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Fix Microsoft Word for Mac Crashing When Saving as PDF
Question details
The user's Microsoft Word application crashes every time they attempt to save a document as a PDF on their Mac, even after restarting the app and rebooting the system.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Saving or exporting an existing text document to a PDF format.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word force-closes or freezes unexpectedly during the PDF save process.
Before proceeding with troubleshooting, ensure you are logged in as an administrator on your Mac and temporarily disconnect any external printers.
Verify Word Version, macOS Version, and Printer Details
Identify the root cause by checking if your software is up to date and determining if a specific printer driver is causing a conflict during the PDF export.
Microsoft Word relies heavily on macOS print drivers to generate PDF files. Outdated Word versions or incompatible printer drivers frequently cause crashes during this process.
Open Microsoft Word, click on 'Word' in the top menu bar, and select 'About Microsoft Word'. Note the version number displayed in the dialog box.
Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'About This Mac' to view your current operating system version.
Go to the Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners to check your default printer brand and model, which may require a driver update.
Use WPS Office to Effortlessly Save Documents to PDF on Mac
If Microsoft Word continues to crash, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. You can easily open your existing Word documents with perfect formatting and export them to PDF without any frustrating crashes. Enjoy a familiar interface and seamless migration today.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for Mac from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file directly.
- 3. Export to PDF: Click on 'Menu', select 'Export to PDF', and save your document securely without crashing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word crash specifically when saving as PDF on Mac?
This is often caused by corrupted printer drivers or outdated software. Word for Mac utilizes the system's print spooler to generate PDFs, so driver conflicts can easily trigger a crash.
How do I find my current version of Microsoft Word for Mac?
Open Microsoft Word, click on the 'Word' menu in the top-left corner of your screen, and select 'About Microsoft Word'. A dialog box will display your current version.
Does the printer model affect saving documents as PDFs?
Yes, macOS uses printer drivers to format the page layout for PDF generation. An incompatible or severely outdated printer driver can cause Word to crash during the export.
