Fix Adobe Acrobat Stops Responding When Clicking Print or Save As
Question details
Adobe Acrobat becomes unresponsive or closes unexpectedly when the user tries to use the Print or Save As commands.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document or save it to a new location using the 'Save As' function.
- Observed behavior
- The application freezes, crashes, or displays an error stating an 'unimplemented or obsolete function' was called, even after uninstalling and reinstalling the software.
Before modifying application preferences, ensure you have saved your work in other open programs, and note that adjusting security settings should initially be done for troubleshooting purposes only.
Disable Protected Mode and Enhanced Security for Testing
Temporarily disable Acrobat's built-in security modes to determine if they are conflicting with your system or document and causing the application to crash.
Adobe Acrobat includes Enhanced Security and Protected Mode features designed to protect your computer from malicious code. However, these strict security environments can sometimes cause conflicts with certain plugins, system configurations, or complex document elements, leading to freezes when executing standard commands like Print or Save As.
Launch Adobe Acrobat. Click on 'Edit' in the top menu bar and select 'Preferences' from the dropdown list.
In the left-hand pane of the Preferences window, scroll down the categories and click on 'Security (Enhanced)'.
Uncheck the box that says 'Enable Protected Mode at startup'. Then, change 'Protected View' to 'Off', and uncheck the 'Enable Enhanced Security' box. Click 'OK' to apply the changes.
Close Adobe Acrobat completely and reopen the application. Open your PDF document and attempt to use the 'Print' or 'Save As' command to see if the issue is resolved.
Print and Save PDFs Without Crashing Using WPS Office
If your PDF viewer continues to freeze or close unexpectedly, use WPS Office as a reliable, lightweight alternative to seamlessly open, edit, print, and save your PDF documents without performance issues.
- 1. Open Your PDF in WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free. Launch the application, click on 'Open', and select the PDF file that is causing issues.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click on the 'Menu' button located at the top-left corner and select 'Print' from the dropdown, or simply press the Ctrl+P shortcut to access print settings directly.
- 3. Save as a New File: To save the file in a new location or format, click on 'Menu', choose 'Save As', and select your desired destination folder on your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat say an unimplemented or obsolete function was called?
This error typically occurs due to corrupt installation files, conflicts with third-party plug-ins, or incompatible system security settings that restrict Acrobat from executing specific background commands required for printing or saving.
Will reinstalling Acrobat fix the freezing issue?
Reinstalling can sometimes replace corrupted program files. However, if the issue is caused by strict preference settings like 'Protected Mode' or an incompatibility with your OS, reinstalling alone may not resolve it until those settings are manually adjusted.
Is it safe to leave Protected Mode disabled in Acrobat?
It is generally not recommended to leave Protected Mode or Enhanced Security permanently disabled, as they act as a sandbox to protect your system from potentially malicious PDF files. Only disable them temporarily for troubleshooting purposes.
Can a specific PDF file cause Acrobat to stop responding?
Yes, a complex or corrupted PDF file, especially one with heavy embedded fonts, high-resolution graphics, or intricate interactive forms, can cause the software to freeze when attempting to process the document data for printing or saving.
