Fix Adobe Acrobat Cannot Find Printers Until Windows Restarts
Question details
Adobe Acrobat DC fails to recognize any installed printers, requiring a full Windows restart to restore PDF printing functionality.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to select a printer and print a PDF document directly from Adobe Acrobat.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat displays no available printers in the print dialog, even though Windows correctly recognizes the printers and other applications can print normally.
Verify that your printer is powered on, properly connected, and currently set as the default printer in your Windows 'Printers & scanners' settings.
Restart the Windows Print Spooler Service
Restarting the Print Spooler service forces Windows and Acrobat to refresh the list of available printers without needing a full system reboot.
The Windows Print Spooler manages all print jobs and printer connections. Occasionally, the communication between Acrobat and the spooler hangs.
Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Type 'services.msc' and press Enter.
Scroll down the list of services until you find 'Print Spooler'.
Right-click on 'Print Spooler' and select 'Restart' from the context menu. Wait a few seconds for the service to restart.
Close Adobe Acrobat DC completely and open it again. Try to print your document to see if the printers appear.
Update and Repair Acrobat Installation
Outdated or missing installation files can cause hardware detection bugs within Acrobat.
Disable Protected Mode at Startup
Acrobat's Enhanced Security and sandbox features can sometimes block the application from accessing system printers.
Print Your PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to lose connection to your printers, you can easily open, edit, and print your PDF documents using the built-in WPS PDF tool without spooler errors.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Right-click your PDF file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office.
- 3. Access the Print Menu: Click the 'Print' icon on the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P on your keyboard.
- 4. Print the Document: Select your desired printer from the drop-down menu, adjust your settings, and click 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat lose my printers but other applications do not?
Acrobat uses a specific sandbox mode (Protected Mode) for security, which can sometimes isolate the application from the Windows Print Spooler. When communication drops, Acrobat fails to see the printers that other non-sandboxed apps can access.
Do I have to restart my computer every time Acrobat can't find printers?
No. Instead of restarting your whole computer, you can usually just restart the Windows Print Spooler service via the Windows Services app to quickly restore printer access in Acrobat.
Will resetting Acrobat preferences fix the printing issue?
Yes, if the issue is caused by corrupted preference files. You can reset preferences by navigating to your AppData folder, locating the Acrobat preferences folder, and moving or deleting it. Acrobat will generate a fresh configuration upon its next launch.
