How to Fix Microsoft Word Crashing When Saving as PDF via PDFMaker
Question details
Microsoft Word crashes unexpectedly after successfully generating a PDF using the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to create or save a document as a PDF using the Adobe Acrobat PDFMaker integration within Word.
- Observed behavior
- The application crashes immediately after the PDF is created, often citing PDFMWord.dll as the faulting module, particularly in Terminal Server environments.
Ensure that your Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Acrobat software, and Windows operating system are all updated to their latest versions to rule out known compatibility bugs.
Use the Adobe PDF Virtual Printer
Bypass the buggy PDFMaker add-in by using the virtual printer method, which accomplishes the same goal without crashing Microsoft Word.
This is the most reliable workaround. Instead of utilizing the Acrobat ribbon or the PDFMaker plug-in, you can send the document directly to Adobe's virtual printer. This processes the PDF outside of Word's add-in environment, avoiding the PDFMWord.dll module fault.
With your document open in Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top-left corner and select 'Print' from the side menu.
Under the 'Printer' drop-down menu, select 'Adobe PDF' (or 'Microsoft Print to PDF' as a native alternative) instead of your physical printer.
Click the 'Print' button. You will be prompted to choose a save location and file name for your new PDF document.
Disable the Acrobat PDFMaker Add-in
Turn off the add-in to prevent accidental use and subsequent crashes when working in Microsoft Word.
Export Documents to PDF Safely with WPS Office
Avoid third-party add-in crashes entirely by switching to WPS Office. With its natively built-in PDF conversion tool, you can seamlessly save your documents as PDFs without relying on unstable external plugins.
- 1. Open Your Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the Word document you wish to convert.
- 2. Access the Export Feature: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner, go to 'Export to PDF', or simply click the dedicated 'Export to PDF' button on the main toolbar.
- 3. Customize and Export: Adjust your export settings if necessary (such as page range or save path), then click the 'Export to PDF' button to safely generate your file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the PDFMWord.dll module cause Microsoft Word to crash?
PDFMWord.dll is the dynamic link library file responsible for Adobe's PDFMaker integration in Word. Crashes usually occur due to version conflicts, software bugs between Microsoft and Adobe updates, or permission issues within Terminal Server environments.
Can I save a Word document as a PDF natively without Adobe plugins?
Yes. You can bypass third-party plugins by going to File > Save As and choosing 'PDF' from the file format drop-down, or by using the 'Microsoft Print to PDF' virtual printer.
Will repairing Microsoft Office fix the PDFMaker crash?
Sometimes. Repairing Office or reinstalling Adobe Acrobat can resolve corrupted registry keys linking the two programs. However, if it is an inherent bug between specific versions, using the virtual printer workaround is the most effective solution.
