Fix Adobe Stopping or Crashing When Converting Word to PDF
Question details
Adobe Acrobat crashes, freezes, or fails to open when attempting to convert a Microsoft Word document to a PDF file.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a Word document to a PDF format using the Adobe Acrobat application or PDFMaker add-in.
- Observed behavior
- The conversion process interrupts, and the Adobe software freezes, closes unexpectedly, or displays a 'stopped working' error message.
Make sure to save all your open documents and completely close Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps.
Update and Repair Acrobat and Word
Installing the latest software updates and running the built-in repair tool can fix bugs and corrupted files causing the crash.
Software conflicts are often resolved in patch updates. Ensuring both your Microsoft Office suite and Adobe Acrobat are fully up to date is the most effective way to restore functionality.
Open Adobe Acrobat, go to 'Help' > 'Check for Updates', and install any available updates. Similarly, open Word, navigate to 'File' > 'Account' > 'Update Options', and select 'Update Now'.
Create a new, blank Word document, type some sample text, and try converting it to PDF. If it works, your original document may be corrupted and needs its content copied to a fresh file.
Open Adobe Acrobat, click on the 'Help' menu at the top, and select 'Repair Installation'. Allow the process to complete, then restart your computer.
Disable Conflicting Add-ins
Turn off other third-party add-ins in Word that might be interfering with the Adobe PDFMaker add-in.
Reset Preferences and Reinstall
If updates and repairs fail, resetting Acrobat preferences or performing a clean installation can eliminate deeply corrupted configurations.
Convert Word to PDF Seamlessly in WPS Office
Avoid frustrating crashes and third-party add-in conflicts by using WPS Office. It features a robust, built-in PDF converter that transforms Word documents into high-quality PDFs instantly, without needing external software.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office Writer and open the Word document you want to convert.
- 2. Select Export to PDF: Click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, hover over 'Export to PDF', and click it.
- 3. Adjust Settings: In the pop-up window, choose your save directory, select the specific pages you wish to export, and configure any desired layout settings.
- 4. Export the File: Click the 'Export to PDF' button. Your document will quickly and safely convert into a standard PDF file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat only crash with certain Word documents?
If Adobe Acrobat handles most documents fine but crashes on a specific one, the source file likely contains corrupted elements, overly complex formatting, or unsupported custom fonts that the PDF engine fails to process.
Will reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the Adobe PDF maker add-in?
In some cases, yes. If the integration between Office and Acrobat is broken due to corrupted Office registry keys, performing a 'Quick Repair' or 'Online Repair' of Microsoft Office can restore the connection and fix the crashing issue.
Is there a way to convert Word to PDF without using the Adobe add-in?
Yes. Instead of using the Acrobat tab or PDFMaker add-in in Word, you can use Word's native feature by going to 'File' > 'Save As' and selecting 'PDF' from the file format dropdown. Alternatively, you can use an all-in-one suite like WPS Office with native PDF exporting.
