PDF Conversion Issues

Fix Acrobat 2017 Cannot Convert Word 2010 to PDF

Steven Parker Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to convert Microsoft Word 2010 documents to PDF because Acrobat 2017 fails to locate the Adobe PDF or Acrobat Distiller printer.

How to Fix Acrobat 2017 Not Converting Word 2010 Documents to PDF

Product: Adobe Acrobat 2017 and Microsoft Word 2010
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Converting a Word document to a PDF file using the Adobe Acrobat desktop application.
Observed behavior: Acrobat returns an error indicating the Adobe PDF or Distiller printer is missing, and standard troubleshooting like running repair mode or restarting the Windows PC does not resolve the issue.

Before you start

Verify that your Windows operating system is fully up to date and temporarily disable any strict antivirus software that might be blocking the installation or execution of virtual printer drivers.

Solution 1Recommended

Create the PDF Directly from the Acrobat Interface

Bypass the missing virtual printer driver by using Acrobat's internal PDF creation tool rather than printing from Microsoft Word.

Often, the Acrobat add-in inside Microsoft Word relies on the virtual Adobe PDF printer. If that printer is corrupted, triggering the conversion from within the Acrobat application itself can bypass the Windows print spooler and successfully generate the file.

Open Adobe Acrobat

Launch Adobe Acrobat 2017 from your Windows Start menu or desktop shortcut.

Access the Create PDF Tool

Click on 'File' in the top menu bar, select 'Create', and then click on 'PDF from File'.

Select the Word Document

Browse your computer to locate the Microsoft Word 2010 (.docx or .doc) file you want to convert, select it, and click 'Open'.

Save the Generated PDF

Once Acrobat finishes processing the document, go to 'File' > 'Save As' to choose a destination folder and save your new PDF.

Create the PDF Directly from the Acrobat Interface

Testing other formats: Try converting a simple text file or image using this same method. If other formats fail as well, the core Adobe installation is heavily corrupted and requires a complete reinstall.

Solution 2

Manually Install the Adobe PDF Printer

Add the missing Adobe PDF printer manually through Windows Settings if Acrobat's automatic repair failed to restore it.

Native Word to PDF Converter

Convert Word to PDF Natively with WPS Office

Skip the hassle of missing virtual printers and complex integrations. WPS Office features a built-in, one-click Word to PDF converter that works seamlessly on Windows without needing extra plugins like Acrobat Distiller.

1. Open Your Document in WPS Office: Download and launch WPS Office, then open your Word 2010 document using WPS Writer.
2. Access the Export Feature: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and click on the 'Export to PDF' button.
3. Adjust Export Settings: In the dialog box, select your desired save path, export range, and output quality.
4. Complete the Conversion: Click the 'Export to PDF' button to instantly save your Word document as a high-quality PDF.

Built-in PDF exporter requires no third-party virtual printers.Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) file formats.Maintains original document formatting, fonts, and layout perfectly.Lightweight, free-to-use alternative to heavy PDF editors.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Acrobat say the PDF printer is missing?

This usually happens when the Adobe PDF printer driver fails to install correctly during setup, or a major Windows OS update conflicts with the Acrobat Distiller background service, causing the virtual printer to be unlisted.

Does repairing Acrobat 2017 restore the missing Distiller?

Running the repair via the Help menu often fixes missing program files. However, if registry keys are corrupted or folder permissions restrict the installation of the printer driver, the automatic repair will fail, requiring a manual driver installation.

Why does the conversion issue only affect Word files?

If Acrobat can convert other files but fails on Word documents, the Acrobat PDFMaker COM Add-in inside Microsoft Word might be disabled or corrupted. Checking the COM Add-ins list in Word's options to re-enable PDFMaker can resolve this specific issue.

Can I convert Word to PDF without using Acrobat?

Yes. Modern office suites like WPS Office and recent versions of Microsoft Office have native 'Export to PDF' or 'Save as PDF' functions that do not rely on Adobe Acrobat or external virtual printers.

PDF Troubleshooting