How to Fix Adobe Acrobat Printing Symbols or the Wrong Language
Question details
The user needs to troubleshoot and resolve an issue where a PDF document prints with strange symbols or in an incorrect language, despite displaying normally on the screen.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a standard PDF document to a local or network printer via Adobe Acrobat.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF looks completely correct on the computer screen, but the physical printed copy replaces the text with unreadable symbols, gibberish, or an entirely different language.
Before changing advanced settings, save a backup copy of your PDF document and verify that your printer is properly connected and turned on.
Print the PDF as an Image
This is the most effective and highly recommended workaround, as it bypasses the printer's font processing entirely.
When a printer's memory or driver fails to process the embedded fonts correctly, it outputs substitute characters or symbols. Printing as an image forces Acrobat to send the document as a series of pictures rather than text data, sidestepping the font rendering failure.
Open your problematic PDF file in Adobe Acrobat, then click on 'File' in the top menu and select 'Print'.
In the Print dialog box, locate and click on the 'Advanced' button, typically found near the top right of the window.
Check the box labeled 'Print As Image' in the Advanced Print Setup menu. Depending on your version, you may also be able to select the resolution (dpi).
Click 'OK' to close the Advanced settings, then click 'Print' to send the document to your printer and verify the text prints correctly.
Update Adobe Acrobat and Printer Drivers
Outdated software or printer drivers can introduce communication errors between Acrobat and the printer, causing text corruption.
Reset Acrobat Preferences to Default
Corrupted application preference files can interfere with how Adobe Acrobat processes and sends documents to your printer.
Print PDFs Without Font Errors Using WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to struggle with font rendering or prints weird symbols, try opening and printing your document with WPS Office. WPS PDF features a highly compatible printing engine that processes complex embedded fonts flawlessly, bypassing Acrobat-specific glitches entirely.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website.
- 2. Open the PDF File: Launch WPS Office, select the 'PDF' tab, and click 'Open' to load the document that is printing incorrectly.
- 3. Access Print Settings: Go to 'Menu' and click 'Print', or simply use the 'Ctrl + P' shortcut to open the print dialog.
- 4. Print the Document: Select your printer, adjust any necessary settings, and click 'Print' to output the document flawlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF print as weird symbols instead of normal text?
This occurs when your printer fails to properly interpret the font data sent by Adobe Acrobat. It usually points to corrupted embedded fonts in the PDF, an outdated printer driver, or an Acrobat rendering bug.
Does printing the PDF as an image lower its quality?
Printing as an image might slightly reduce the crispness of text because it converts vector fonts into pixels, but it accurately preserves the layout and characters exactly as they appear on your screen.
How do I know if my printer driver is the source of the problem?
If you try printing the exact same PDF on a different printer and it prints correctly, or if the 'Print As Image' workaround solves the symbol issue on your current printer, it is highly likely that your primary printer's driver is outdated or malfunctioning.
