How to Fix Microsoft Word Freezing When Printing to Adobe PDF
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where Microsoft Word freezes and encounters printer connection errors when trying to print documents to the Adobe PDF printer.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI Pro / Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to create a PDF by printing a document from Microsoft Word using the Adobe PDF virtual printer.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word freezes completely during the print process, resulting in stalled printer queues, connection errors, or the Adobe PDF printer missing entirely from the system.
Ensure you have saved all open Microsoft Word documents to prevent data loss during freezes, and verify that you are logged in with administrator privileges to modify printer settings.
Remove the PDF Printer and Repair Acrobat Installation
The most effective way to resolve driver conflicts and restore missing printers is to delete the current Adobe PDF printer profile and use Acrobat's built-in repair tool.
This method clears out any corrupted virtual printer queues that are causing Microsoft Word to hang when attempting to spool the document.
Navigate to your computer's 'Devices and Printers' or 'Printers & scanners' settings via the Control Panel or System Settings.
Locate the 'Adobe PDF' printer in the list, right-click it, and select 'Remove device' or 'Delete' to uninstall the corrupted virtual printer.
Open Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, click on the 'Help' menu at the top of the window, and select 'Repair Acrobat Installation'.
Once the repair is complete and your PC restarts, open Acrobat again, go to 'Help' > 'Check for Updates', and ensure you are updated to at least version 11.0.10, which contains specific fixes for this issue.
Reinstall Acrobat or Test with a New Administrator Account
If repairing the installation does not resolve the freezing, reinstalling the software or isolating user profile issues can fix underlying permission errors.
Avoid Word Freezes with WPS Office's Built-in PDF Converter
Troubleshooting third-party virtual printers like Adobe Acrobat can be frustrating and disruptive to your workflow. WPS Office provides a lightweight, comprehensive office suite with a highly reliable, built-in PDF converter. You can edit documents and export them to PDF instantly without relying on external printer drivers that cause application freezes. Enjoy seamless document handling and an intuitive, familiar user interface.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the Word document you wish to convert.
- 2. Select Export to PDF: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab or the main menu and click on the 'Export to PDF' button.
- 3. Save Instantly: Choose your save location and confirm. The document is converted and saved instantly without triggering any external print queues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Word freeze only when I select the Adobe PDF printer?
Word often freezes because the Adobe PDF virtual printer driver is outdated, corrupted, or incompatible with the current version of Office. The application hangs indefinitely while waiting for a response from a stalled background print spooler.
How do I fix a missing Adobe PDF printer in my system's printer list?
You can restore a missing PDF printer by opening Adobe Acrobat, navigating to the 'Help' menu, and selecting 'Repair Acrobat Installation'. This prompts the software to reinstall its missing virtual printer drivers.
Can I convert Word documents to PDF without using a virtual printer?
Yes. Instead of using 'Print to PDF', you can use the 'Save As' function in Microsoft Word and choose PDF as the file format. Alternatively, you can use a suite like WPS Office, which features a dedicated 'Export to PDF' tool that entirely avoids using print drivers.
