How to Fix PDF Files Not Printing When Other Documents Print Normally
Question details
The user is unable to print PDF documents using Adobe Acrobat or Reader, despite the printer successfully printing DOCX and other standard file formats.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / PDF Readers
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- The printer fails to process or print PDF files, while documents from other applications print without any issues.
Before altering software settings, try printing a simple text document to ensure your printer's hardware is functioning, and restart both your computer and the printer to clear any temporary background glitches.
Use the 'Print as Image' Option
This bypasses complex PDF rendering by sending a simplified image of the document to the printer, avoiding processing errors.
PDF files often contain complex fonts, layers, or graphical elements that a printer's memory struggles to process. Forcing the PDF viewer to rasterize the file and print it as a standard image is the most effective workaround for localized printing failures.
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat or Reader and click on 'File' > 'Print', or press the 'Ctrl + P' keyboard shortcut.
In the Print dialog box, locate and click on the 'Advanced' button near the top of the window.
Check the box next to 'Print As Image'. You can leave the default resolution settings as they are.
Click 'OK' to close the Advanced Print Setup dialog, then click 'Print' to send the document to your printer.
Update or Reinstall Your PDF Reader
An outdated or corrupted PDF reader application can cause communication errors with your printer spooler.
Clear the Windows Print Spooler
A stuck PDF print job can jam the print queue, preventing subsequent PDFs from printing even if standard documents seem unaffected.
Print PDF Documents Flawlessly with WPS PDF
If your current PDF reader continues to fail when communicating with your printer, try switching to WPS Office. The built-in WPS PDF tool offers a highly compatible, fast-loading reading and printing experience that seamlessly handles complex documents without stalling your printer.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Right-click the problematic PDF file on your computer, choose 'Open with', and select 'WPS Office'.
- 3. Access Print Settings: Click the 'Print' icon on the top toolbar or press 'Ctrl + P' to open the print options.
- 4. Print the Document: Select your printer, adjust your preferred layout settings, and click 'Print' to successfully print the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer print Word documents but not PDFs?
PDFs are often graphically more complex than standard Word documents and contain embedded fonts or flattened layers. If a PDF contains corrupted data, or if the PDF reader has rendering bugs, the printer's memory may fail to process the file, whereas simple DOCX text files print fine.
How do I fix a PDF file that is corrupted and won't print?
You can try re-downloading the PDF from its original source, using a free tool to convert the PDF to a Word document and back again to remove the corruption, or opening the file in a different PDF viewer like WPS PDF to bypass software-specific rendering issues.
Does updating printer drivers help with PDF printing issues?
Yes. Outdated printer drivers can struggle to interpret the complex PostScript data sent by PDF readers. Visiting your printer manufacturer's website to download and install the latest drivers often resolves persistent PDF printing failures.
