PDF Printing Issues

How to Fix Wrong Tray Setting Error When Printing PDF in Adobe Acrobat

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to print PDF files due to a recurring tray and size setting error, which sometimes results in the printer outputting blank pages.

How to Fix the "Wrong Tray Setting" Error When Printing from Adobe Acrobat

Product: Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: Windows and macOS
Scenario: Printing a standard PDF or a document containing mixed page sizes where the application fails to auto-select the proper paper tray.
Observed behavior: Adobe Acrobat displays a "Wrong tray setting. Change size setting." error message even when the printer is set to auto-select, frequently causing the printer to receive the file but print blank pages.

Before you start

Verify that your printer is powered on, securely connected to your computer, and properly loaded with the correct physical paper size (such as Letter or A4) before adjusting software settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Paper Size and Tray Settings Manually

Manually aligning the paper size in the Print dialog with the physical paper loaded in your printer bypasses auto-selection errors.

The error usually triggers because the digital dimensions of the PDF document do not perfectly match the default paper size expected by the printer's automatic selection logic.

Open Print Dialog

Open your document in Adobe Acrobat, navigate to the top menu, and select File > Print.

Check Printer Properties

Click the "Properties" button next to the printer name and ensure the Document Size exactly matches the paper physically loaded in your printer.

Handle Mixed Page Sizes

If your PDF contains mixed page sizes, check the box for "Choose paper source by PDF page size" under the Page Sizing & Handling section.

Manually Select Tray

If the error persists, uncheck "Auto Select" or "Auto" in the Paper Source settings and manually choose the exact tray (e.g., Tray 1) that holds your paper.

Test Print

Click the Print button to test the configuration and confirm the document prints without errors.

Adjust Paper Size and Tray Settings Manually

Configuration Matched: Matching your software and hardware paper size settings resolves the majority of tray selection conflicts.

Solution 2

Update Printer Drivers and Software

Updating both Adobe Acrobat and your printer's drivers ensures maximum compatibility and fixes known communication bugs.

Print PDFs Easily with WPS Office

Use WPS Office for Hassle-Free PDF Printing

If Adobe Acrobat continues to present tray setting errors, try WPS Office. Its built-in PDF reader offers an intuitive print dialog that intelligently handles standard formats and mixed page sizes, communicating smoothly with any printer to prevent size mismatch errors.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website.
2. Open PDF Document: Right-click your PDF file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office.
3. Access Print Menu: Click the Print icon in the toolbar or press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac).
4. Print Successfully: Select your printer, review the live preview, and click Print to bypass standard PDF application errors.

Completely free and lightweight PDF readerIntelligent print dialog that scales mixed page sizes seamlesslyHigh compatibility with Adobe PDF and Microsoft Office formatsNo complex tray configurations required for standard prints

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my printer say wrong paper size when the correct paper is loaded?

This happens when the digital page size configured within the PDF file or your application's print dialog (such as A4) does not match the default paper size configured in your computer's printer driver properties (such as Letter).

How do I print a PDF with mixed page sizes without getting an error?

In your PDF application's print dialog, look for a specific option titled "Choose paper source by PDF page size" or choose to "Fit" or "Shrink oversized pages". This prompts the printer to scale the pages properly to the available paper.

Does a wrong tray setting error indicate my printer is broken?

No. The wrong tray setting error is a software communication issue between the PDF reader and the printer driver. It can typically be resolved by manually selecting the correct tray in the software or updating your printer drivers.

PDF Troubleshooting