How to Fix Outlook 365 Freezing When Printing with Acrobat PDF Printer
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Outlook 365 becomes unresponsive when attempting to print an email to PDF using the Adobe Acrobat printer.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook 365
- Device & OS
- Windows 10 64-bit
- Scenario
- Printing emails to PDF format using the Adobe PDF printer driver, specifically when the 'Save PDF File As' dialog appears.
- Observed behavior
- Outlook 365 completely freezes during the save dialog prompt, though other Office applications and PDF printers continue to function normally.
Ensure you have saved any open email drafts and that your Windows 10 operating system has the latest updates installed before modifying your printer configurations.
Use Microsoft Print to PDF
Bypass the outdated Adobe driver by utilizing the native PDF printer built into Windows 10.
Since Windows 10 includes a built-in virtual PDF printer that is fully compatible with modern 64-bit Office applications, switching to this default printer will prevent the freezing issues caused by legacy Acrobat drivers.
Launch Outlook 365, open the email you wish to save as a PDF, and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Print'.
Click the drop-down menu under the 'Printer' section and choose 'Microsoft Print to PDF' from the list of available printers.
Click the 'Print' button. A standard 'Save Print Output As' dialog box will appear. Choose your desired folder, enter a file name, and click 'Save'.
Upgrade to a Supported Version of Adobe Acrobat
Replace the obsolete Acrobat 9 installation with a modern, Windows 10-compatible version.
Update Office and Windows Drivers
Check for system-wide updates that might patch integration bugs between Office applications and printer drivers.
Enjoy Built-in PDF Tools with WPS Office
Avoid frustrating freezes and compatibility issues with outdated third-party printer drivers. WPS Office is a lightweight, fully integrated suite that includes built-in PDF creation, reading, and editing tools, saving you the hassle of managing external PDF plugins.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your Windows PC.
- 3. Export to PDF Natively: Open any document, spreadsheet, or presentation, and use the built-in 'Export to PDF' button to instantly save your files without using a virtual printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Outlook 365 freeze only when using Adobe Acrobat 9?
Acrobat 9 is an obsolete version that was released before Windows 10 and 64-bit Office environments became standard. It lacks the necessary operating-system integration to correctly handle file saving dialogs in modern software, resulting in a freeze.
Can I make Acrobat 9 compatible with Windows 10?
No, Adobe officially ended support for Acrobat 9 many years ago. It will not receive patches to fix compatibility issues with Windows 10 or 64-bit Office applications. Upgrading to a newer version or using a different PDF printer is required.
Where can I find the Microsoft Print to PDF option?
Microsoft Print to PDF is a built-in feature of Windows 10. When you open the Print menu in Outlook or any other application, it will automatically appear in the drop-down list of available printers.
