How to Fix Epson Printer Not Printing PDF Files on Mac
Question details
The user is unable to print PDF files on a Mac using an Epson printer, even though Word and Excel documents print successfully.
- Product
- Epson Printer / PDF Reader
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document after a recent printer or ink-related error.
- Observed behavior
- The Epson printer successfully processes and prints standard Word and Excel documents but fails to print PDF files entirely.
Ensure your Epson printer is connected properly, has sufficient ink, and that you have already tried basic troubleshooting like restarting your Mac and the printer.
Print the PDF as an Image
Bypass complex graphics, fonts, or damaged content by sending the PDF to the printer as a simple image raster.
PDFs with intricate formatting, hidden transparencies, or unsupported fonts can sometimes cause processing failures on macOS. The 'Print as Image' option rasterizes the document, bypassing the problematic underlying code that is causing the Epson printer to fail.
Open your problematic PDF file in your PDF viewer and press Command + P to bring up the Print dialog box.
Click on the 'Advanced' button, typically located near the top or bottom of the Print dialog box.
Check the box next to 'Print as Image', click 'OK' to save the setting, and then click 'Print' to send the document to your Epson printer.
Update macOS, PDF Viewer, and Epson Drivers
Outdated software can cause compatibility and processing issues between the PDF reader and the Epson printer.
Use WPS Office to Open and Print PDF Files Smoothly
If your current PDF viewer is struggling to print files to your Epson printer, try WPS Office. It includes a built-in, lightweight PDF reader that renders and prints documents flawlessly on Mac without complex driver conflicts.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for Mac from the official WPS website.
- 2. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open' on the homepage, and select the problematic PDF file.
- 3. Print the document: Click the Print icon or press Command + P, configure your Epson printer settings, and click Print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Epson printer print Word documents but not PDFs?
PDFs often contain complex embedded fonts, high-resolution graphics, or transparencies that require more memory and processing power. If the printer driver or PDF software struggles to process this data, it may fail to print, whereas standard text-based Word files print easily.
Does the 'Print as Image' option affect print quality?
Printing as an image rasterizes the document, which can sometimes result in slightly lower text sharpness or minor pixelation depending on the resolution settings. However, it is an effective way to bypass software processing errors and get your document printed.
How do I know if my PDF file is damaged?
Try opening and printing a different PDF file on your Mac. If the second file prints without any issues, the original document is likely corrupted or contains unsupported formatting elements.
Will reinstalling my Epson printer fix PDF printing issues on Mac?
Yes, removing the printer from Mac's 'Printers & Scanners' settings and re-adding it with the latest drivers can often clear corrupted print queues and resolve software conflicts causing PDF print failures.
