How to Fix Acrobat 2017 Randomly Stops Printing on Windows
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Adobe Acrobat 2017 suddenly stops printing documents and requires a default application reset to work again.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Standard 2017
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Continuously printing PDF documents without the application freezing or dropping the print jobs.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat randomly stops sending documents to the printer. Printing functionality only resumes after the user manually resets Acrobat as the default PDF application in Windows settings.
Ensure that your printer drivers are up to date and that your Windows operating system has no pending updates that might interfere with system file associations.
Reset Acrobat as the Default PDF Application
This is the primary workaround to restore printing functionality when Acrobat stops responding to print commands.
Although repairing or reinstalling Acrobat might seem like the logical first step, this specific printing failure is often tied to Windows file associations. Resetting the default program forces Windows to refresh its connection with the Acrobat printing module.
Press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel' in the search bar, and hit Enter to open the Windows Control Panel.
Click on 'Programs' and then select 'Default Programs'. Click the link for 'Set your default programs'.
Scroll through the list of installed applications and click on 'Adobe Acrobat DC' or 'Acrobat 2017'.
Click on 'Set this program as default'. You must do this even if the application already appears to be the default choice.
Document and Escalate to Adobe Volume-License Support
If the issue persists frequently in a corporate environment, logging the details and contacting volume-license support is necessary for a permanent patch.
Print PDFs Smoothly with WPS Office
If you are tired of dealing with persistent Acrobat printing bugs, switch to WPS Office. It features a built-in, lightweight PDF reader and editor that handles printing flawlessly, while also serving as a comprehensive, free alternative to Microsoft Office.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 3. Print the Document: Click the Print icon on the top toolbar or press Ctrl + P to access the print menu and print without errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat 2017 suddenly stop printing on Windows?
This issue is often caused by Windows losing or momentarily corrupting the file association for PDF files, which disrupts the communication between Adobe Acrobat and the Windows print spooler.
Will reinstalling Acrobat permanently fix this printing issue?
According to user reports and technical feedback, standard repairs, reinstalls, and policy-based file association resets often do not resolve this specific issue permanently. Manually resetting it in Default Programs is currently the most reliable workaround.
Can I use another program to print PDFs if Acrobat keeps failing?
Yes, you can use alternative PDF readers like WPS PDF or even your modern web browser (such as Chrome or Edge) to open and print PDF documents reliably if Acrobat is currently malfunctioning.
