How to Fix the Missing PDFMaker Files Error in Acrobat DC
Question details
The user encounters a missing files error when trying to convert Microsoft Word files to PDF via Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a Microsoft Word document to a PDF file using the Adobe PDFMaker add-in.
- Observed behavior
- A 'Missing PDFMaker Files' error prompts on the screen, causing the document conversion process to fail.
Ensure that both Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat DC are updated to their latest versions, and verify you are running the applications with administrator privileges to avoid permission conflicts.
Manually Enable the Adobe PDFMaker COM Add-in
This error frequently occurs because Microsoft Word has disabled the Adobe PDFMaker COM Add-in. Re-enabling it manually usually resolves the issue.
Microsoft Office sometimes disables third-party add-ins if it detects a slow startup or an unexpected crash. If the PDFMaker add-in gets disabled, Acrobat cannot locate the necessary files to facilitate the conversion from inside Word.
Launch Microsoft Word. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, select 'Add-ins' from the left-hand navigation pane.
At the bottom of the window, locate the 'Manage' drop-down list. Select 'COM Add-ins' and click the 'Go' button.
Look for 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin' in the list. Check the box next to it and click 'OK'. Restart Microsoft Word and try converting your document again.
Repair the Adobe Acrobat DC Installation
If the PDFMaker add-in files are genuinely missing or corrupted on your system, running the built-in repair tool in Acrobat will restore them.
Convert Word Documents to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
Skip the hassle of missing plugins and third-party add-in errors. WPS Office features a powerful, built-in PDF converter that allows you to save any Word document as a high-quality PDF with a single click—no extra software required.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the Word document you want to convert.
- 2. Click Export to PDF: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the ribbon and click on the 'Export to PDF' button.
- 3. Save the PDF: Choose your desired save location, adjust any specific export settings if needed, and click 'Export to PDF' to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in keep disabling itself in Word?
Microsoft Office has a safety feature that automatically disables add-ins it perceives as causing slow startup times or application crashes. To fix this, you may need to remove the PDFMaker from the 'Disabled Items' list in Word's Add-ins menu before re-enabling it.
Can I convert my Word document to PDF without the PDFMaker add-in?
Yes. If the add-in is failing, you can use Microsoft Word's native feature. Go to File > Save As, and choose 'PDF' from the file format drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can use 'Print' and select 'Microsoft Print to PDF' as your printer.
What should I do if the PDFMaker COM Addin is completely missing from the Word Add-ins list?
If it is not listed, you must add it manually. Open the COM Add-ins dialog, click 'Add', and browse your file explorer to 'C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat DC\PDFMaker\Office\PDFMOfficeAddin.dll'. Select the file and click 'OK' to register the add-in.
