How to Print an Old or Corrupted PDF File That Won't Print
Question details
The user is unable to print an old or corrupted PDF document, experiencing errors where only the first few pages print or the document fails to render entirely.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a legacy or damaged PDF file using standard PDF reading software.
- Observed behavior
- The printer outputs only the first page, stops midway, or displays document printing and rendering error messages due to damaged image objects or incompatible data.
Ensure your printer drivers are up to date and try downloading a fresh copy of the PDF from its original source to rule out an incomplete file download.
Print the PDF as an Image (Rasterize)
Bypasses rendering errors caused by corrupted text or image objects by sending the document to the printer as a single flat image.
When a PDF contains damaged or highly complex objects, the printer spooler may fail to process the vector data. Forcing the PDF viewer to rasterize the document converts the problematic elements into a simple image format, allowing it to print successfully.
Open the corrupted PDF in your PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat or WPS Office), go to the 'File' menu, and select 'Print'.
In the print dialog box, look for and click on the 'Advanced' button near the top or bottom of the window.
Check the box labeled 'Print As Image'. You may also have the option to select the DPI resolution (300 DPI is recommended for standard printing).
Click 'OK' to close the advanced settings, then click 'Print' to send the rasterized document to your printer.
Print Selected Pages to Isolate the Error
Helps identify and skip the specific page containing the corrupted image or object that is halting the print job.
Re-create or Re-export the PDF
Generates a clean version of the file, stripping out legacy errors or corrupted metadata.
Print and Manage PDFs Smoothly with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a robust, lightweight PDF reader and editor that often bypasses the rendering errors found in older PDF software. You can easily view, repair, and print corrupted PDF files using its built-in advanced printing options.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office on your computer from the official website.
- 2. Open the PDF: Launch WPS PDF and open the problematic or old PDF file.
- 3. Access Print Settings: Click on the 'Print' icon or press Ctrl + P to open the print settings menu.
- 4. Print the Document: Adjust your print range or select 'Print as Image' from the advanced options if needed, then click 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF stop printing after the first page?
This usually happens when a subsequent page contains a corrupted image object, an invalid font, or broken metadata that the printer spooler cannot render. Printing the document as an image usually resolves this issue by flattening the data.
Can I fix a corrupted PDF file that won't open or print?
Yes, in many cases. You can try opening the file in a different PDF viewer like WPS Office and re-saving it as a new PDF. Alternatively, you can use dedicated PDF repair tools to recover the corrupted data before printing.
What does 'document printing error' mean in Adobe Acrobat?
This is a generic error indicating that the software encountered a problem while processing the file for the printer. It is frequently caused by incompatible legacy formatting, outdated printer drivers, or memory issues during the rendering process.
