezing and hanging when trying to print or export large DOCX documents using virtual PDF printers.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 365
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to create a PDF from a large DOCX file using Adobe PDF, Nitro PDF, or Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Observed behavior
- Word 365 freezes completely, and the print job becomes permanently stuck in the Windows print spooler. The issue primarily affects newer DOCX formats, whereas older DOC files print successfully.
Before you begin troubleshooting, open the Windows Services application (services.msc) and restart the 'Print Spooler' service to clear out any frozen PDF print jobs that might cause further application hangs.
Revert to an Earlier Version of Microsoft 365
Since this freezing issue is heavily suspected to be a defect introduced in recent Microsoft 365 architecture updates, reverting Office to an earlier, stable build is the most effective workaround.
Microsoft frequently updates underlying components in Office 365. Occasionally, these updates introduce bugs affecting how the print spooler handles complex XML-based DOCX files. Rolling back to a previous build bypasses this defect until Microsoft releases an official patch.
Open Microsoft Word, navigate to File > Account. Under 'Product Information', click 'Update Options' and select 'Disable Updates' to prevent Word from reinstalling the buggy version.
Search for 'cmd' in the Windows Start menu, right-click 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'. Type the command provided by Microsoft's official rollback documentation to specify the target version build number and press Enter.
An Office update dialog will appear. Allow it to download and install the older version files. Once completed, restart your computer and test printing your DOCX file to PDF.
Start Word in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins
Third-party PDF add-ins (like those from Adobe or Nitro) can sometimes conflict with Word's native print handling. Safe mode isolates these conflicts.
Use Built-in Export or Change File Format
Because the freezing defect specifically targets the Windows print spooler interacting with DOCX files, using Word's direct export function or switching to the older DOC format can quickly bypass the issue.
Convert DOCX to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word 365 continues to freeze due to update bugs, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight alternative that includes a stable, built-in PDF converter, allowing you to export large DOCX files to PDF without spooler crashes.
- 1. Open the DOCX File: Launch WPS Office Writer and open your problematic DOCX file directly. The layout and formatting will remain perfectly intact.
- 2. Export to PDF: Click the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner, select 'Export to PDF', configure your desired PDF settings, and click 'Export' to generate the file without freezing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word 365 freeze only on DOCX files and not older DOC files?
Microsoft 365 frequently updates the architecture handling newer, XML-based DOCX formats. Sometimes these background processing updates contain bugs that trigger memory loops or spooler crashes during printing, whereas the older binary DOC format bypasses these newer processing paths.
Will completely reinstalling Microsoft 365 fix the print to PDF freeze?
Not necessarily. If the freeze is caused by a bug present in the latest official release build, a standard uninstallation and reinstallation will simply download the exact same buggy version. Reverting to an older build is usually more effective.
How do I clear a stuck print job after Word freezes?
To clear a stuck job, open the Windows Services app (type 'services.msc' in the Start menu), locate 'Print Spooler', right-click it, and select 'Restart'. If that fails, stop the service, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, delete all files inside, and start the service again.
Are there other ways to convert DOCX to PDF without using virtual printers?
Yes. Instead of selecting 'Print' and choosing Adobe PDF or Microsoft Print to PDF, you can use Word's 'Save As' feature and select PDF from the file type dropdown, or use the 'Export' > 'Create PDF/XPS Document' option in the File menu.
