Troubleshoot Adobe PDFMaker Add-in Issues in Office 2016
Question details
The user needs to resolve performance and display issues caused by the Adobe PDFMaker add-in in Microsoft Office 2016.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening and viewing documents in Office 2016 applications with the Adobe PDFMaker add-in enabled.
- Observed behavior
- The PDFMaker add-in takes an unusually long time to load, or causes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to display a blank gray window instead of the document content.
Ensure you have your exact Microsoft Office 2016 and Adobe Acrobat build numbers handy, and temporarily save any open documents before making changes to your add-in configurations.
Update Software and Isolate the Add-in
Verify software compatibility by applying the latest updates and testing Office 2016 with the PDFMaker add-in temporarily disabled.
Many add-in conflicts arise from version incompatibilities between Microsoft Office and third-party software like Adobe Acrobat. Isolating the add-in helps confirm if it is the root cause of the blank screens.
Check and document the exact version numbers of your Windows operating system, Office 2016, and Adobe Acrobat to ensure they are mutually compatible.
Download and install the latest available patches for both Microsoft Office 2016 (via File > Account > Update Options) and Adobe Acrobat (via Help > Check for Updates).
Open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Navigate to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom, manage 'COM Add-ins', click 'Go', and uncheck the 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin'. Restart the application to see if the gray window issue persists.
If your company policy allows, temporarily disable your antivirus software's add-in scanning feature to rule out security blocks causing the slow load times.
Repair or Reinstall Adobe Acrobat
If the PDFMaker add-in is confirmed as the cause, repairing or reinstalling Adobe Acrobat can rebuild corrupted or missing integration files.
Edit and Export PDFs Natively with WPS Office
Avoid frustrating third-party add-in crashes and slow loading times. WPS Office includes a built-in PDF reader, editor, and converter right out of the box—no external plugins required. It's a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your PC.
- 2. Open Office Files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents natively.
- 3. Export to PDF: Use the built-in 'Export to PDF' feature directly from the menu without dealing with third-party COM add-ins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Office 2016 show a blank gray screen when opening documents?
A blank gray screen often occurs when a third-party COM add-in, like Adobe PDFMaker, conflicts with the Office rendering engine, stalling the application before it can load the document's content.
How do I find my Adobe Acrobat and Office 2016 build numbers?
In Office 2016, navigate to File > Account > About Word (or Excel/PowerPoint) to view your build number. In Adobe Acrobat, go to Help > About Adobe Acrobat to locate the exact version and build details.
Can I export files to PDF in Office 2016 without the PDFMaker add-in?
Yes. If you disable the PDFMaker add-in to fix loading issues, you can still create PDFs natively in Office by clicking File > Export > Create PDF/XPS Document, or by selecting 'Microsoft Print to PDF' from your printer options.
