Issue has been solved. I was sending the file to my phone through whatsapp web on chrome. Chrome seems to be bugging it. When i tried firefox it just worked. The pdf preview also opened for firefox but not for edge or chrome.
Print to pdf not working in windows 11
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win11
5
Reputation points
Hello! I am using Windows 11 24H2 (26100.7623). I am having issues with Print to PDF. When I print to PDF any file be it a webpage or a txt document saying "hello", it is only able to be opened in adobe acrobat reader and not anywhere else. I have tried opening it on edge, chrome and even sending it to my phone and it just won't open. I have tried the pre-installed Microsoft Print to PDF as well as CutePDF writer. None worked. I have also searched for solution and tried turning the optional feature "Microsoft Print to PDF" on and off. I have also also restarted the spool service from the Services app as well as using
dism /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart
dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart
I have attached a "Print test page" pdf showing the above mentioned symptoms.
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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Thomas4-N 17,540 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator2026-02-28T13:52:49.3233333+00:00 Hello win11, thanks for coming back with the update.
So, the issue was Chrome (specifically WhatsApp Web on Chrome) corrupting the PDF during transfer, while Firefox handled it correctly. That's a helpful finding since it narrows down to a browser-specific rendering quirk rather than a Windows Print to PDF problem.
Appreciate you sharing what worked – this will be useful for others who might run into the same situation.
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AI answer
2026-02-07T15:27:10.0533333+00:00 It sounds like you're experiencing issues with the Print to PDF functionality in Windows 11. Here are a few steps you can try to troubleshoot the problem:
- Check Printer Settings: Ensure that Microsoft Print to PDF is set as the default printer. You can do this by going to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, and selecting Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Test with Different Applications: Sometimes, the application you are printing from can cause issues. Try printing from different applications like Notepad, Word, or a web browser to see if the issue persists across all of them.
- Update Windows: Make sure your Windows 11 is fully updated. Sometimes, updates can fix bugs related to printing.
- Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF: You mentioned turning the optional feature on and off. If you haven't already, you can try completely removing and then reinstalling it:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Optional features.
- Find Microsoft Print to PDF, uninstall it, and then add it back.
- Check File Associations: If the PDF files are only opening in Adobe Acrobat Reader, check the file associations in Windows to ensure that PDF files are set to open with your preferred application.
- Check for Corrupted PDF Files: If the PDFs are corrupted during the printing process, they may not open in other applications. Try printing a simple document to see if the issue is with specific files.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to consider using a different PDF printer like CutePDF or looking for updates or support from the developers of those applications.
References:
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