How to Fix Adobe Reader Not Printing After Adding a TCP/IP Printer Port
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Adobe Reader cannot print PDF documents after a new Standard TCP/IP printer port is configured in Windows.
- Product
- Adobe Reader
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document after adding and configuring a new Standard TCP/IP printer port in Windows Printer Properties.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Reader stops printing entirely, whereas other applications like Microsoft Office and Notepad continue to print without any issues on the same TCP/IP port.
Save any open PDF documents and ensure you have administrative privileges on your Windows computer, as modifying printer ports and restarting the print spooler requires elevated permissions.
Restart Windows and Verify Printer Settings
Restarting your system clears cached printer configurations in Adobe Reader and the Windows Print Spooler, forcing the software to recognize the new port.
Adobe Reader often caches printer configurations to speed up the printing process. When a hardware-level change occurs, such as adding a new TCP/IP port, Reader's cached settings may prevent it from recognizing the updated route, even when other apps work fine.
Save your work, close all running applications, and completely restart your Windows computer.
Open Adobe Reader, load your PDF document, and attempt to print it again to see if the cache cleared.
If the issue persists, go to Windows Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Click your printer and select 'Manage'.
Click 'Printer properties', navigate to the 'Ports' tab, and ensure the new Standard TCP/IP port is checked. Verify the LPR settings and printer IP address are correct.
Repair or Update Adobe Reader
Corrupted installation files or outdated software versions can cause Adobe Reader to fail when interacting with newly configured hardware ports.
Print Your PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Adobe Reader continues to experience caching or port recognition issues, WPS Office offers a robust, built-in PDF reader that interfaces smoothly with Windows print spoolers, ensuring your documents print without a hitch over TCP/IP connections.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free on your Windows computer.
- 2. Open your PDF: Right-click your PDF file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office from the list of applications.
- 3. Access the print menu: Click the 'Print' icon in the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P on your keyboard.
- 4. Select printer and print: Choose your newly added TCP/IP printer from the drop-down menu and click 'Print' to send the document to the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Word print fine but Adobe Reader doesn't on the same printer?
Adobe Reader processes print jobs differently than Microsoft Office, often relying heavily on its own cached printer configurations rather than querying Windows directly every time. If a port changes while Reader is active, it may fail to update its internal cache until the system or print spooler is fully restarted.
How do I check my Adobe Reader version?
Open Adobe Reader, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'About Adobe Reader'. A pop-up window will appear displaying the exact version number installed on your system.
What is a Standard TCP/IP printer port in Windows?
A Standard TCP/IP port is a network port created in Windows to communicate directly with a printer using its IP address over a local network (LAN), rather than relying on a direct USB connection or a shared print server.
Can I manually restart the Print Spooler instead of restarting the whole computer?
Yes. Press Win + R, type 'services.msc', and press Enter. Scroll down the list of services to 'Print Spooler', right-click it, and select 'Restart'. However, a full system reboot is often still recommended to ensure Adobe Reader's application cache is completely cleared.
