How to Fix System Font Errors When Printing PDFs in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
Users experience a system-font error preventing successful PDF printing from Adobe Acrobat when specific font options are enabled.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Adobe PDF Printer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document using the Adobe PDF virtual printer driver.
- Observed behavior
- The printing process fails and displays a system-font error, typically caused by the 'Rely on system fonts only' printer setting.
Save your current PDF document and completely close Adobe Acrobat before modifying your system printer preferences.
Disable the 'Rely on System Fonts Only' Option
Turning off this problematic setting in the Adobe PDF printer properties resolves most system font printing errors.
The 'Rely on system fonts only' option forces the virtual printer to substitute document fonts with local system fonts. This behavior is exceptionally problematic and often causes more rendering issues than it was designed to prevent.
Make sure Adobe Acrobat is fully closed to ensure the new printer driver settings apply correctly and without conflicts.
Navigate to your computer's 'Printers & Scanners' or 'Devices and Printers' menu from the Windows Control Panel or System Settings.
Locate the 'Adobe PDF' printer in your list of installed devices, right-click it, and select 'Printer properties'.
Navigate to the 'Advanced' tab, click on 'Printing Defaults', and uncheck the 'Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts' option. Click Apply.
Return to the 'General' tab, click on 'Preferences', and verify that the 'Rely on system fonts only' option is also disabled here. Click OK to save all changes.
Print and Manage PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
Avoid complex virtual printer settings and system font errors. WPS Office features a robust, built-in PDF reader and editor that flawlessly renders embedded document fonts, making viewing and printing seamless.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office Free from the official website and install the suite on your computer.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS PDF and open the document you wish to read or print.
- 3. Access Print Settings: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner and select 'Print', or simply use the Ctrl+P keyboard shortcut.
- 4. Print the Document: Select your physical printer from the drop-down menu and click 'Print' to get perfect results without system font errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the 'Rely on system fonts only' option cause errors?
This option forces the printer driver to ignore the fonts embedded within the PDF and substitute them with fonts installed on your local operating system. If a font is missing, restricted, or mismatched, the virtual printer fails to render the text, resulting in a system font error.
Should I print a PDF to the Adobe PDF printer to reduce file size?
No, printing a PDF to the Adobe PDF virtual printer (often called 'refrying' a PDF) is highly discouraged as it can strip out interactive elements, bookmarks, tags, and cause font rendering issues. Instead, use Acrobat's 'Save as Other' > 'Reduced Size PDF' or the 'Optimize PDF' tool.
How do I know if my PDF has properly embedded fonts?
In Adobe Acrobat or your preferred PDF reader, open the PDF and press Ctrl+D to view the Document Properties. Go to the 'Fonts' tab to see a list of all fonts used in the document. If it says '(Embedded)' or '(Embedded Subset)' next to the font name, the fonts are successfully included in the file.
Will disabling 'Rely on system fonts' affect my hardware printer?
No. Disabling this setting in the Adobe PDF printer properties only affects how the Adobe PDF virtual printer processes fonts when generating a new PDF file. It will not negatively impact your physical hardware printer settings or everyday document printing.
