How to fix missing Print to PDF feature in Windows?

Microsoft Print to PDF is a tool in Windows that allows you to print images, files, and documents on your PC as PDF files. However, reinstalling an option can be difficult if you uninstall it by mistake or find that it is gone. This feature can be reinstalled using a Windows feature or added manually by installing the printer drivers. This post explains how to fix the missing Print to PDF feature in Windows.

How to fix missing Print to PDF feature in Windows?

Below are four ways to get the Print to PDF feature in Windows. This applies to Windows 11, Windows 10 or any other version of Windows.

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

For some of these methods, you will need an administrator account.

1] Enable Print to PDF using Windows Features

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

If Print to PDF is disabled on your PC, enable it in the Windows Features dialog box. With just a few clicks, you can quickly add or remove additional features to Windows. Here’s how to do it:

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

Note. You can access it through Windows Settings > Applications > Advanced Features. Click the “View Functions”button to open it.

• Locate and check the box next to the Microsoft Print to PDF option in the list under Turn Windows features on or off, and click OK to install the feature.
• After installation, select Close. Now see if there is a “Print to PDF”option in the printer interface.

If the Microsoft Print to PDF option was previously enabled or selected, deselect it and click OK. This signals to the OS to gracefully deactivate the feature. To reinstall the driver after uninstallation, reopen the Windows Features dialog and enable the Microsoft Print to PDF option.

2] Get the print to PDF feature by adding a printer manually

Adding a new printer from the Windows Settings menu is another easy way to bring back the missing Print to PDF option. You can add a Print to PDF option by selecting the Print to File option when adding a new printer.

To manually add a Print to PDF printer, follow these steps:

• Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
• Click on the Bluetooth and Devices option on the left pane. Then click the Printers and Scanners option on the right.
• In the upper right corner, click the “Add Device”button. Windows will automatically search for connected printers.
• Click “Add manually”next to “The printer I want is not listed.”
• In the Add Printer dialog box, select the radio button next to Manually add a local or network printer with settings and click Next.
• Click the radio button next to “Use an existing port”, then click the drop-down menu next to it and select “File”: (Print to file). If the Print to File option is unavailable or unusable, try PORTPROMPT (local port) or PDF (local port).
• Click “Next. Select Adobe from the list of manufacturers and select Adobe PDF Converter under Printers. Click “Next.
• Give your new printer a name by entering it yourself or using the default name, then click OK to save your changes.

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

3] Use Windows Terminal to re-enable Print to PDF feature

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

• Open Windows Terminal
• To stop the print spooler service, enter the following command in a Windows terminal window:

network stop spooler

• After the services have been completed successfully, use the command below to disable the “Print to PDF”feature:

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

• When the message Operation completed successfully appears, copy and paste the following command to re-enable the feature:

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

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

You should now be able to use the Windows Print to PDF option to save your documents as PDF.

4] Use PowerShell to re-enable print to PDF feature

You can also enable the Print to PDF feature using the Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature cmdlet in PowerShell. Here is how you do it:

• Open PowerShell
• Enter 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 printing to PDF:

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

• Upon completion, the Online status will read Online as True, and the RestartNeeded status as False.

Once the process is complete, launch the document app after closing the PowerShell window. When the printer interface opens, by pressing Windows key + P, you can find the Print to PDF option. If not, restart your computer for the changes to take effect and try again.

Conclusion

So, I hope this article helped you fix the missing “Print to PDF”feature in Windows. Even if you accidentally uninstalled this feature, you can easily restore it using the built-in features of your Windows PC. Also make sure your Windows is up to date so that all of these methods work flawlessly. 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, corrupted, or missing. To update the printer driver and resolve the issue, visit the official website of the company that manufactures your printer, such as HP, Dell, Canon, etc.

How to make Microsoft Print to PDF the default printer?

To make Microsoft Print to PDF your default printer, select Windows Settings (Windows key + I), go to Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners, and select Print to PDF Printer. Then click the “Set Default”button. The next time you print something, the Print to PDF option will be selected.