It must be annoying when you have the problem "Can't Print PDF" for an urgent task. You may search around and try many methods, but no one can work for you. We know your feelings as we also have the same experience. To help you out easily, we list all the effective ways that have been tried by us here. You can follow this guide and fix the problems quickly.
Part 1: Why Can't I Print a PDF?
Before fixing the "PDF won't print" issue, you should understand why you cannot print a PDF. After that, you can troubleshoot your case and find the effective methods quickly. Here are the major reasons why you cannot print a PDF:
1. The Printer is Not Set As Default Printer
You may have many printers on your computer and the one you want to use is not set as the default printer. So whenever you are trying the print the PDF, you are sending the requirements to another printer.
2. Drivers are Not Updated
The first reason why PDF does not print is that the printer driver is outdated. If the drivers are not updated regularly, they may have some glitches that won't give proper commands to the printer when you try to print the PDF. Thus, it is essential to update the printer drivers so that the device does not malfunction in any specific case.
3. Can't Print Encrypted PDF
If your PDF is encrypted with passwords, you cannot print the PDF. For this case, it is easy to know as it will pop up a window to let you enter the password when you try to print the PDF.
In the case that your PDF cannot be printed due to encryption, you can choose UPDF to decrypt it.
Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure
4. The Queue of the Printer is Filled Out
Your printer may be connected to multiple devices. Thus, while you look to print out documents, the queue of the printer may be filled out. In other situations, there is a chance that the printer's queue is unnecessarily filled due to some glitch. You might have to clear that out or wait until your turn comes manually.
5. The Printer Is Not Connected to Your Device
If you can't print PDFs from your computer, there is a chance that your printer is not connected to the computer. In this case, you won't be able to print anything from the printer. You will first have to connect your device to the printer.
Part 2: How to Fix the Issue of Cannot Print PDF? (5 Ways)
After knowing the reasons why can't print PDFs, it is now the perfect time to see what you can do to fix this issue on your computer. Here are the effective ways that you can try.
1. Set Printer as Default
The first thing that can be tried to resolve the issue of not printing PDFs is to set the printer as the default device. The command will probably be sent to another device if the printer is not set as the default device. This is why can't print pdf occurs. To set your printer as the default device, here are some steps that you can follow:
Step 1: You have to press the "Windows + R" shortcut key to open the Run program. As it opens, type "control.exe" to launch the Control Panel on your computer. Next, access the "Hardware and Sound" option.
Step 2: Find the option of "Device and Printers" in the list, which will lead you to the devices attached to your computer as the printer.
Step 3: See if the printer you are using is not set as the default device, which can be verified with a green mark. If there is no green mark, right-click on the specific device and select "Set as default printer" to set it as the default device. Now, you can try again to print the PDF.
2. Update Your Printer Drivers
If the printer drivers are not updated, there is a fair chance that you cannot print PDFs. So when you cannot print PDF documents, you can try to update the drivers. Just the following steps:
Step 1: Open the "Search" bar on the taskbar by clicking on the respective icon. Next, type "Device Manager" in the space to open the window on your computer.
Step 2: Scroll down to find the "Print queues" option in the list and expand the section. Find your respective printer that is not functioning properly and right-click on it. Select "Update driver" from the options to update your printer drivers.
Step 3: As the new window opens for updating the drivers, you can select any available options. Here, you can select "Seach automatically for drivers". Follow the on-screen instructions to update your printer successfully. After you update the driver, you can find the PDF file to print it to see if the problem still exists.
3. Remove Password Restrictions from PDF
The PDF document you are using might have some restrictions enabled on it. The author that created the document might have put in a password restriction to stop the readers from printing the document. Thus, in such a case, you will have to remove the password restrictions from the PDF document, which can be done with the help of UPDF. UPDF provides a complete system of removing passwords, which is covered by the following steps:
Step 1: Click the below button to download UPDF. Launch UPDF on your computer and proceed to click on "Open File" to import the password-restricted PDF.
Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure
Step 2: Following this, proceed to the "Protect Using Password" option on the right panel. With the menu that opens, select "Remove Security" to start the process
Step 3: The following pop-up will ask you to confirm the process, for which you have to click on "Remove". Next, UPDF will ask you to add the permission password of the document to start removing it. As the password is removed, UPDF will ask you to save it as a new document. Select "Save" and set a location before you save the document. Now, you can try to print the PDF to check if the problem is fixed.
4. Clear the Printer's Queue
Another possibility for PDF files not printing can be due to the printer's queue that is filled out. While using the printer, it might have been getting multiple commands for which it has a long queue to process. At times, the printer might also crash. But, to resolve this problem, it is best to clear the printer's queue, which can be done by accessing the "Devices and Printers" options in the "Control" panel. Look into the printer that you are using and check its queue.
5. Connect the Printer Properly
You have to ensure that the printer is connected to the computer properly. If it is a wired connection, make sure the wires are not loose or damaged. For Bluetooth printers, ensure that the function is operating perfectly and that there are no issues with the connection.
Part 3: An All-in-One PDF Solution
Printing PDFs seems simple, but it also needs a good PDF editor to help users set the printing parameters for different printing requirements. It also allows you to print a PDF in landscape mode when needed. Along with printing PDFs, there are other PDF handling requirements. To meet all your needs, UPDF tries its best to add as many as features in its simple interface. It is very cheap and with many advanced features like editing PDF, annotating PDF, summarizing PDF, explaining PDF, writing PDF, and more. You can download UPDF via the below button to try all its features.
Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure
Key Features Offered by UPDF
- Protecting PDFs: UPDF allows you to set up passwords for the PDF documents you are opening on it. Set different password types, such as open passwords and permission passwords, as per your ease.
- Use OCR: You can use the OCR feature in UPDF to convert your scanned documents to searchable and editable PDFs. With support to over 38 languages, you can easily convert your scanned images and documents to editable PDFs and manage them with UPDF.
- Organizing and Managing PDFs: UPDF is an exceptional example of helping users organize and manage their PDFs. Use the different features such as rearranging, rotating, splitting, and inserting PDFs to organize your documents in a better way.
- Annotate Documents: This PDF editor provides users with a complete set of annotation tools. You can easily highlight, comment, underline, and add stamps and stickers to the PDF.
Advantages of Using UPDF
- Simple, Effective, and Secure: You can find UPDF to be the most straightforward PDF editor in the market. With a system of protecting user documents from illegal access, it features a secure PDF system that does not require the user to have knowledge of PDF tools.
- Performs Perfectly: There are no particular lags in this PDF editor regarding performance. You can use UPDF freely with no hindrances, as it is exceptionally stable in editing and managing PDFs of all sizes.
- Compatibility: This tool is available on Windows and Mac and also provides services to iOS and Android users, making it an efficient option in the market.
- Converts Five Files for Free: UPDF supports converting two files for free in one day. While it is a great initiative, it helps you get aware of the tool in a better way.
UPDF also has many features that cannot be listed completely here, you can download UPDF to test it, read this review of UPDF from Laptopmedia, or watch the below video tutorial to know more about it.
Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure
UPDF offers free access to most features. However, users can upgrade to UPDF Pro to unlock the full potential of UPDF at a discounted price.
Part 4: Frequently Asked Questions
Why Can't I Print PDF Files from My Printer?
You cannot print PDF files from the printer for many reasons. Starting from the first option, you won't be able to print the PDF if the device is not connected to the printer. Along with that, the drivers of the printer might not be updated. The problem can also be related to permission passwords on the PDF document.
How Do I Enable the "Print as PDF" Option?
If you wish to enable the option of Print as PDF, you have to open the PDF document on Google Chrome. As it opens, click on the "Printer" icon and select the option of "Save as PDF" on Windows and "Print as PDF" on Mac for the printer.
Why Can I Print from Word but not PDF?
If you cannot print PDFs, the very probable explanation is the password restriction on the document. There might be some permission password for abstaining from printing the PDF, which needs to be removed with tools like UPDF.
How Do You Print a PDF File from an Email?
You need to simply open the PDF file from the email on your Chrome browser. As it opens on a tab, click on the "Printer" button and proceed to print the PDF.
Conclusion
This article has presented users with a guide on why you cannot print PDF files and effective ways to fix cannot print PDF file issues. We also mention UPDF as it not only helps you fix the can't print PDF issue, but also offers many other features like editing, annotating, summarizing, converting, and more. Why not download UPDF via the below button to try this tool on your own now?
Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure