How to Fix Acrobat Not Selecting Correct Printer Tray for Legal and Letter Paper
Question details
Users are experiencing issues where Adobe Acrobat fails to automatically select the correct printer tray for legal and letter paper sizes when printing documents.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document that contains specific paper size requirements, such as legal or letter, using multi-tray printers like Xerox or Brother.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat does not pull from the correct printer tray automatically, often resulting in printed pages being scaled incorrectly or the printer prompting for manual paper feeding.
Ensure your printer is turned on, properly connected to your computer, and physically loaded with both legal and letter-sized paper in their respectively assigned trays.
Update Adobe Acrobat and Enable PDF Page Size Selection
Ensuring your software is up to date and allowing the PDF page size to dictate the paper source is the most reliable way to fix tray selection issues.
Acrobat relies on the PDF document's internal dimensions to communicate with your printer. Enabling the automatic paper source feature bridges the software-to-hardware gap.
Open Adobe Acrobat, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates' to ensure you are running the latest version with current bug fixes.
Go to 'File' and select 'Print', or press the Ctrl+P shortcut to open the main Print dialog window.
In the Print dialog box, under the Page Sizing & Handling section, check the box labeled 'Choose paper source by PDF page size'.
Click the 'Print' button to verify if the printer now automatically selects the correct legal or letter tray.
Configure Printer Driver Automatic Paper Selection
If Acrobat settings do not resolve the issue, you may need to adjust the tray assignment directly within the printer's driver properties.
Easily Print Legal and Letter PDFs Using WPS Office
If Acrobat continues to struggle with printer tray assignments, you can use WPS Office's built-in PDF tool. It automatically recognizes PDF page sizes and communicates seamlessly with multi-tray printers for hassle-free printing.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Right-click your PDF document, select 'Open with', and choose 'WPS Office' from the list.
- 3. Access the Print Menu: Click the 'Print' icon in the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P to launch the print configuration.
- 4. Select Auto Paper Source: Check the option to 'Use PDF page size to select paper source', choose your printer, and hit 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer only pull letter-sized paper when my PDF has legal pages?
This usually happens because the 'Choose paper source by PDF page size' option is unchecked in your application's print settings, causing the printer to fall back on its default primary tray (usually letter).
Do I need to update my printer drivers to fix tray selection issues?
Yes, outdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause miscommunication between PDF software and your printer. Ensure you have downloaded the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer's website.
How do I force my printer to only use the legal tray for a specific document?
In the print dialog box, click on 'Properties' next to your printer name. Navigate to the Paper/Quality tab and manually change the paper source from 'Auto Select' to the specific tray containing your legal paper.
Does the PDF document itself need to be formatted correctly for automatic tray selection?
Yes. The source document must have the correct page dimensions defined internally (e.g., 8.5 x 14 inches for legal size). If the document was improperly scaled or exported as letter size during its creation, the printer will not recognize the need for a different tray.
