How to Fix Acrobat Not Printing Legal-Size PDFs on Mac
Question details
The user needs to successfully print Legal-size PDF documents from Adobe Acrobat on a Mac, as the printer currently only processes Letter-size PDFs and web pages properly.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat, Brother Printer
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a Legal-size (8.5 x 14 inches) PDF document from Adobe Acrobat.
- Observed behavior
- The Brother printer successfully prints Letter-size PDFs and Legal-size pages from web browsers, but fails to print Legal-size pages sent directly from Adobe Acrobat.
Ensure that your printer's paper tray is physically loaded with Legal-size paper (8.5 x 14 inches) and that the tray's physical size guides are correctly adjusted before altering any software settings.
Adjust Acrobat Page Setup and Scaling Settings
Correcting the page size and scaling options within Adobe Acrobat's Print dialog usually resolves legal-size printing failures by ensuring software settings match the physical paper.
Acrobat uses its own print processing engine, which can sometimes override system-level printer settings. Disabling conflicting auto-scaling and ensuring the correct paper source is selected allows the printer to handle the legal-size request properly.
Launch Adobe Acrobat, open your Legal-size PDF, and press 'Cmd + P' to open the Print dialog box.
Click the 'Page Setup' button at the bottom left. Select your specific Brother printer from the 'Format For' dropdown menu, set the 'Paper Size' to 'US Legal', and click 'OK'.
Under the 'Page Sizing & Handling' section in the main print dialog, select 'Actual Size' or 'Fit'. Avoid using custom scaling percentages that might shrink the document to a Letter-size proportion.
Check the box for 'Choose paper source by PDF page size'. This setting instructs Acrobat to automatically pull from the tray that contains the Legal paper.
Update Brother Printer Drivers for macOS
Outdated printer drivers can cause specific paper size commands to fail. Updating ensures full compatibility between macOS, the Brother printer, and Adobe Acrobat.
Print Legal-Size PDFs Effortlessly with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to struggle with legal-size documents on your Mac, WPS Office offers a built-in, highly compatible PDF reader. You can easily open, manage, and print legal-size PDFs with seamless printer integration that respects macOS native print commands.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for Mac from the official website and complete the installation.
- 2. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open' on the homepage, and select your Legal-size PDF document.
- 3. Access Print Menu: Click the 'Print' icon in the top toolbar or press 'Cmd + P' to open the WPS printing interface.
- 4. Configure Page Size: In the print dialog, ensure the paper size is correctly set to Legal (8.5 x 14 inches) and select your specific Brother printer.
- 5. Print Document: Click 'Print' to send the document directly to your printer with the correct size formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Mac print legal size from a web browser but not from Acrobat?
Web browsers generally use macOS's native print dialogue, which may already be properly configured for your printer's physical trays. Adobe Acrobat uses its own print processing engine, requiring specific page setup and scaling settings to match the printer's hardware capabilities.
How do I force my printer to use the legal paper tray in Acrobat?
In the Acrobat print dialog, check the option 'Choose paper source by PDF page size'. This instructs the printer to automatically pull from the tray containing legal paper, provided the PDF document itself is correctly formatted as legal size (8.5 x 14 inches).
Does my macOS version affect PDF printing with older Brother printers?
Yes, older versions of macOS might have compatibility issues with newer Adobe Acrobat updates, or lack the necessary drivers to fully support specific printer functions. Keeping both your OS and printer drivers updated ensures proper communication between the software and hardware.
What should I do if the Brother printer icon disappears during printing?
A disappearing printer icon usually indicates a driver crash or a print spooler failure. Removing the printer from the 'Printers & Scanners' settings, resetting the Mac printing system (Control-click the printer list and select 'Reset printing system'), and reinstalling the latest driver typically resolves this.
