How to Select a Manual Paper Tray When Printing PDFs on macOS
Question details
The user needs to select a manual paper tray or specific paper source to print a PDF on a Mac, but these options are not visible in the PDF reader's print dialog.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / macOS Print System
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document using a specific manual paper feed on a Mac computer.
- Observed behavior
- The default print dialog in the PDF application fails to display the printer's manual-feed or paper-source options, preventing the user from selecting the desired paper tray.
Ensure your printer is properly connected to your Mac, turned on, and that the correct paper is securely loaded into the printer's manual feed tray.
Use the macOS System Print Dialog
Bypass the application's simplified print menu to access the full macOS system print dialog, which contains the complete list of paper feed settings.
Some PDF applications, like Adobe Acrobat, use custom print dialogs that hide advanced system-level printer features. Accessing the native macOS print dialog will reveal the missing tray options.
Open your PDF file and press Command + P, or go to File > Print to open the application's default print dialog.
Click on the 'Printer...' button, usually located at the bottom of the print dialog, to open the native macOS system print window.
In the macOS print window, scroll down to find the 'Printer Options', 'Paper Feed', or printer-specific features dropdown menu and expand it.
Choose the 'Manual Feed' tray or your specific paper source from the list, then click 'Print' to send the document to the printer.
Install the Full Manufacturer Printer Driver
Replace the generic macOS or AirPrint driver with the official manufacturer driver to restore missing paper tray options.
Print PDFs with Advanced Tray Settings in WPS Office
WPS Office offers a powerful, seamless PDF reading and editing experience on macOS. It integrates flawlessly with the native macOS print system, ensuring you never lose access to essential printer features like manual feed trays and specific paper sources.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office application for macOS from the official website.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Right-click your PDF document and select 'Open With' > 'WPS Office'.
- 3. Open Print Settings: Click 'File' in the top menu bar and select 'Print', or use the Command + P shortcut.
- 4. Select the Manual Tray: WPS Office directly opens a comprehensive print dialog where you can immediately access 'Paper Feed' or 'Printer Features' to select your manual tray.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the manual feed option completely missing in my Mac print dialog?
This usually happens if your Mac automatically configured the printer using Apple's generic AirPrint driver. AirPrint is convenient but often lacks advanced hardware options. You can fix this by downloading and installing the official Mac driver from your printer manufacturer's website.
How do I save the manual feed tray as my default printing option on a Mac?
Once you select the manual feed tray in the macOS print dialog, click on the 'Presets' dropdown menu at the top of the window and choose 'Save Current Settings as Preset...'. Name it 'Manual Feed' and select this preset for future print jobs.
Does this missing print dialog issue only happen in Adobe Acrobat?
No. Many third-party applications with custom-built print interfaces can hide system-level printer features. You will often need to look for a 'System Dialog' or 'Printer...' button within those apps to access specific hardware settings like paper trays.
