Fix Adobe PDF Printer Creating Files with Symbols Instead of Text
Question details
Users are experiencing an issue where files printed using the Adobe PDF printer generate unreadable symbols or gibberish instead of standard text.
- Product
- Adobe PDF Printer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to print a document or an existing PDF file to a new PDF using the Adobe PDF virtual printer.
- Observed behavior
- The generated PDF displays strange symbols and unreadable characters in place of the original text, a problem that may not occur when using alternative options like Microsoft Print to PDF.
Verify your print workflow and ensure you are trying to convert an original source document (like a Word or Excel file) rather than "printing" an already existing PDF file to the Adobe PDF printer, which is a common cause of encoding errors.
Export Natively Instead of Printing to PDF
Using the built-in export features of your application prevents font encoding issues caused by the Adobe PDF virtual printer.
Printing an existing PDF to the Adobe PDF printer is officially not recommended as it forces the document to be re-processed, leading to font substitution errors and gibberish text. Using native export guarantees accurate text encoding.
Open your file in its native application, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, rather than opening a PDF in a PDF viewer.
Click on 'File' in the top left corner of the application menu, then select 'Save As' or 'Export'.
Select 'PDF' from the file format dropdown menu, ensure your settings are correct, and click 'Save' or 'Publish'.
Update or Reinstall the Adobe PDF Printer Driver
Corrupted printer drivers or outdated Acrobat software can misinterpret font data during the printing process.
Convert and Edit PDFs Natively with WPS Office
Skip virtual printer errors completely. WPS Office provides built-in, highly accurate PDF conversion and editing tools that preserve your original fonts, layouts, and formatting without generating gibberish text.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Office and open the Writer document, Spreadsheet, or Presentation you wish to convert.
- 2. Access the export tool: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, then navigate to 'Export to PDF'.
- 3. Adjust settings and export: Review the export options, ensuring your pages are set correctly, and click 'Export' to generate a flawless, readable PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF show weird symbols instead of text?
This usually happens due to font embedding issues or missing system fonts. When a virtual printer cannot recognize or access the original font, it substitutes the characters with default system symbols or gibberish encoding.
Can I print an existing PDF to the Adobe PDF printer?
Adobe officially recommends against printing an existing PDF to the Adobe PDF printer. It "flattens" and re-processes the file, which frequently degrades quality, strips accessibility tags, and causes text encoding errors.
Why does Microsoft Print to PDF work when Adobe PDF Printer fails?
Microsoft Print to PDF uses a different rendering engine integrated directly into Windows. This sometimes successfully bypasses specific Adobe font substitution settings or third-party driver conflicts that cause the unreadable symbols.
How do I fix font encoding issues in PDFs permanently?
Ensure that you check the option to "Embed all fonts" in your PDF export settings or printer properties before generating the file. This bundles the font data into the file itself, ensuring the text renders correctly on any device.
