Fix Adobe Acrobat DC Printing Very Slowly or Not Finishing
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where printing large PDF documents takes an unusually long time or never finishes.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Sending a large PDF document containing both graphics and text to a physical printer (e.g., Lexmark).
- Observed behavior
- The PDF takes over an hour to print or never finishes in Acrobat DC, but the exact same file prints quickly when using a different application like Reader XI.
Ensure your printer is properly connected, turned on, and that you have installed the most recent printer drivers from the manufacturer's website.
Disable the 'Print as Image' Setting in Advanced Options
The 'Print as Image' option rasterizes the entire document into an image, which drastically increases processing time and file size sent to the printer.
By default or due to previous troubleshooting, Acrobat DC might have the 'Print as Image' setting enabled. This forces the software to convert complex text and vector graphics into large raster images, taking significantly more memory and processor power.
Launch Adobe Acrobat DC, open the slow-printing PDF document, and click 'File' > 'Print' to open the Print dialog box.
Click on the 'Advanced' button located near the top right of the Print dialog box.
Look for the 'Print As Image' checkbox. If it is checked, uncheck it to disable the feature.
Click 'OK' to save the advanced settings, then click 'Print' to test if the document prints at a normal speed.
Verify Print Settings and Printer Drivers Match
Differences in printer drivers or advanced print settings between Acrobat and other PDF readers can cause performance discrepancies.
Use WPS Office to Print Large PDFs Quickly
If Acrobat DC continues to struggle with slow printing or freezing, try using WPS Office. Its built-in PDF tool is highly optimized to process and print large, graphics-heavy PDF files quickly without exhausting your computer's memory.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free on your computer.
- 2. Open the PDF File: Right-click your large PDF file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office from the list.
- 3. Open the Print Menu: Click on 'Menu' or 'File' in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply press Ctrl+P.
- 4. Print the Document: Choose your printer, configure your desired page settings, and click 'Print' for fast processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the 'Print as Image' setting slow down PDF printing so much?
When 'Print as Image' is enabled, the PDF viewer rasterizes every page into a single large, high-resolution image before sending it to the printer. This requires significantly more memory and processing power, creating a massive file size that takes much longer for the printer to receive and process.
Why does my PDF print fast in Reader but extremely slow in Acrobat DC?
This usually happens because the two programs have different default print settings configured. Most commonly, Acrobat DC might have 'Print as Image' checked in its advanced settings, or it may be utilizing a different printer profile or driver than Reader.
Can outdated printer drivers cause Acrobat to print slowly?
Yes. Outdated or incompatible printer drivers can struggle to translate the complex vector data sent by Adobe Acrobat DC. Updating your printer drivers from the manufacturer's website can resolve communication bottlenecks and speed up printing.
What should I do if my PDF still never finishes printing after disabling Print as Image?
If the print job still hangs indefinitely, try printing the document in smaller batches of pages, flattening the PDF to remove complex transparent layers, or using a lightweight alternative PDF reader like WPS Office to handle the print job.
