PDF Printing Issues

How to Fix PDF Files Not Printing When Word Documents Print Correctly

Adam Davis Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to print PDF files, although Microsoft Word documents successfully print to the same printer from the same computer.

How to Fix PDF Files Not Printing When Word Documents Print Fine

Product: PDF Reader/Editor
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to send a PDF document to a local or network printer, resulting in a failed or ignored print job.
Observed behavior: The print job fails, hangs in the queue, or is completely ignored when printing PDFs, while Word documents process and print normally.

Before you start

Ensure your printer is turned on, properly connected, and has no error lights blinking. Try opening the PDF in a different application, such as a web browser, to quickly verify if the file itself is corrupted before changing system settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Print the PDF as an Image

Complex elements within a PDF, such as embedded fonts or layered vectors, can sometimes overwhelm a printer's memory. Printing the document as a flat image bypasses these rendering errors.

This is the most common and effective workaround for PDFs that refuse to print. When you select 'Print as Image', the software rasterizes the document into a simple picture, preventing the printer from having to process complex data.

Open the print dialog

Open your PDF document in Adobe Acrobat or your preferred PDF reader and click 'File' > 'Print' (or press Ctrl + P).

Access advanced settings

In the Print dialog box, locate and click on the 'Advanced' button, typically found near the top right or bottom.

Enable print as image

Check the box next to 'Print As Image'. (In some readers, this might be under a 'Troubleshooting' or 'Render' tab).

Confirm and print

Click 'OK' to close the Advanced settings window, then click 'Print' to send the job to your printer.

Slight Quality Difference: Printing as an image may cause the text to look slightly less crisp and could increase the time it takes for the printer to receive the file.

Solution 2

Check PDF Security Restrictions

The author of the PDF document may have applied security restrictions that explicitly prohibit printing.

Solution 3

Clear Print Queue and Update Printer Drivers

A previously failed PDF print job can clog the print spooler, or outdated printer drivers may struggle to translate modern PDF formats.

Seamless PDF Management

Print and Manage PDF Files Effortlessly with WPS Office

If your current PDF reader is causing continuous printing errors, try the built-in PDF tool in WPS Office. It processes complex layouts, embedded fonts, and heavy graphics smoothly, ensuring your documents print exactly as they appear on screen.

1. Open your PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open', and select your problematic PDF file to view it in the built-in PDF reader.
2. Access the print menu: Click the 'Menu' icon in the top left corner and choose 'Print', or simply press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
3. Configure print parameters: Select your active printer. You can adjust the scaling by choosing 'Fit for printing margins' to ensure no content is cut off.
4. Execute the print job: Click the 'Print' button at the bottom of the dialog box to bypass previous rendering errors and successfully print your file.

Effortlessly process and print complex PDF documents without rendering errorsHighly compatible with Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel) and standard PDFsBuilt-in editing tools to modify text, compress files, and annotate before printingLightweight, fast, and free alternative to heavy PDF applications

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Word documents print but PDFs do not?

Word documents and PDF files are processed differently by your computer's print spooler. PDFs often contain layered graphics, embedded fonts, and complex vectors that can overwhelm outdated printer drivers or low-memory printers, causing the job to fail while simpler Word texts process fine.

How do I know if a PDF is secured against printing?

You can check this by opening the PDF in your reader, navigating to File > Properties, and selecting the Security tab. Look under the Document Restrictions Summary; if 'Printing' is listed as 'Not Allowed', the creator has locked the file.

What does 'Print as Image' actually do?

Instead of sending complex font data and vector commands to the printer, 'Print as Image' rasterizes the entire page into a single, flat picture before sending it. This requires much less processing power from the printer itself and effectively bypasses rendering errors.

Can a corrupted PDF file cause print failures?

Yes. If a PDF is corrupted during download or saving, it may open partially but fail when sent to the printer spooler. You can fix this by opening the PDF in a web browser (like Chrome or Edge) and using the 'Print to PDF' feature to create a fresh, flattened copy of the file.

PDF Troubleshooting