Fix Adobe Acrobat Crashing When Printing to a Brother Printer
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Adobe Acrobat crashes unexpectedly when attempting to print documents to a Brother printer.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat, Brother Printer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to send a PDF document to print using Adobe Acrobat connected to a Brother printer.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat application crashes or closes abruptly when the print command is initiated.
Before proceeding with software changes, test printing the same PDF file to the Brother printer from a different computer to determine if the issue is specific to your current machine or the file itself.
Update Software and Perform a Clean Driver Reinstallation
Outdated application software or conflicts with generic operating system printer drivers are the most common causes of printing crashes. Updating everything and performing a clean install usually resolves the issue.
Generic drivers automatically installed by the operating system often lack the specific communication protocols needed by Adobe Acrobat to process complex PDFs. Using the manufacturer's official complete driver package ensures maximum compatibility.
Check your system settings to install the latest Windows or macOS updates. Open Adobe Acrobat, go to 'Help' in the top menu, and select 'Check for Updates' to ensure you are running the latest version.
Navigate to your computer's 'Printers & Scanners' settings. Select your Brother printer and remove or delete the device. Also, uninstall any Brother-related utilities from your installed programs list.
Visit the official Brother support website, search for your specific printer model, and download the 'Full Driver & Software Package' as well as the latest firmware update for your operating system.
Run the downloaded driver installer and follow the on-screen prompts. Once installed, go back to 'Printers & Scanners', select your Brother printer, and choose 'Set as default'.
Check and Restart the Print Spooler Service
If the problem continues on a Windows computer, the Print Spooler service might be crashing or improperly configured, preventing documents from being sent to the printer.
Print PDF Files Smoothly with WPS PDF
If Adobe Acrobat continues to crash while communicating with your Brother printer, you can easily open and print your PDF files using the built-in WPS PDF tool. WPS Office offers a lightweight, highly compatible environment that communicates flawlessly with standard printer drivers.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF file you wish to print by dragging and dropping it into the workspace.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner and select 'Print', or simply use the Ctrl+P keyboard shortcut.
- 3. Select Brother Printer: In the Print dialog box, choose your Brother printer from the 'Printer' dropdown list.
- 4. Print the Document: Adjust your preferred print settings, such as page range and copies, then click the 'Print' button to process the job without crashing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat crash only when printing to my Brother printer?
This usually happens due to a specific conflict between the PDF application and outdated, corrupted, or generic OS-level printer drivers. The printer's firmware might also be struggling to process the specific memory demands sent by older versions of Acrobat.
How do I ensure the operating system doesn't reinstall generic drivers?
When you uninstall the printer, disconnect it from your computer or network first. Download and run the official driver installer from the Brother website before plugging the printer back in via USB or reconnecting it to the network. This forces the OS to use the manufacturer's software.
Does the size or complexity of the PDF affect printing crashes?
Yes. Very large PDFs or documents with complex, high-resolution graphics can overwhelm the print spooler or the printer's onboard memory, causing the PDF software to crash. You can test this by trying to print a simple text-only PDF to see if it succeeds.
