Excel Export to PDF not working

Question

Hello. I am trying to export an Excel spreadsheet to PDF format. So I go to File > Export > Create PDF/XPS Document > Publish.

I have been exporting PDFs from Excel many times using this method without fail. Today, I ran into an unexpected problem. The error message was as follows:

No printers are installed. To install a printer click the File tab, and then click Print. Click No Printers Installed, and then Click Add Printer. Follow the instructions in the Add Printer dialog box.

Obviously this method did not work, otherwise I would not be here. There are no physical printers attached to my laptop, and the 'Print/No Printer Installed' functions mentioned above did not give me a PDF option.

After I clicked OK, a second error message showed up:

Document not saved. The document may be open, or an error message may have been encountered while saving.

I also tried to include screenshots of the error messages in this current enquiry by clicking on the Insert Image icon > Upload > Open. The error message was:

File(s) failed to upload.

This error message appeared whether I tried to upload jpg or png files.

I am using Windows 11 Home version 24H2. Please help, thanks

Answer 1

Hi,Editor LF

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

You mentioned that you encountered a problem while trying to export an Excel spreadsheet to PDF format. You can refer to the following basic troubleshooting methods:

Setting the Default Printer: Try setting the default printer to “Microsoft XPS Document Writer” or “Send to OneNote”. This can be done by following these steps:

Open Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners.

Select “Microsoft XPS Document Writer” or “Send to OneNote” and click Manage > Set as Default. “Set as Default.

Check file permissions: Make sure you have enough permissions to save the file. Right-click on the file, select Properties, and then check the permissions settings in the Security tab.

Clean up temporary files: Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and delete all temporary files. This can help with some saving issues.

Excel Safe Mode: Try opening Excel in Safe Mode. press Windows + R, type excel /safe and click OK. Try exporting the PDF in safe mode.

Best regards

Zoro-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

Hi Zoro,

Thanks for your guidance. I have tried the various suggestions:

1. Setting the default printer - did not work. There were no options to select under 'Add a printer or scanner'. When I clicked on 'Add device', the message was 'The printer that I want isn't listed'.

2. Check file permissions - did not work. Everything was already checked except the last item, 'Special permissions'.

3. Clean up temporary files - did not work. I have deleted all the .tmp files and folders. Should I delete all the rest inside the Temp folder as well?
4. Excel safe mode - did not work. The same error messages came up.

I would be most grateful for any further advice, thanks!