How to Print PDF Files

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work.

This article has been viewed 635,425 times.

PDF files are great for protecting the integrity of a document, but they can be a hassle when it comes time to print them. To print a PDF file, open it and click File at the top. Click Print to open the print menu, and then set your printing options. This wikiHow will teach you how to print PDFs and troubleshoot ones that won't print.

Quick Steps
  1. Click File at the top.
  2. Click Print.
  3. Select your printer.
  4. Select the number of copies.
  5. Click Print.
Part 1 of 2:

Printing a PDF

Step 1 Open the PDF file.

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Step 2 Click

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Click "File" and then "Print". This will open a print dialog box displaying various options. Certain readers and web browsers make a Print button available at the top or bottom of the document without having to open the File menu.

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Step 3 Select your printer.

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Step 4 Set the range for your print job.

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Set the range for your print job. If your PDF file is multiple pages and you only need specific ones, use the Range or Pages section of the Print window to set which pages should be sent to the printer.

Step 5 Choose any advanced printing options.

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Step 6 Print the document.

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Print the document. Once you have set all of your printing options, you can send it to printer by clicking the Print button. Your document will be added to the printer queue.

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Troubleshooting a PDF That Won't Print

Step 1 Check your printer.

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Check your printer. Before trying any software fixes, ensure that your printer is properly connected and has enough ink and paper to complete the print job. A paper jam could also cause a document to not print.

Step 2 Try a different document.

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Try a different document. Try printing something other than a PDF file, such as a Word document. If the document prints without issue, then the problem is most likely the PDF file. If the document does not print, then your printer may be malfunctioning.

Step 3 Update your printer

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Update your printer's drivers. Some printers may have difficulties with PDFs until they are updated. Visit your printer's manufacturer's website and search for your printer model in the Support section. Download the latest drivers and install them.

Step 4 Try a different printer.

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Try a different printer. Try printing the PDF file to a completely different printer. This may solve the problem if the original printer is simply not compatible.

Step 5 Convert the PDF to another file type.

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Convert the PDF to another file type. If nothing else works, you can convert the PDF to an image file. This should allow the printer to print it without causing any problems. For details on how to convert your PDF, see this guide. [1] X Research source

Advertisement Common Questions: Printing Documents on a Computer

Why won't my PDF file print?

Make sure your printer is online and plugged into your computer. If you're using an AirPrint-enabled printer, make sure both devices are logged into the same Wi-Fi network. You may also need to update your printer drivers.

How do I change the print settings on a PDF?

When you open the Print menu, you can specify which printer, how many copies, color, orientation, and more. Select the settings you want, and then click Print.

Why is my printer connected, but not printing?

Make sure your cables are secure and plugged into the proper ports. If your printer still isn't printing, you may need to update your driver. Visit the manufacturer's official website and download the latest printing software to your computer.

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