Fix: Microsoft Print To Pdf Missing On Windows 11/10

Highlights

• Microsoft Windows 10 offers a new print-to-PDF feature that lets you print anything on your computer as a PDF.
• Many users, however, complained that Print to PDF did not work on their Windows machines.
• If the Microsoft Print to PDF feature is missing on Windows 11/10, we have some fixes for you that you can easily implement

With Microsoft Print to PDF, users can convert any application that supports printing into PDF files.

However, reports have been received that Windows 11 and Windows 10 users are unable to print to PDF because the Microsoft Print to PDF option is missing from the available printer list.

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Particularly if you utilize this feature regularly for work or personal purposes, this can be frustrating.

In this article, we will explain a step-by-step guide to help you fix if Microsoft Print to PDF Missing on Windows 11/10 issue. So, let’s check out the steps.

Content Table

Why is Microsoft Print to PDF Missing?

There are several reasons why you may not be able to print to PDF on a Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer.

In order to troubleshoot and resolve the problem effectively, it is important to understand these reasons. Some of the leading causes are as follows:

• Corrupted system files
• Outdated or incompatible printer drivers
• Disabled or missing the Microsoft Print to PDF feature
• Windows update issues

How to Fix Microsoft Print to PDF Missing on Windows 11/10

So, here are some fixes that will help you fix Microsoft Print to PDF missing on Windows 11 or 11 PC:

Fix 1:Using Windows PowerShell, Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF

Microsoft Windows Powershell can be used to complete the reinstallation process as well. Microsoft Print to PDF mission Windows 11 can be resolved with the same set of two commands.

1. In Search, type powershell , right-click Windows PowerShell, and choose Run as administrator .
2. After each command, press Enter .

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

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

Fix 2: Add Print to PDF Via Windows Features Dialog

There are additional features available in both Windows 11 and 10 called Optional Features. You can opt to have some of these features pre-installed, while others are available as a download or installation on demand.

If Print to PDF has been disabled on your computer, you can enable it in the Windows Features dialog. Here are a few easy steps for adding or removing Optional Features in Windows.

1. Initially, open the Search box.
2. Enter Optional Features and click OK to open the Dialog for Optional Features . Alternatively, you can access it through Settings > Apps > Optional Features > More Windows features .
3. Find Microsoft Print to PDF in the Turn Windows features on or off dialog box.
4. To install Microsoft Print to PDF, select it and click OK .

1. Once the installation has been completed, click Close . In the Printer interface, check whether the Print to PDF option is restored.

Ensure that the Microsoft Print to PDF option is not already selected and uncheck it. In this way, the OS will be prompted to uninstall the feature correctly.

Once the driver has been uninstalled, launch the Windows Features dialog and enable the Print to PDF option.

You can solve the problem by turning off the feature in the Windows Features dialog box and restarting your computer.

If the Print to PDF option is not restored after the restart, try enabling the feature again in Optional Features.

Fix 3: Disable/Enable the Print to PDF Feature Via Command Prompt

You can disable or enable optional Windows features with the Deployment Image Service Management (DISM) command-line tool if you prefer.

To install Print to PDF using the Command Prompt, follow these steps:

1. To open Run , press Win + R .
2. Enter cmd, then press and hold the Ctrl + Shift keys and click OK. This opens the Command Prompt as an administrator .
3. To stop the spooler service, type the following command at the Command Prompt. net stop spooler

1. After you have successfully stopped the Print to PDF services, type the following command to disable it:

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

1. To enable the feature again, type the following command and press enter after the Operation is complete message appears:

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

1. Afterwards, you will see the message Operation completed successfully if it was successfully installed.
2. Now that Windows has the Print to PDF feature, you should be able to save documents in PDF format.

Fix 4: Add Print to PDF Via Add Printer Wizard

You can also add a new printer from the Settings tab if the Print to PDF option is missing. If you choose the Print to File option when adding a new printer, you will be able to choose the Print to PDF option as well. However, to manually add the Print to PDF printer, follow these steps:

1. To open Settings , press Win + I .
2. Go to the left pane and click Bluetooth & Devices .
3. On the left side, click Printers & Scanners .

1. Thereafter, in the top right corner, click the Add Device button. When a printer is connected, Windows automatically starts scanning for it.

1. Suppose the printer you are looking for isn’t listed there, then click Add manually .

1. Afterwards, select Add a local printer or network printer with the manual settings option in the Add Printer dialog.
2. Click on Next .

1. Choose Use an existing port from the drop-down menu. Select File: (Print to File) . When Print to File isn’t available or doesn’t work, try PORTPROMPT (Local Port) or PDF (Local Port) . You can also use this with older versions of Windows 10.
2. To continue, click Next .
3. Afterwards, on the Install the printer driver screen, select Microsoft from the Manufacturer drop-down menu. Under Printers , select Microsoft Print to PDF .
4. To continue, click Next .
5. To save the changes, type your new printer’s name or leave it as it is by default and click OK .
6. Afterwards, open the Print interface and check whether the Print to PDF option is available.

Fix 5: Turn Off/On The Feature

Windows 10 and 11 come with a native Print to PDF feature. Hence, if it is missing, there could be a minor problem surrounding it, which can be fixed by turning off and re-enabling the feature.

1. Enter Turn Windows features on or off in the Search box.
2. In the Windows features, look for “ Microsoft Print to PDF “.
3. Uncheck the box and check it again. To save your changes, click OK .
4. Check your printer list after restarting the PC.

Fix 6: Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF Using Device Manager

Microsoft Print to PDF can be reinstalled via Device Manager if the above methods do not resolve the issue “Microsoft Print to PDF missing”.

1. Initially, in the Search box, type Device Manager and click Open .
2. Afterwards, expand the Print queues list.
3. Thereafter, right-click on the Microsoft Print to PDF option. Choose Uninstall device . Once the driver has been installed, you can use it again.

So, that’s all we have for you on how to fix Microsoft Print to PDF missing on Windows 11 or 11 PC. It is our hope that you have found this guide helpful. Feel free to comment below if you need more information.

Further Reading:

• Best Windows PC Software for Fan Speed Control
• How to Fix the “Your PC needs to be repaired” Error?
• How to Enable/Disable Memory Compression in Windows 11?

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If TechLatest has helped you, consider supporting us with a one-time tip on Ko-fi. Every contribution keeps our work free and independent.

Highlights

• Microsoft Windows 10 offers a new print-to-PDF feature that lets you print anything on your computer as a PDF.
• Many users, however, complained that Print to PDF did not work on their Windows machines.
• If the Microsoft Print to PDF feature is missing on Windows 11/10, we have some fixes for you that you can easily implement

With Microsoft Print to PDF, users can convert any application that supports printing into PDF files.

However, reports have been received that Windows 11 and Windows 10 users are unable to print to PDF because the Microsoft Print to PDF option is missing from the available printer list.

Don’t want to miss the best from TechLatest ? Set us as a preferred source in Google Search and make sure you never miss our latest.

Particularly if you utilize this feature regularly for work or personal purposes, this can be frustrating.

In this article, we will explain a step-by-step guide to help you fix if Microsoft Print to PDF Missing on Windows 11/10 issue. So, let’s check out the steps.

Content Table

Why is Microsoft Print to PDF Missing?

There are several reasons why you may not be able to print to PDF on a Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer.

In order to troubleshoot and resolve the problem effectively, it is important to understand these reasons. Some of the leading causes are as follows:

• Corrupted system files
• Outdated or incompatible printer drivers
• Disabled or missing the Microsoft Print to PDF feature
• Windows update issues

How to Fix Microsoft Print to PDF Missing on Windows 11/10

So, here are some fixes that will help you fix Microsoft Print to PDF missing on Windows 11 or 11 PC:

Fix 1:Using Windows PowerShell, Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF

Microsoft Windows Powershell can be used to complete the reinstallation process as well. Microsoft Print to PDF mission Windows 11 can be resolved with the same set of two commands.

1. In Search, type powershell , right-click Windows PowerShell, and choose Run as administrator .
2. After each command, press Enter .

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

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

Fix 2: Add Print to PDF Via Windows Features Dialog

There are additional features available in both Windows 11 and 10 called Optional Features. You can opt to have some of these features pre-installed, while others are available as a download or installation on demand.

If Print to PDF has been disabled on your computer, you can enable it in the Windows Features dialog. Here are a few easy steps for adding or removing Optional Features in Windows.

1. Initially, open the Search box.
2. Enter Optional Features and click OK to open the Dialog for Optional Features . Alternatively, you can access it through Settings > Apps > Optional Features > More Windows features .
3. Find Microsoft Print to PDF in the Turn Windows features on or off dialog box.
4. To install Microsoft Print to PDF, select it and click OK .

1. Once the installation has been completed, click Close . In the Printer interface, check whether the Print to PDF option is restored.

Ensure that the Microsoft Print to PDF option is not already selected and uncheck it. In this way, the OS will be prompted to uninstall the feature correctly.

Once the driver has been uninstalled, launch the Windows Features dialog and enable the Print to PDF option.

You can solve the problem by turning off the feature in the Windows Features dialog box and restarting your computer.

If the Print to PDF option is not restored after the restart, try enabling the feature again in Optional Features.

Fix 3: Disable/Enable the Print to PDF Feature Via Command Prompt

You can disable or enable optional Windows features with the Deployment Image Service Management (DISM) command-line tool if you prefer.

To install Print to PDF using the Command Prompt, follow these steps:

1. To open Run , press Win + R .
2. Enter cmd, then press and hold the Ctrl + Shift keys and click OK. This opens the Command Prompt as an administrator .
3. To stop the spooler service, type the following command at the Command Prompt. net stop spooler

1. After you have successfully stopped the Print to PDF services, type the following command to disable it:

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

1. To enable the feature again, type the following command and press enter after the Operation is complete message appears:

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

1. Afterwards, you will see the message Operation completed successfully if it was successfully installed.
2. Now that Windows has the Print to PDF feature, you should be able to save documents in PDF format.

Fix 4: Add Print to PDF Via Add Printer Wizard

You can also add a new printer from the Settings tab if the Print to PDF option is missing. If you choose the Print to File option when adding a new printer, you will be able to choose the Print to PDF option as well. However, to manually add the Print to PDF printer, follow these steps:

1. To open Settings , press Win + I .
2. Go to the left pane and click Bluetooth & Devices .
3. On the left side, click Printers & Scanners .

1. Thereafter, in the top right corner, click the Add Device button. When a printer is connected, Windows automatically starts scanning for it.

1. Suppose the printer you are looking for isn’t listed there, then click Add manually .

1. Afterwards, select Add a local printer or network printer with the manual settings option in the Add Printer dialog.
2. Click on Next .

1. Choose Use an existing port from the drop-down menu. Select File: (Print to File) . When Print to File isn’t available or doesn’t work, try PORTPROMPT (Local Port) or PDF (Local Port) . You can also use this with older versions of Windows 10.
2. To continue, click Next .
3. Afterwards, on the Install the printer driver screen, select Microsoft from the Manufacturer drop-down menu. Under Printers , select Microsoft Print to PDF .
4. To continue, click Next .
5. To save the changes, type your new printer’s name or leave it as it is by default and click OK .
6. Afterwards, open the Print interface and check whether the Print to PDF option is available.

Fix 5: Turn Off/On The Feature

Windows 10 and 11 come with a native Print to PDF feature. Hence, if it is missing, there could be a minor problem surrounding it, which can be fixed by turning off and re-enabling the feature.

1. Enter Turn Windows features on or off in the Search box.
2. In the Windows features, look for “ Microsoft Print to PDF “.
3. Uncheck the box and check it again. To save your changes, click OK .
4. Check your printer list after restarting the PC.

Fix 6: Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF Using Device Manager

Microsoft Print to PDF can be reinstalled via Device Manager if the above methods do not resolve the issue “Microsoft Print to PDF missing”.

1. Initially, in the Search box, type Device Manager and click Open .
2. Afterwards, expand the Print queues list.
3. Thereafter, right-click on the Microsoft Print to PDF option. Choose Uninstall device . Once the driver has been installed, you can use it again.

So, that’s all we have for you on how to fix Microsoft Print to PDF missing on Windows 11 or 11 PC. It is our hope that you have found this guide helpful. Feel free to comment below if you need more information.

Further Reading:

• Best Windows PC Software for Fan Speed Control
• How to Fix the “Your PC needs to be repaired” Error?
• How to Enable/Disable Memory Compression in Windows 11?

Enjoyed this article?

If TechLatest has helped you, consider supporting us with a one-time tip on Ko-fi. Every contribution keeps our work free and independent.

Highlights

• “Driver is unavailable” is a common issue people face with their printer on a Windows PC.
• The issue occurs due to various reasons like the driver is not properly installed or is corrupted, etc.
• We’ve given a number of solutions that can help you resolve the issue in no time and you can get back to your daily chores.

Printing is one of the most common tasks people do on a daily basis. Nowadays there are a ton of printers available on the market, and every one of them requires a different driver to operate.

Hence, you might see a very common error while you try to print any document or photo, i.e., Driver is Unavailable. Since it is a common issue, solutions are also very easy to implement.

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“Driver is unavailable” simply means that your system is trying to find the right driver for your printer to operate but can’t find any and halts the printing of any document or photo.

As mentioned earlier, the solutions are simple but before that, we would like to tell you the reason why you get the “Printer Driver is unavailable” error on Windows.

Content Table

Why do you get the “Printer Driver is unavailable” error on Windows?

This is a very common error among Windows 10 users as so many have complained to us that they get the Driver is Unavailable on their Printer devices.

Talking about why you get this error, there is no single reason why this error could pop up on your PC. There are multiple reasons why this error could occur on your PC, and we have listed them down below. You could be facing an error due to any of them.

Here are the reasons:

• Your Printer’s driver is missing or not installed properly
• Your Printer’s driver is corrupted
• Your Printer’s driver is not compatible with your PC
• Your Printer’s driver is outdated
• Windows Update needs to be installed

Now that we have told you about the possible reasons you are getting the “Printer Driver is unavailable” error, we will talk about how to fix the “Printer Driver is unavailable” error.

How do we fix the “Driver is unavailable” error on Windows?

These are some of the ways to fix the “Printer Driver is unavailable” error on Windows, and they are as follows:

1. Reconnect the Printer Device

The first thing you need to do is simply reconnect the Printer Device so that you can check if it works or not. It is quite possible that this could fix all the things, and you don’t need to do anything else to fix the issue.

To reconnect your Printer device, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows + S key on your keyboard and then type Settings in the window that opens.

1. Launch the Settings window, click on Bluetooth & devices , and then Printers & scanners .

1. Click on the Printer that is troubling you, select Remove Device, and click Yes if you are prompted.

1. After this, your Printer will be removed from your PC, and then you can reconnect your Printer as you would normally do.

If this doesn’t work, you can try the other troubleshooting methods mentioned below.

2. Update your Printer Driver via Device Manager

If your method of reconnecting the Printer did not work, then you can try to update your Printer’s drivers because outdated drivers could also cause problems with the functioning of any device.

To update your Printer’s drivers inside Windows, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows + X key, click on Device Manager , and then expand the Printers menu.
2. Right-click on the Printer listed in the menu and then click on Update Driver to update its drivers.

1. Select the Search Automatically for drivers option and allow Windows to search for existing drivers inside the system as well as online.

1. Wait for the driver installation to complete, and then restart your PC for changes to take effect.

3. Install Printer Drivers manually

It is quite possible that Windows cannot find the Printer Drivers, so you may need to install them manually.

1. For this, you need to go to Device Manager once again by clicking Windows + X.
2. After that, you need to go to Printers and Expand the list, right-click on your Printer, and click on Update Driver .
3. Now comes the part where you need to concentrate because you will need to click on Browse my computer for drivers.

1. Download the Printer Driver for your respective printer, depending upon its manufacturer. We have given links to some of the top printer manufacturers down below: Canon Driver Download HP Software and Driver Downloads Epson Downloads Brother Driver Downloads Sharp Driver Downloads Samsung Printer Software Installer
2. Download the correct driver, remember the file path where you have downloaded the drivers, and then select and install them on your PC.

4. Install Generic Printer Driver

Users say installing generic printer drivers instead of those specific to their device manufacturers has also done the job for them. This could be because generic drivers are compatible with each and every printer out there unless there is something specific that needs to be changed.

So, we will try and install a generic driver on our Printer and see if it works.

1. To do that, go to Device Manager by pressing the Win + X key once again.
2. Expand the Printers menu, right-click on your Printer, and click on Update Driver .

1. Then click on Browse my computer for drivers and then click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer .

1. Click on Generic Software Device as seen above and then click on Next.

1. Now, your Generic drivers will be installed, and you can restart your PC after that.

5. Update Windows 10

While we know that the problem of the Printer Driver being unavailable is related to the drivers of your Printer, it is possible that your Windows being outdated could also be the issue.

We have noticed this issue in users who did not update their Windows 10 and were running an outdated version.

So, make sure to check and update your Windows if you have an update pending because it could bring bug fixes that could fix the “Printer Driver is unavailable” issue.

1. To check for Windows updates, press Win + I simultaneously to open Settings .
2. Now, click on Windows Update .
3. Click on the Check for Updates button and then wait for Windows to check if any update is available.

1. If any update is available, click on the Download and Install Now button and then wait for it to be installed on your PC.

6. Fix Corrupt Windows Files

There can be errors related to “Driver is unavailable” when system files are corrupted.

You can make these files work again with the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM).

Run SFC

1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Then type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

1. Wait until the Scan is complete. Whenever it finds corrupted system files, it automatically fixes them.

Run DISM

1. You will need to open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Enter DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth .

1. Let the process run its course. Be patient; it may take some time.

7. Don’t Let Faulty Drivers Install

Sometimes the issue of “Driver is unavailable” is because of the driver’s latest update. Usually in the latest Windows editions like 10 or 11, Windows tends to update the driver automatically when available.

We can stop this phenomenon by using Microsoft’s Show or hide updates tool. Follow the below instructions step-by-step to do so,

1. Download the Microsoft Show or hide updates tool using this link .
2. Open the app by single/double clicking the wushowhide.diagcab file.
3. Click on the Next button located in the down section of welcome windows.

1. From the two options available, click on the Hide updates option.

1. Check the boxes of the faulty printer and click on the Next button.

1. Finally, select Close the troubleshooter .

By doing this, Windows will ignore any updates available and prevent installing any faulty drivers.

Conclusion

There you go. We have mentioned everything there is to know about the “Printer Driver is unavailable” error, from how it is caused to knowing how you can fix it.

Some part of this article is contributed by Abhishek Jariwala .

Further Reading:

• Why is My Computer Slow All of a Sudden?
• Windows was Dominant, But Now It’s Not: What Happened?
• Winpilot (BloatyNosy): Debloat Your Windows 11 PC (Remove Bloatware)

Enjoyed this article?

If TechLatest has helped you, consider supporting us with a one-time tip on Ko-fi. Every contribution keeps our work free and independent.