Fix Adobe PDF Printer Not Printing in Acrobat XI on Windows
Question details
The user is unable to print PDF files using the Adobe PDF printer in Acrobat XI, specifically when trying to resize a document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI
- Device & OS
- Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document to the Adobe PDF printer to change its page size to Letter.
- Observed behavior
- The print job hangs at 0% and fails to complete, even though other applications and physical printers are working normally.
Verify that your physical printer drivers are up to date and that Windows is fully updated. Note that Adobe Acrobat XI reached its end of support in 2017, meaning native compatibility issues on modern Windows operating systems are common.
Use Microsoft Print to PDF as an Alternative
Bypass the outdated Adobe PDF printer by using the native Windows 10/11 PDF printer to resize or save your document.
Since Acrobat XI is not officially supported on Windows 10 or Windows 11, its virtual printer driver often fails to spool correctly. Windows includes a built-in virtual printer that reliably handles PDF generation.
Open your document in Acrobat or your preferred viewer and press Ctrl+P, or navigate to File > Print.
In the Printer drop-down menu, choose 'Microsoft Print to PDF' instead of 'Adobe PDF'.
Click the 'Properties' or 'Page Setup' button to change the paper size to Letter. Click 'Print' and choose a destination to save your new PDF file.
Repair the Adobe Acrobat XI Installation
Fix corrupted application files or missing registry keys that might be preventing the Adobe PDF printer from functioning.
Manually Reinstall the Adobe PDF Printer
Manually re-add the Adobe PDF printer if the driver was uninstalled during a Windows update.
Print, Edit, and Resize PDFs Easily with WPS Office
Avoid the crashes and freezes of outdated PDF software. WPS Office provides a built-in, highly compatible PDF reader and editor that runs flawlessly on modern Windows 10 and 11 systems, allowing you to easily format, resize, and print your documents.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your Windows PC.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS PDF and open the document you were struggling to print or resize.
- 3. Access Print Settings: Click the 'Print' icon in the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P to open the modern print dialog.
- 4. Adjust Size and Print: Select your printer, use the intuitive scaling options to adjust the page to Letter size, and click 'Print' to process instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat XI freeze at 0% when printing a PDF to PDF?
Printing a PDF to another PDF printer (sometimes called 'refrying' a PDF) can cause processing loops or formatting errors. In Acrobat XI on Windows 10/11, the outdated driver fails to communicate properly with the modern Windows print spooler, causing it to hang at 0%.
Can I change a PDF page size without using a PDF printer?
Yes. Instead of using a virtual printer to resize the document, modern PDF editors like WPS PDF allow you to use built-in page scaling, cropping, or resizing tools directly within the 'Page' or 'Edit' tab menus.
Is Adobe Acrobat XI officially compatible with Windows 11?
No. Adobe Acrobat XI reached its end of life in October 2017. It was designed for older operating systems (like Windows 7 and 8) and lacks official support, security patches, or compatibility updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11.
