Fix Acrobat Reader DC Freezes During PDF Printing
Question details
The user experiences application freezes when printing a PDF, where the progress bar hangs at 100% and requires a manual force-close, despite the document printing successfully.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
- Device & OS
- Windows 7
- Scenario
- Sending a PDF document to a printer, particularly through print management systems like CopiTrak.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat Reader DC becomes completely unresponsive after the document is sent to the printer. The print progress bar stays stuck at 100%, and the program must be ended manually using the Task Manager.
Ensure your printer drivers are up to date and save any other open PDF documents to prevent data loss when forcefully closing the frozen application.
Update Acrobat Reader DC to the Latest Version
Installing the latest official patches resolves known bugs and compatibility issues with print management systems.
Software updates often contain crucial bug fixes for print spooler communication errors. Updating Acrobat Reader ensures that the software correctly processes the 'print job complete' signal instead of hanging at 100%.
Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on your computer.
Click on the 'Help' menu at the top of the application window and select 'Check for Updates' from the dropdown list.
Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install any available updates. Allow the process to complete.
Restart Acrobat Reader DC and attempt to print a PDF document to confirm the freezing issue is resolved.
Use the Print as Image Feature
Printing the document as an image bypasses complex font and vector processing that can cause the application to hang during the print spooling phase.
Print PDF Documents Smoothly with WPS Office
Avoid application freezes and heavy system resource usage by using WPS Office. Its built-in PDF reader provides a lightweight, fast, and reliable way to view, edit, and print PDF files without crashing.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and install it on your PC.
- 2. Open your PDF: Right-click your PDF file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office from the list.
- 3. Access Print Options: Click the 'Print' icon on the top toolbar or press 'Ctrl + P' on your keyboard.
- 4. Print the Document: Select your printer, adjust your preferred print settings, and click 'Print' for a seamless, freeze-free printing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat Reader freeze only after the document has already printed?
This typically occurs due to a communication glitch between the PDF application and the Windows Print Spooler or third-party tracking software like CopiTrak. The software fails to receive the final 'job complete' signal, causing the progress bar to hang endlessly at 100%.
Can a corrupted PDF file cause the reader to freeze during printing?
Yes, documents with overly complex layers, damaged fonts, or corrupted formatting can cause the print processor to hang. Printing the document using the 'Print as Image' option can bypass these rendering issues.
How do I force close Acrobat Reader when it freezes?
Press 'Ctrl + Shift + Esc' to open the Windows Task Manager. Locate 'Adobe Acrobat Reader' in the Processes tab, click on it to select it, and then click 'End Task' in the bottom right corner to forcefully close the unresponsive application.
Will reinstalling my printer drivers fix the freezing issue?
It is highly likely. If the communication error stems from an outdated or corrupted printer driver, downloading the latest driver from your printer manufacturer's official website and performing a clean installation can resolve the freezing behavior.
