In daily work or study, PDF is one of the most commonly used file formats. However, many users encounter issues such as "PDF cannot print" or "PDF file does not print" when attempting to print PDF documents.
This article provides comprehensive solutions to help you quickly fix PDF printing failures.
I. Common Symptoms
When printing a PDF file, you may run into the following issues:
The PDF file becomes unresponsive or print preview is stuck
Print job is sent but the printer does not respond
Error messages like "The document could not be printed" or "An error occurred while printing"
Some pages print blank or with distorted formatting
II. Causes of PDF Not Printing
The PDF file is damaged or corrupted
Printer driver is outdated or not working properly
Adobe Reader or the PDF viewer has a malfunction
Incorrect printer settings (e.g., using image mode printing)
The PDF contains incompatible fonts or graphics
System permissions or firewall restrictions block the print job
III. Solutions to Fix PDF Not Printing
Method 1: Basic Checks
Restart Devices:
Restart both your computer and printer to clear any cached or stalled print jobs.
This is often the first and easiest fix for printing issues.
Check the PDF File:
Try printing another PDF file to see if the issue is file-specific.
If only one file won't print, consider re-exporting or saving it as a new PDF.
Method 2: Update Printer Drivers
Outdated or corrupted drivers, or drivers incompatible with your operating system, are common reasons printers fail to work properly. It's recommend to use Driver Talent X, a smart driver management tool that automatically detects, downloads, and installs the correct driver for your device quickly and easily.
Click the Download button to get the latest version of Driver Talent X, then install and launch the program.
Under the "Drivers" tab, click Scan to check the status of all your drivers.
Find the printer driver in the scan results and click the "Upgrade" button.
Restart your computer after updating to ensure the new driver takes effect.
Method 3: Re-generate the PDF Using "Microsoft Print to PDF"
Open the original PDF document.
Click Print and choose "Microsoft Print to PDF" as the printer.
Save the output as a new PDF file, then try printing the new file.
Method 4: Try a Different PDF Reader
If you're using Adobe Acrobat Reader, try switching to an alternative like Foxit Reader or Sumatra PDF to rule out software-specific issues.
Method 5: Run PDF Software as Administrator
Right-click your PDF reader icon and select "Run as administrator" to avoid any permission restrictions that may block printing.
Method 6: Convert PDF to Image Format and Print
Use a PDF tool to save the file as JPG or PNG images.
Then print the image files—this can bypass complex PDF formatting issues.
IV. Advanced Tips: Optimize Printing Settings
Disable double-sided printing (to avoid blank pages)
Choose "Text and Image" print mode to avoid graphics compatibility issues
In Adobe Reader, enable "Print as Image" option for better compatibility
V. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why can I print Word documents but not PDFs?
A: The PDF file might be corrupted, the reader software could be faulty, or the PDF uses a format not supported by your printer.
Q: Why does it say "No pages selected to print" when I try to print a PDF?
A: Make sure your print range is set correctly. Select "Print All Pages" to ensure content is included.
Q: What should I do if printed PDFs show random symbols or garbled text?
A: Try selecting "Print as Image" in the print settings or update your printer driver.
If you encounter a "PDF not printing" issue, don't panic. By checking file integrity, updating drivers, using alternate readers, or converting to image format, you can often restore normal printing. Follow these steps one by one to find the best solution for your case.
