Printing Problems

Fix Word 365 Freezing When Printing Drawings to PDF

Ayan Masood Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

Microsoft Word 365 becomes unresponsive and freezes when attempting to print documents containing drawings or text boxes to a PDF format.

Fix Word 365 Freezing When Printing Drawings to PDF

Product: Microsoft Word 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user is attempting to convert a Word document with graphic elements into a PDF file using the Microsoft Print to PDF virtual printer feature.
Observed behavior: Word 365 freezes in the 'Save Print Output As' dialog during the printing process. The issue often persists even after repairing Microsoft Office or reinstalling printer drivers.

Before you start

Before attempting any workarounds, make sure to save your current document as a standard .docx file to avoid losing any edits if Word becomes entirely unresponsive and needs to be force-closed.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Built-in 'Save As' Feature to Export as PDF

Bypass the problematic Microsoft Print to PDF driver entirely by utilizing Word's native Save As function, which processes graphics and drawings without freezing.

The freezing issue is commonly tied to a defect in how the Microsoft Print to PDF virtual printer processes complex shapes, drawings, and text boxes. Using the native Save As method avoids the print spooler altogether.

Open the Save As Menu

Click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner of Microsoft Word, and select 'Save As' from the left-hand sidebar.

Select PDF Format

Click 'Browse' to choose a destination folder. In the 'Save as type' drop-down menu, select 'PDF (*.pdf)'.

Save the Document

Click the 'Save' button. Your document, including all drawings and text boxes, will be exported to PDF seamlessly.

Use the Built-in 'Save As' Feature to Export as PDF

Format Preservation: Using 'Save As' often results in better quality and smaller file sizes compared to 'Print to PDF', while retaining hyperlinks and document structure.

Solution 2

Install an Alternative PDF Virtual Printer

If your workflow requires using the Print dialog rather than saving, switching to a reliable third-party PDF printer resolves the freezing issue.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Export Complex Documents to PDF Flawlessly with WPS Office

Since Microsoft Word 365 has known freezing issues with the Print to PDF driver when handling drawings, consider using WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, free alternative that natively exports complex documents, including drawings and text boxes, directly to PDF without freezing or requiring external printer drivers.

1. Open Document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file containing the drawings.
2. Click Export to PDF: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab and click on the 'Export to PDF' button.
3. Save Your PDF: Select your preferred save location and click 'Export' for a flawless, freeze-free PDF conversion.

Free, lightweight, and fast Office suite alternativeFully compatible with Microsoft Word documents (.docx, .doc)Native, built-in PDF export that bypasses Windows virtual printer defectsSeamless migration with a highly familiar user interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word 365 only freeze when my document contains drawings?

The 'Microsoft Print to PDF' driver can struggle to render specific graphical elements like Word drawings, SmartArt, or complex text boxes. This processing bottleneck causes the Windows print spooler and the 'Save Print Output As' dialog to hang indefinitely.

Will repairing Microsoft Office fix the Print to PDF freezing issue?

Usually, it will not. Reinstalling or running an online repair for Office rarely resolves this specific bug, because the issue stems from an underlying defect in how the Microsoft 365 rendering engine interacts with the built-in Windows PDF printer.

Does exporting via 'Save As' degrade the quality of my PDF?

No. In fact, using the 'Save As' > 'PDF' feature typically produces a higher-quality PDF file that better preserves document layouts, searchable text, and hyperlinks compared to using a virtual printer.

Document & File Issues