Fix Adobe PDF Printer Creating Duplicate Jobs from Web Browsers
Question details
Users experience an issue where printing a web page to Adobe PDF generates two print jobs, causing one to successfully save the PDF while the other gets stuck in the queue with an error.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat PDF Printer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing web pages to PDF format using a web browser such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Internet Explorer.
- Observed behavior
- When initiating a print job from the browser, two jobs are sent to the print queue about one second apart. The actual PDF file is created, but the first job remains in the print queue marked with an error status.
Before proceeding with troubleshooting, save your current work and ensure you have administrative privileges, as you may need to restart system services or update printer drivers.
Clear the Print Queue and Restart the Print Spooler Service
Clearing stuck jobs and restarting the Windows spooler service often resolves temporary glitches causing double-spooled print jobs.
When a print job results in an error, it can get permanently stuck in the Windows print queue, blocking subsequent print operations. Manually clearing the print spooler directory will clear out these ghost jobs.
Press Win + R on your keyboard, type 'services.msc' into the Run dialog box, and press Enter to open the Services management console.
Scroll down the list to find 'Print Spooler'. Right-click it and select 'Stop'. Leave the Services window open.
Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete all files within this folder. Do not delete the folder itself.
Return to the Services window, right-click the 'Print Spooler' service again, and select 'Start'.
Use the Browser's Native 'Save as PDF' Feature
Bypass the Adobe PDF virtual printer driver entirely by using the built-in PDF generation tool found in modern web browsers.
Repair or Update Adobe Acrobat
Fix corrupted printer drivers or known bugs by repairing your Acrobat installation and ensuring it is fully up to date.
Print and Manage PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
Avoid duplicate print jobs and spooler errors by using the highly reliable WPS PDF virtual printer. WPS Office provides a lightweight, comprehensive suite for creating, editing, and managing PDFs without the driver conflicts commonly found in other software.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website to add the WPS PDF printer to your system.
- 2. Open Your Web Page: Navigate to the web page you want to convert in your preferred browser and press Ctrl + P to open the print dialog.
- 3. Select WPS PDF: Click the Printer dropdown menu and select 'WPS PDF' as your target destination.
- 4. Print to PDF: Click Print to instantly generate and save a high-quality PDF file without experiencing duplicate print queue errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Adobe PDF printer send two jobs from my web browser?
This generally happens due to a conflict between the web browser's modern printing architecture and the Adobe PDF virtual driver. The browser may submit the print command in a way that the driver interprets as two distinct requests, causing one to generate the PDF and the other to fail.
How do I delete a stuck print job that refuses to cancel?
If a job displays an 'Error' status and clicking 'Cancel' does nothing, you must manually clear it. Press Win + R, type 'services.msc', stop the 'Print Spooler' service, delete the files inside C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, and then restart the service.
Does clearing the print spooler delete the PDF file that was successfully created?
No. Clearing the print queue only removes temporary spool files (.SPL and .SHD) that are actively waiting to be processed by the printer. Your successfully created and saved PDF documents will remain intact in their respective folders.
Can browser extensions cause duplicate print jobs?
Yes. Certain third-party browser extensions, particularly those related to web page formatting, ad blocking, or alternative PDF generation, can interfere with native print commands and cause the job to be submitted to the spooler twice. Try disabling your extensions to see if the issue persists.
