How to Preserve Adobe PDF Printer Settings After Acrobat Updates
Question details
Users need a reliable way to keep their Adobe PDF printer and print dialog settings from reverting to default configurations after updating Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Customizing default PDF printer settings for repeated use and expecting them to remain intact after a software update.
- Observed behavior
- Customized printer settings and print dialog configurations are lost and reset to factory defaults whenever the Adobe Acrobat application is updated.
Take screenshots or note down your preferred Adobe PDF printing preferences (such as page size, DPI, and output folder) so you can easily recreate them if a major update completely overwrites the driver configuration.
Configure Defaults via Windows Printer Properties
Set your printing preferences directly at the Windows operating system level rather than within the Acrobat print dialog to minimize the risk of settings being wiped.
Because Adobe Acrobat's print dialog does not permanently save session-based configurations, updates often clear any localized changes. Modifying the system-level virtual printer driver properties offers a more persistent solution.
Press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel,' and press Enter. Change the view to Large Icons, then navigate to 'Devices and Printers'.
Locate 'Adobe PDF' in your list of installed printers. Right-click the icon and select 'Printing preferences' from the context menu.
Configure your desired default parameters, such as layout, paper size, and file output locations. Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save these system-level defaults.
Deploy Settings via Windows Print Management
Use the Windows Print Management console to quickly restore settings if a major Acrobat update forcefully reinstalls the PDF driver.
Use WPS Office for Reliable PDF Printing
Avoid disruptive driver resets caused by Acrobat updates by using the built-in PDF tools in WPS Office. It securely saves your print preferences, offers high-quality PDF rendering, and functions independently of third-party virtual drivers.
- 1. Open Your PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the document or PDF file you wish to print.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply press the Ctrl+P keyboard shortcut.
- 3. Configure and Execute: Select your preferred print parameters such as page range, scale, and orientation, then click the 'Print' button to complete the task.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Adobe PDF print dialog settings disappear?
Adobe Acrobat does not provide a reliable mechanism to save session-based print dialog settings permanently. During application updates, the virtual printer driver is often refreshed, which reverts all localized configurations back to their factory defaults.
Can I lock the Adobe PDF printer driver settings to prevent changes?
Unfortunately, no built-in lock exists for the virtual printer driver in Adobe Acrobat. The best workaround is setting your preferences in the Windows OS Printing Preferences dialog rather than within the Acrobat software interface.
Does this setting reset issue affect Windows 11 as well?
Yes, the underlying issue stems from how the Adobe updater reinstalls or patches the virtual PDF printer driver, meaning Windows 11 users will experience the same configuration reset behavior as Windows 10 users.
