If you can’t print your PDF files from Adobe, it might be a real pain. There are no error messages, and every time you click Print on Adobe, nothing happens. Don’t be alarmed. This step-by-step tutorial will walk you through the process of resolving your issue. Please continue reading to learn more about what I mean….
Before we go…
When a PDF file cannot be printed due to problems with your printer, your PDF files and Adobe software all play a role in the problem. There are a few things you need to perform before you can get to the bottom of the issue.
1. Try to print this tutorial you’re viewing. If you’re viewing this post on a browser such as Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Chrome click the three dots icon, then select Print.
- If you can’t print this page, there may be a problem with your printer, so follow these instructions to troubleshoot it.
- If you’re able to print this page, please continue:
2. Open your PDF file in your browser and print it directly from there.
- If you can’t print your PDF file in your browser, it’s likely that your PDF files are corrupted. To repair or recreate your PDF file, follow these instructions.
- If you’re able to print your PDF file from your browser, you’ll need to fix problems with your Acrobat Reader.
How To Fix Can’t print PDF in Windows 11/10
Method 1: Troubleshoot problems of your printer
Make sure your printer is set as the default printer and that your printer driver is up to date, whether you’re using a USB-connected printer or a network printer.
1. Make sure your printer is set as the default printer
1. Press Windows key + R, then type in “control” in Run box. Click OK.
3. Select Devices and Printers.
4. Make that your printer has a green mark next to it, indicating that it is set to default. If it isn’t already, right-click on your printer and select Set as default printer.
2. Make sure your printer driver is up-to-date
The most recent printer driver allows your printer to function properly. You won’t be able to print PDF files if your printer driver is old, corrupted, or missing. To solve the problem, update your printer driver as follows:
1. Visit to the manufacturer’s official website, such as HP, Dell, Canon, Brother.
2. Visit to the specific driver-download page, look for the correct newest driver for your printer.
3. Download and install the driver on your computer.
4. Reboot your system and try printing your PDF file in Adobe to see if it works.
If you’re not comfortable fiddling with drivers manually, you can use Driver Easy to update your printer driver automatically.
Driver Easy will automatically detect your system and locate the appropriate drivers. You don’t need to know what operating system your computer uses, you don’t have to worry about downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t have to worry about making a mistake during installation.
1. Download and install Driver Easy on your computer. Then, on your Windows computer, launch it.
2. To begin scanning, select Scan Now. It will immediately identify all of your computer’s driver issues. This includes your printer driver.
Driver Easy For Windows PC
3. To automatically download and install the right version of your flagged printer driver, click Update next to it (you can do this with the FREE version). Or, if you have the Pro edition, click Update All to automatically download and install the right version of all missing or out-of-date drivers on your system (you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).
4. To see if you were successful, restart your computer and try printing your PDF file in Adobe.
Method 2: Repair or recreate your PDF file
Your PDF file would not print successfully if it contained any corrupted or incompatible data. Here are two methods for you to try:
Step 1. Try the Print As Image feature in Acrobat Reader
1. Use Acrobat Reader to view your PDF file.
2. On the toolbar, click the print icon.
3. Select Advanced and then tick Print As Image. Click OK > Print to see if your PDF file can be printed.
Step 2. Recreate a new PDF file
1. Select a method for creating a new PDF file:
- If you got the PDF file from a URL or the cloud, re-download it and save it to your hard drive.
- Create a new PDF file and save it directly to your hard drive if you created it yourself.
- Using Acrobat Reader’s Save as… feature: Save your PDF file directly to your hard disk by selecting File > Save as… from the File menu.
2. Test printing by double-clicking the new PDF file on your hard drive.
Method 3: Scan your computer to detect issues
SFC (System File Checker) is a built-in Windows program for detecting and repairing corrupted system files.
Step 1. Scan corrupt files with System File Checker
1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type the following command on the Command Prompt and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
3. System File Check will now begin scanning the entire system for damaged or missing files and performing any necessary repairs. This could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
4. After the verification, you may receive notifications like the following.
- no errors
- it fixed some errors
- could not fix all errors
- could not fix errors at all
- ……
To check your PC’s health even further, regardless of the error message you receive, you can execute dism.exe (Deployment Image Servicing and Management).
Step 2. Run dism.exe
1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type the commands below.
This command will check the health of your computer:
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
This command line will bring your PC back to life:
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
2. You may receive some error warnings when the restore health process is completed.
You can always use this command line if restoring heath gives you issues. It could take up to two hours to complete this task.
dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup
If the restore health scan fails with Error: 0x800F081F, restart your computer and perform this command line.
Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore
After you’ve repaired the faulty files, restart your computer and test your printer.
Method 4: Troubleshoot problems of your Acrobat Reader
You won’t be able to print your PDF file if your Acrobat Reader becomes corrupted or if the software is an older version. Troubleshoot your Acrobat Reader’s issue by following these steps:
1. Restart your computer.
2. Try printing your PDF file in Acrobat Reader to see if it works. If a restart doesn’t work, try reinstalling the most recent version of Acrobat Reader using these procedures.
3. From the Start menu, type features into the search box. Then select Apps & Features from the drop-down menu.
4. Find Acrobat Reader and then uninstall it.
5. Visit to the official Adobe website, download and install the latest version of Acrobat Reader on your computer.
6. Using the new Acrobat Reader, open your PDF file. Try printing it out to see whether it works, or if it doesn’t.
I hope that one of the solutions listed resolved your PDF printing problem. If you have any queries or recommendations, please share it in the comment section.
