1. Make sure the cable that connects your printer to your computer is securely plugged in.
Troubleshoot PDF printing in Acrobat and Acrobat Reader
Issue
If you see an error message while trying to print a PDF, it could be due to several common reasons, such as a damaged file, outdated software, printer driver issues, missing fonts, or certain security settings.
The first step in resolving a printing issue is to identify its source. The troubleshooting steps address the most common problems and are organized into the following categories:
-6?$png$&jpegSize=100&wid=210 "Three most common issues")
Note
If you’re facing issues in printing single-side or double-side on Mac, see Unable to print double-side or single-side in Acrobat on macOS.
Troubleshooting printer issues
Check the printer status, connection, and settings, and then try printing another PDF using the following steps:
Check the printer connection
2. If your printer is plugged into a USB hub, unplug the printer cable from the hub. Then, plug the printer cable directly into a USB port on your computer.
3. Turn off your printer. Wait 30 seconds, and then turn it on again.
4. Try to print the PDF again.
Verify the printer driver
Make sure you update to the latest printer driver. Printer manufacturers offer updated drivers to improve compatibility with newer software, such as Acrobat Reader and Acrobat versions.
1. Find your printer model number.
3. Find the correct driver for your model number.
4. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to download and install the correct printer driver.
5. Restart your computer.
Use a different printer
If you've another printer, try printing the PDF on it. To switch printers on Windows®, see Change the default printer (Windows 10 and 8) or use Windows® help. See Change the default printer (macOS) on macOS or consult Apple support.
Resolving file Issues
Printing problems may arise due to issues with the PDF file. Take one or more of the following measures to identify and fix PDF file issues:
Print the PDF as an image
- Open a simple document (such as a letter or form) on Acrobat Reader app and from the upper-right corner, select
- On the Print dialog, select Advanced.
- On the Advanced Print Setup dialog, select Print as Image checkbox.
- Select OK.
For details, refer to PDF printing quick fix: Print as image | Acrobat, Acrobat Reader.
Copy the PDF again to your hard drive
If you encounter printing issues with a PDF, it might be due to file corruption. If you obtained the PDF online or through email, try downloading it again or request a resend. Ensure the file is saved directly to your hard drive, not a portable or network drive. Open the fresh copy from your hard drive and attempt printing once more.
Create a copy of the PDF
Open the PDF file in Acrobat Reader or Acrobat, select File > Save As, and give the PDF file a new name. Include only letters and numbers in the filename. Don’t include symbols such as %, $, or []. Try printing the new copy of the PDF.
Re-create the PDF file
If you have the original source file that the PDF was created from, re-create the PDF as follows:
1. Open the file in the original program, such as a word processing or a page layout program.
2. Select File > Print.
3. In the Printer dropdown menu, select Adobe PDF > Print.
4. Open the saved PDF and print again.
Check for syntax issues
1. From the All tools menu, select Use print production.
2. From the print production panel, select Preflight.
3. In the Find bar of the Preflight window, type syntax. Then select the profile Report PDF syntax issues. Then select Analyze and fix.
Resolving software-related issues
Restart your computer
Restart your computer and then reopen the file. This simple step often resolves unexpected issues, as restarting clears the system’s memory and cache, helping it run more smoothly.
Install the latest version of the Acrobat app
Ensure your Acrobat Reader or Acrobat is updated. Adobe provides free quarterly security patches, often containing fixes for prevalent issues.
1. Open Acrobat Reader or Acrobat.
2. Go to
> Help > Check for updates.If a new update is available, it installs automatically.
3. After the installation is complete, restart your computer.
4. Print the PDF again.
Related Articles
Basic PDF printing tasks Part 3
Print Layers Normally, when you print a PDF that contains layers, just the content that is visible onscreen is printed. However, the creator of a layered PDF can control what prints, regardless of its visibility onscreen. The PDF creator can require ...Scale or resize PDF pages
Page scaling lets you shrink or enlarge pages when you print. You can: Automatically scale to fit the paper Manually scale by percentages Automatically scale to fit paper Acrobat can size the pages of a PDF to fit the selected paper size. 1. Choose ...Basic PDF printing tasks Part 1
Note If you are facing issues printing single-side or double-side on Mac, see Unable to print double-side or single-side in Acrobat on Mac Print a PDF 1. Open a file in Acrobat. Select Print this file from the upper right. 2. From the Print dialog ...Printing color PDFs (Acrobat Pro)
Preview how colors overprint (Acrobat Pro) Overprint preview provides an onscreen simulation that approximates blending and overprinting in the color-separated output. Overprinting effects can also be simulated when you output to a composite printing ...Display PDF in browser | Acrobat, Acrobat Reader
Internet Explorer Internet Explorer 11 uses an ActiveX based plug-in. Follow the steps below to configure Internet Explorer to use the Acrobat/Acrobat Reader plugin for viewing PDFs: Open Internet Explorer, and choose Tools > Manage Add-ons. Under ...