Fix PDF Text Printing as Garbled Characters or Symbols
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where PDF text appears perfectly normal on the computer screen but prints out as unreadable garbled characters or incorrect symbols.
- Product
- PDF Reader
- Device & OS
- Windows 7, Windows 10
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document, especially when routing the print job through a printer accessed via VNC.
- Observed behavior
- The printed document outputs completely garbled characters or unexpected symbols instead of the actual English text displayed on the screen.
Before proceeding, determine whether this printing issue affects only one specific PDF file or every PDF you attempt to print. Ensure your printer driver is up to date.
Print the PDF as an Image
This is the most effective workaround for font rendering issues, as it bypasses text processing by sending the document to the printer as a single graphic.
When a PDF contains fonts that a printer cannot process, or if the print spooler corrupts the text data over a VNC connection, the text outputs as strange symbols. Forcing the PDF application to print the page as an image eliminates the need for the printer to interpret the fonts.
Open your PDF file and go to File > Print, or simply press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
Click on the 'Advanced' button located near the top of the Print dialog box.
In the Advanced Print Setup window, check the box labeled 'Print As Image'. Click OK to confirm.
Click the 'Print' button to send the job to the printer and verify if the text prints correctly.
Temporarily Disable Enhanced Security Features
Strict security settings in your PDF reader can sometimes interfere with how print data is sent to network or VNC-connected printers.
Bypass VNC and Test with a Physical Printer
Isolating the printer connection helps determine if the VNC setup or network configuration is corrupting the print spool data.
Print PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
If your current PDF reader continues to output garbled text, switch to WPS Office. Its robust, built-in PDF reader accurately processes embedded fonts and complex documents, ensuring that what you see on the screen is exactly what comes out of your printer.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and click 'Open' to load the PDF document that needs to be printed.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click the Print icon on the top toolbar or press the Ctrl + P keyboard shortcut.
- 3. Select Your Printer: Choose your desired printer from the Name drop-down menu in the print dialog box.
- 4. Print the Document: Review the preview window to ensure everything looks correct, then click 'Print' to output the file cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my PDF documents look fine on the screen but print as strange symbols?
This usually occurs when the printer cannot interpret the fonts embedded in the PDF document. Even if your computer can render the fonts properly on the screen, a communication error—especially over remote connections like VNC—can cause the printer to substitute those fonts with random symbols or garbled characters.
Will printing my PDF as an image reduce the print quality?
Yes, slightly. When you 'Print as Image', the software rasterizes the entire page into a single graphic rather than processing vector text. While this resolves font rendering errors and guarantees the layout is accurate, the text might appear slightly less sharp than a standard text print.
What should I do if updating my printer driver doesn't resolve the garbled text?
If updating the printer driver fails, check to see if the PDF's fonts are fully embedded by viewing the document's properties. You can also try printing the document from an alternative application like WPS Office, or re-saving the file to fix any underlying data corruption.
