How to Fix Missing Characters, Boxes, or Question Marks in PDFs
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where special characters appear as missing glyphs, boxes, or question marks when a document is exported to PDF.
- Product
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Saving or exporting a document containing special characters (such as those copied from the Windows Character Map) into a PDF format.
- Observed behavior
- Special characters do not render correctly in the resulting PDF, displaying instead as blank boxes, missing glyphs, or question marks.
Verify that the specific font used for your special characters is properly installed on your computer and supports the symbols you are trying to display.
Enable Font Embedding in Export Settings
Embedding fonts ensures that all custom or special characters are packaged directly into the PDF file, preventing missing glyphs when viewed.
When a document is exported to PDF without font embedding, the PDF reader attempts to use local system fonts to display the text. If those exact fonts are missing, it replaces the characters with boxes or question marks.
By changing your export settings to embed fonts, you ensure the file retains the exact typography and symbols used in the source document.
Open your original document in your word processor. Navigate to 'File' in the top left corner, then select 'Options' from the menu.
In the Options dialog, click on the 'Save' tab located on the left-hand sidebar.
Scroll down to the section titled 'Preserve fidelity when sharing this document'. Check the box for 'Embed fonts in the file'.
Click 'OK' to save the settings, then go to 'File' > 'Save As' or 'Export' to create a new PDF file. Open the new PDF to verify the characters appear correctly.
Switch to a Compatible Standard Font
Some custom fonts have restrictive licenses that prevent them from being embedded in PDFs. Switching to a widely supported font resolves this limitation.
Export Documents to PDF Flawlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office features a robust, built-in PDF converter that automatically handles font embedding seamlessly. It ensures your special characters, custom fonts, and formatting look exactly as intended when exporting to PDF.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing your special characters.
- 2. Access PDF Export: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner and select 'Export to PDF'.
- 3. Configure and Export: In the export dialog window, confirm your page range and click the 'Export to PDF' button. WPS will automatically handle the font embedding.
- 4. Verify the PDF: Open the newly generated PDF in WPS PDF Reader to confirm that all characters and boxes render beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do special characters turn into square boxes in my PDF?
This happens when the font used for those specific characters is either not installed on the device viewing the PDF, or the font was not embedded into the PDF file during the export process.
How can I check if a font allows embedding?
In Windows, you can open the 'Font Settings' via the Control Panel or Windows Settings. Click on the specific font you are using and look at its 'Font embeddability' property. If it says 'Restricted', it cannot be embedded in a PDF.
Can I fix the missing characters directly inside the PDF?
Generally, it is much easier to fix this by enabling font embedding in the original source document (like Word) and exporting it again. However, if you have advanced PDF editing software, you can sometimes edit the text block and assign a working font directly if it is installed on your PC.
Will using standard fonts prevent missing characters?
Yes, using widely supported system fonts (like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman) significantly reduces the risk of missing characters because these fonts are pre-installed on most operating systems and their licenses typically permit embedding.
