How to Fix Microsoft Word Crashes Caused by Acrobat PDFMaker
Question details
Microsoft Word crashes after converting a DOCX file to PDF using the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in.
- Product
- Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Converting a DOCX document to PDF via the Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM add-in.
- Observed behavior
- Word crashes during or after the PDF conversion process and displays an error regarding the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in.
Ensure all pending work is saved to prevent data loss when Word crashes, and verify your Office and Acrobat versions are fully up to date.
Move the File from OneDrive to a Local Drive
Cloud-synced folders like OneDrive can conflict with the PDFMaker add-in, causing Word to crash during conversion.
Acrobat PDFMaker often struggles to process files that are actively being synced by cloud storage services. Moving the document to a strictly local folder isolates the file and prevents sync-related crashes.
Ensure the affected DOCX file is completely closed in Microsoft Word.
Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive folder where the document is currently stored.
Right-click the file, select 'Copy', and then paste it into a local directory that does not sync to the cloud, such as your Desktop or local Documents folder.
Open the newly copied local file in Word and attempt the PDF conversion using Acrobat PDFMaker again.
Repair the Adobe Acrobat Installation
Corrupted Acrobat files can lead to instability in Office COM add-ins. Running the built-in repair tool can fix these underlying issues.
Use the Export Cancel-and-Repeat Workaround
A known workaround involves initiating the export process, canceling it once, and then repeating it to bypass the crash.
Convert DOCX to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
Tired of dealing with crashing add-ins in Microsoft Word? Try WPS Office. It includes a built-in, highly stable PDF converter that doesn't require third-party plugins like Acrobat PDFMaker to function.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your DOCX file.
- 2. Export to PDF: Click the 'Export to PDF' button directly on the main toolbar.
- 3. Save the file: Choose your desired save location and click 'Export' for a crash-free conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in crash Microsoft Word?
The crash is often caused by conflicts with cloud-synced folders like Microsoft OneDrive, outdated versions of Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Office, or corruption within the PDFMaker COM add-in installation files.
How can I disable the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in in Word?
Go to File > Options > Add-ins in Microsoft Word. Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage dropdown menu at the bottom and click 'Go'. Uncheck the box next to 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin' and click 'OK'.
Is there a way to convert Word to PDF without using Adobe Acrobat?
Yes, Microsoft Word has a built-in PDF export feature. You can go to File > Save As, choose a location, and select 'PDF' from the 'Save as type' dropdown menu. You can also use free alternatives like WPS Office, which natively supports seamless PDF conversions.
