How to Add a Printer and Print from Adobe PDF Applications
Question details
The user needs to know how to add and configure a new printer so that they can print documents directly from an Adobe application.
- Product
- Adobe Applications / PDF Readers
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Setting up a newly purchased or networked printer to print PDF documents.
- Observed behavior
- The user wants to make the printer available in the application's print dialog, which requires operating system level configuration.
Ensure your printer is properly connected to your computer via a USB cable or the same local Wi-Fi network, and verify that it is turned on before attempting to install drivers.
Install Printer Drivers and Add Printer via OS Settings
Printer setup is managed by your operating system, not the individual application. Installing the printer on your system makes it available globally for Adobe and all other applications.
Applications like Adobe Acrobat rely on the computer's underlying operating system to handle printing tasks. You do not add a printer directly inside the Adobe software.
To resolve this, you must install the appropriate printer driver and add the device through Windows or macOS settings. Once configured, the printer will automatically appear in the print dialog of any installed software.
Visit the official website of your printer's manufacturer (e.g., HP, Canon, Epson) and download the latest driver software specifically designed for your printer model and operating system.
Go to the Start menu and open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners (or Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners on Windows 11). Click 'Add a printer or scanner' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
Click the Apple menu and navigate to System Settings (or System Preferences) > Printers & Scanners. Click the 'Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax' button, select your printer from the list, and click 'Add'.
Launch your Adobe application and open the document you wish to print. Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open the print dialog. Your newly added printer will now be selectable from the 'Printer' dropdown menu.
Print and Manage PDF Documents Easily with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a lightweight, fast, and feature-rich PDF reader and editor. Once your printer is added to your operating system, you can effortlessly view, annotate, and print your PDFs directly within WPS Office.
- 1. Open your PDF file: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you wish to print.
- 2. Access the Print menu: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply press the Ctrl+P keyboard shortcut.
- 3. Select your printer: In the print dialog box, click the 'Name' dropdown list and choose the printer you recently installed on your operating system.
- 4. Configure settings and print: Adjust your desired settings such as page range, copies, and scaling, then click 'Print' to send the document to your printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my newly added printer not showing up in my application?
This usually happens if the application was left open while the printer was being installed. Close the application completely and reopen it to refresh the available printer list. If the printer still does not appear, try restarting your computer.
Do I need to add the printer separately for every application I use?
No. Printers are added at the operating system level. Once you install and configure a printer in your Windows or macOS settings, it automatically becomes available to all installed applications on your computer.
How do I set my new printer as the default for PDF printing?
You can set the default printer in your operating system settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, click your newly added printer, select 'Manage', and click 'Set as default'.
What should I do if my PDF document prints with missing text or formatting errors?
If your document isn't printing correctly, try using the 'Print as Image' option located in the advanced print settings of your PDF reader. This setting bypasses font and formatting processing errors by sending a flat image to the printer.
