How to Fix Automatic Paper Source Selection When Printing PDFs
Question details
The user needs to restore the ability to print PDF files with mixed page sizes from the correct paper trays automatically.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / PDF Readers
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Printing a single PDF document that contains multiple different page sizes (e.g., Letter and Legal pages mixed together).
- Observed behavior
- The PDF reader ignores the mixed page sizes and fails to select the appropriate paper tray, locking the entire print job to standard Letter size after a recent Windows or software update.
Ensure your physical printer is turned on, connected to your computer, and has the correct paper sizes loaded into their respective, designated trays.
Enable Choose Paper Source by PDF Page Size
Configure Acrobat's built-in print settings to recognize mixed page sizes and instruct the printer to pull from corresponding trays.
By default, some PDF readers scale all pages to match the default printer paper size. You must explicitly tell the software to match the paper source to the document's original dimensions.
Launch your PDF document in Adobe Acrobat and press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open the Print dialog box.
In the Print window, look for the section labeled 'Page Sizing & Handling'.
Check the box next to 'Choose paper source by PDF page size'. This setting overrides the default paper size.
Click the 'Print' button to send the job to the printer and verify that it pulls from the correct trays for different pages.
Verify Printer Driver Tray and Size Configurations
Ensure your printer driver is correctly mapped so it knows which paper sizes are loaded in which physical trays.
Update or Roll Back Printer Drivers
Fix software compatibility issues caused by recent Windows or Adobe updates by managing your printer drivers.
Print Mixed-Size PDFs Automatically with WPS Office
If Acrobat updates are causing printer malfunctions, WPS Office provides a highly reliable, free alternative for viewing and printing PDF documents. Its intelligent print interface easily communicates with multi-tray printers to handle mixed page sizes flawlessly.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite, then open your mixed-size PDF document using WPS PDF.
- 2. Open the Print Menu: Click the printer icon on the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P to launch the Print interface.
- 3. Configure Paper Source: In the Print dialog, navigate to the 'Page Sizing & Handling' section and check 'Use PDF page size to select paper source'.
- 4. Execute Print Job: Click 'Print' to let WPS Office automatically manage the tray selection for your mixed-size document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my printer only printing in Letter size for all PDF pages?
This occurs when the 'Choose paper source by PDF page size' setting is disabled in your print dialog, forcing the software to scale all pages to your printer's default default paper size, which is typically Letter.
Does my printer hardware need to support automatic tray selection?
Yes. Not all printers have the mechanical ability to switch trays automatically. Your physical printer must have multiple trays, and its installed driver must support tray selection commands from the operating system.
How do I assign specific paper sizes to printer trays in Windows?
Open 'Printers & scanners' in Windows Settings, select your printer, click 'Printer properties', and navigate to the 'Device Settings' or 'Paper' tab. From there, you can define which paper size is loaded into each physical tray.
Can a recent Windows update break PDF printing features?
Yes, major Windows updates can sometimes replace manufacturer-specific printer drivers with generic OS drivers. Generic drivers often lack advanced communication features, causing automatic tray selection to stop working until you reinstall the manufacturer's driver.
