How to Restore the Save as Adobe PDF Option in Microsoft Word
Question details
The user needs to restore the 'Save as Adobe PDF' functionality in Microsoft Word after it disappeared following a system or application update.
- Product
- Microsoft Word / Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to export or save a Word document as an Adobe PDF after a recent Microsoft Office 365 update.
- Observed behavior
- The 'Save as Adobe PDF' option is completely missing from the Save menu and the Acrobat ribbon tab in Microsoft Word.
Before attempting to fix add-in settings, restart your computer to apply any pending Office or Acrobat updates, and check if the 'Save as Adobe PDF' option is also missing in Excel or PowerPoint to determine if the issue is isolated to Word.
Enable the Adobe PDFMaker COM Add-in in Word
Microsoft Office updates can sometimes automatically disable third-party add-ins. Manually re-enabling the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in usually restores the missing PDF option.
The Adobe PDFMaker plugin integrates Acrobat features directly into Office applications. If Word detects a crash or undergoes a major update, it may move this plugin to the disabled list to ensure the application starts safely.
Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, select 'Add-ins' from the left sidebar to view all active and inactive application add-ins.
At the bottom of the window, ensure the 'Manage' dropdown is set to 'COM Add-ins' and click the 'Go...' button.
Locate 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin' in the list, check the box next to it, and click 'OK' to restore the functionality.
Repair the Adobe Acrobat Installation
If the PDFMaker add-in is entirely missing from Word's COM Add-ins list, repairing the Adobe Acrobat software can restore the corrupted or missing integration files.
Export to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
Tired of dealing with broken add-ins and missing features after Office updates? WPS Office includes a built-in, highly reliable PDF conversion tool that doesn't rely on expensive third-party plugins like Adobe Acrobat. Experience a lightweight and completely free office suite that works flawlessly with your existing documents.
- 1. Open your Word Document: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .docx or .doc file directly.
- 2. Click Export to PDF: Navigate to the 'Menu' or the 'Tools' tab and select the 'Export to PDF' button.
- 3. Save Your PDF: Adjust your export settings, choose a destination folder, and click 'Export' to instantly create your PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Adobe PDFMaker add-in disappear after an Office update?
Microsoft Office updates can sometimes reset application settings or disable third-party add-ins for security and performance reasons, which causes the Acrobat PDFMaker tab and 'Save as Adobe PDF' option to vanish.
What should I do if the Acrobat PDFMaker COM Add-in is listed under 'Disabled Application Add-ins'?
Go to 'File' > 'Options' > 'Add-ins' in Word. In the 'Manage' dropdown at the bottom, select 'Disabled Items' and click 'Go...'. Select the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in, click 'Enable', and then restart Microsoft Word.
Is there an alternative way to save a Word document as a PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Yes, Microsoft Word has native PDF export capabilities. You can go to 'File' > 'Save As' and choose 'PDF (*.pdf)' from the file format dropdown menu, or navigate to 'File' > 'Export' > 'Create PDF/XPS Document'.
