There was a time when saving files as PDFs wasn't a straightforward task on your PC. However, Microsoft changed that with the introduction of Print to PDF on Windows. Microsoft Print to PDF is a built-in shortcut that lets you save a document or image as a PDF via the Print dialog box. Since it's a native feature, it's simple. This Windows 11 feature randomly disappears from the Print menu, leaving you with no choice but to save your file as a PDF. Or, the option may not work even though it's there. If this issue sounds familiar, there are some simple fixes you can use to address it. Here are some ways to fix Microsoft Print to PDF not working on Windows 11.
1. Make sure that Print to PDF is enabled in Windows Features.
As mentioned earlier, Microsoft Print to PDF is a Windows 11 feature that integrates into the Print dialog box on your computer. Sometimes, the feature is disabled and won't reappear when you open the Print dialog box for a particular file. Whatever the reason, you can ensure the feature is enabled by following these steps.
Step 1: Click Start button , And type Windows Features , and click on the first result that appears. This will open a dialog box. Windows Features to help you Enable or disable Some basic options.
Step 2: Scroll down and search for Microsoft Print to PDF optionOnce you find it, make sure to select it. check box Adjacent to it.
If it's already enabled, disable it and wait a few seconds. Then repeat the steps to open Windows Features and enable the feature again.
Step 3: Next, tap "OK".
If you are prompted to install Microsoft Print to PDF Follow the on-screen instructions and continue the installation. Restart your computer and open Print dialog box Again. You should see. Print option to PDF once again.
2. Try saving the file in a different directory.
This may not seem very effective at first, but the simple solution of saving a PDF file to a different location works for a few people. Sometimes, there can be an error in saving files to a specific directory—there may be a permissions issue or a lack of administrative privileges.
If you see the Print to PDF option but clicking it doesn't do anything, try saving the file to a different directory or location.
3. Set Print to PDF as the default printer.
Printing to PDF is essentially a software feature that mimics a physical printer. Therefore, setting it as your default printer can be a good option. This way, giving the Print command on any document should automatically trigger Printing to PDF. Here's how to set it as your default printer on Windows 11.
Step 1: Click Start button , And type Control Panel And press Back To open Control Panel On your Windows 11 PC.
Step 2: inside Control Panel , Click View devices and printers within Hardware and Sound.
4. Uninstall and reinstall the print to PDF drivers.
By default, your computer comes with Microsoft Print to PDF drivers preinstalled. If you haven't updated these drivers recently, they may be outdated. This will cause the feature to stop working. Uninstall and reinstall the drivers using the process below.
Step 1: Click Start button , And type Control Panel And press Back To start a window "control Board".
Step 2: inside Control Panel , Click View devices and printers within Hardware and sound.
Step 3: within printers , Locate Microsoft Print to PDF Right click on it.
Microsoft Print to PDF will now be removed from your device list. Here's how to reinstall it.
Step 1: Click Windows button , And type Windows PowerShell , and select "Run as administrator" from the right part.
Step 2: Type Next command And press Returns:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features -All
5. Avoid special characters in the file name.
Including can cause special characters Problems can occur when saving a document or image in PDF format with a special character in the file name. This is especially true if the special character is a comma or another commonly used symbol. Try keeping the file name as just letters and saving it as a PDF.
Therefore, avoid using special characters in file names and stick to letters and numbers only while using Print to PDF.
Save your files as PDF
These few solutions should help you fix Microsoft Print to PDF not working. On your Windows 11 PC, it lets you easily save your files as PDFs. You can easily convert your documents and images to PDFs and share them across your PC.
