How To Fix the Missing Print To PDF Feature In Windows?

Microsoft Print to PDF is a tool in Windows that enables you to print pictures, files, and documents on your PC as PDF files. However, reinstalling the option can be difficult if you delete it by mistake or discover it is gone. It is possible to reinstall the feature using the Windows Feature or manually add it by installing the printer drivers. This post explains how to fix Windows’s missing Print to PDF feature.

How to Fix a Missing Print to PDF Feature in Windows?

Below are four methods to retrieve the Print to Pdf feature in Windows. It applies to Windows 11, Windows 10, or any other version of Windows.

1. Enable Print to PDF Feature using Windows Features
2. Get the Print to PDF Feature by Manually Adding a Printer
3. Use Windows Terminal to Re-enable Print to PDF Feature
4. Use PowerShell to Re-enable Print to PDF Feature

You will need an administrator account for some of these methods.

1] Enable Print to PDF Feature using Windows Features

Optional Features are extra features included with Windows. Some of these features are pre-installed, while others are optional and can be downloaded and added based on your needs.

If your PC’s Print to PDF feature is off, turn it on from the Windows Features dialogue. Using just a few clicks, you may quickly add or delete optional features in Windows. Here is how to go about it:

• Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
• To access the Windows Features dialogue, type optionalfeatures and press OK.

Note: You can access it through Windows Settings > Apps > Optional Features. Click on the View features button to open it.

• Locate and click on the check box beside the Microsoft Print to PDF option in the list under the Turn Windows Features On or Off and click OK to install the feature.

• After installation, select Close. Now see if the Printer interface has the Print to PDF option back.

If the Microsoft Print to PDF option was previously enabled or selected, deselect it and click OK. This will signal the OS to deactivate the feature correctly. To reinstall the driver after uninstalling, reopen the Windows Features dialogue and enable the Microsoft Print to PDF option.

2] Get the Print to PDF Feature by Manually Adding a Printer

Adding a new printer from the Windows Settings menu is another simple approach to returning the missing Print to PDF option. You can add the Print to PDF option by selecting the Print to File option when adding a new printer.

To manually add the Print to PDF printer, follow the steps given below:

• Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
• Click on the Bluetooth & devices option from the left pane. Next, click on the Printers & scanners option from the right.

• At the top right corner, click on the Add Device button. Windows will conduct an automated search for attached printers.
• Click on Add Manually next to The printer that I want isn’t listed.

• On the Add Printer dialogue, click the radio button beside Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings and click Next.

• Click on the radio button beside Use an existing port and then click on the drop-down menu next to it and choose File: (Print to File). If the Print to File option is unavailable or unusable, try PORTPROMPT (Local Port) or PDF (Local Port).

• Click Next. Choose Adobe from the Manufacturer list, and select Adobe PDF Converter under Printers. Click Next.
• Give your new printer a name by typing it in yourself or using the default, and then click OK to save the changes.

Open the Print interface and check if the Print to PDF option is available.

3] Use Windows Terminal Re-enable Print to PDF Feature

To install the Print to PDF feature through the Windows Terminal, follow the steps given below:

• Open Windows Terminal
• To stop the spooler service, type the following command in the Windows Terminal window:

net stop spooler

• After the services have been successfully terminated, use the command below to turn off the Print to PDF feature:

dism /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart

• When the message The operation completed successfully appears, copy and paste the following command to reactivate the feature:

dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart

• You will see the message The operation completed successfully if the installation was successful.

Now, you should be able to use Windows Print to PDF option to save documents in PDF format.

4] Use PowerShell Re-enable Print to PDF Feature

With the Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature cmdlet in PowerShell, you can also turn on the Print to PDF feature. This is how you go about it:

• Open PowerShell
• Type the following command in the PowerShell window to disable the Print to PDF feature.

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features

• Use the following command in PowerShell to enable Print to PDF:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features

• When finished, the Online status will read Online as True and the RestartNeeded status as false.

After the process is done, launch your document app after closing the PowerShell window. Once the Printer interface opens by pressing the Windows key + P, you can find the Print to PDF option. If not, restart your PC to have the changes take effect and try again.

Conclusion

So, I hope this article helped you to resolve the missing Print to PDF feature in Windows.  Even if you accidentally deleted the feature, you can easily retrieve it using your Windows PC’s built-in features. Also, make sure that your Windows is updated so that all these methods will work without fail. So, I hope this article helps!

Why Can’t I Print to PDF Anymore?

You cannot print PDF files if your printer driver is outdated, damaged, or missing. To update your printer driver and fix your issue, visit the official website of the company that makes your printer, for example, HP, Dell, Canon, etc.

How Do I Make Microsoft Print to PDF Default Printer?

To make Microsoft Print to PDF the default printer, select Windows Settings (Windows key + I), navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, and select Print to PDF printer. Then click on the Set as default button. Next time you print anything, Print to PDF will be pre-selected.