How to Fix Adobe Acrobat XI Cannot Print Third-Party PDFs
Question details
The user is unable to print certain PDF files that were created by third-party applications using Adobe Acrobat XI.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to print PDF documents generated by non-Adobe software.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat fails to print the third-party PDFs, throwing an error, whereas other readers like Foxit can print the exact same files without issues.
Verify that your printer is online, properly connected to your computer, and has enough ink and paper before modifying any software settings.
Print the PDF Document as an Image
Use this workaround to force the printer to process the file as a single picture to bypass corrupt fonts, unsupported transparency, or complex rendering errors.
Printing a PDF as an image bypasses the standard rendering process of texts and vectors. This is particularly useful for PDFs created by third-party tools that may contain non-standard formatting which is unreadable during the Acrobat printing spool process.
Open the problematic PDF file in Adobe Acrobat XI, navigate to the top menu, and select 'File' > 'Print'.
In the Print dialog window, locate and click the 'Advanced' button near the top of the interface.
In the Advanced Print Setup box, check the option that says 'Print As Image', then click 'OK' to save the settings.
Finally, click the 'Print' button. The printer will now process the entire document as standard images instead of complex vector data.
Print Any PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat consistently struggles with your third-party PDFs, consider using WPS Office. Its powerful built-in PDF tools can quickly open, render, and print heavily formatted PDFs regardless of what software produced them.
- 1. Open Your PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office, select the 'PDF' tab, and open the third-party PDF file you need to print.
- 2. Open the Print Menu: Click the 'Print' icon located on the quick access toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + P.
- 3. Configure the Print Settings: Choose your default printer from the dropdown menu, set your desired page range, and adjust the page sizing if necessary.
- 4. Print the PDF: Click 'Print'. WPS Office will seamlessly process and spool the document to your printer, bypassing typical rendering errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat XI fail to print some PDF files?
Adobe Acrobat may fail if the PDF contains damaged content, non-standard or missing fonts, unusual transparency effects, or unsupported PDF parameters generated by non-Adobe software.
How can I find out the exact printing error in Adobe Acrobat?
When a print job fails, Adobe Acrobat normally displays an error message on the screen. Additionally, you can check your operating system's 'Print Queue' or 'Event Viewer' logs on Windows to find specific error codes.
How do I check which software originally created my PDF?
Open the PDF document in Adobe Acrobat, navigate to 'File' > 'Properties', and check the 'Description' tab. Look at the 'Application' and 'PDF Producer' lines to identify the original software.
Are there disadvantages to printing PDFs as an image?
Yes. It creates a much larger data file being sent to your printer, causing pages to print slower. Additionally, extremely fine details or sharp text lines may appear slightly pixelated compared to standard vector printing.
