Fix PDFMaker Add-In Disabled in Word 2016 After Updates
Question details
Users are unable to use the Adobe PDFMaker add-in because it automatically becomes disabled in Microsoft Word 2016 following Windows or Office updates.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 2016, Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to create or convert a Word document to a PDF file using the Adobe PDFMaker COM add-in within Word 2016.
- Observed behavior
- The PDFMaker add-in is continuously disabled by Word 2016, preventing the user from utilizing the PDF conversion features. Re-enabling the registry settings only works temporarily.
Ensure you have administrative privileges on your Windows computer, as modifying COM add-ins or repairing the Acrobat installation requires elevated permissions.
Re-enable PDFMaker from Word COM Add-ins
Use this solution to manually force Microsoft Word 2016 to recognize and enable the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in.
Microsoft Word often disables third-party add-ins if it detects that they cause the application to load slowly or crash during an update. You can manually bypass this security measure by re-enabling the add-in through the Word Options menu.
Launch Microsoft Word 2016. Click on 'File' in the top left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, select 'Add-ins' from the left-hand sidebar.
At the bottom of the window, locate the 'Manage' dropdown menu. Select 'COM Add-ins' and click the 'Go...' button.
Find 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin' in the list. Check the box next to it and click 'OK'. Restart Word to see if the add-in remains active.
Repair Adobe Acrobat Installation
Use this step if the add-in files are corrupted or out of sync due to recent Office or Windows updates.
Convert Word to PDF Easily with WPS Office
If you are tired of troubleshooting broken COM add-ins and registry errors in Microsoft Word 2016, try WPS Office. It provides a built-in, native PDF converter that works flawlessly without requiring third-party plugins like Adobe PDFMaker.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word (.docx) document.
- 2. Export to PDF: Click the 'Menu' button and select 'Export to PDF' from the drop-down list.
- 3. Save the PDF: Adjust your export settings if necessary, choose a save location, and click 'Export' to generate your PDF instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word 2016 automatically disable the PDFMaker add-in?
Microsoft Word has built-in telemetry that automatically disables add-ins if they cause the application to load slowly, freeze, or crash. After a system or Office update, compatibility issues often trigger this safeguard.
How do I force Word to permanently load the PDFMaker add-in?
You can force the add-in to load by opening the Windows Registry Editor, navigating to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin', and changing the 'LoadBehavior' value to 3. Administrative privileges are required.
Can I convert a Word document to PDF without using the Adobe PDFMaker add-in?
Yes. You can use Word's native 'Save As' feature by choosing 'PDF (*.pdf)' from the format dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can use built-in PDF export tools found in lightweight office suites like WPS Office.
Does updating Adobe Acrobat fix the disabled PDFMaker issue?
Often, yes. Adobe regularly releases patches to address compatibility issues caused by new Windows or Microsoft Office updates. Open Acrobat, go to 'Help', and click 'Check for Updates' to install the latest version.
