Want to know how to fix the missing Print to PDF feature on Windows 11?
Windows 10 introduced an excellent inbuilt feature known as Microsoft Print to PDF to its users. While it seemed useless to some, others found it to be a very useful feature that they could utilize to print any document in PDF format and also save it for later use. This reduced the need for using third-party apps for the same purpose.
The Microsoft Print to PDF option also came with Windows 11, but unfortunately, many users have reported that it was missing. So, whether the feature is missing, doesn’t work, or you mistakenly deleted it, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll go over multiple methods that you can use to restore the missing Print to PDF feature on Windows 11. Read this guide up to the end to figure out how to resolve your problem.
So, let’s get started!
1. Enable the Print to PDF Feature from Windows Features Dialog.
Windows allows its users to use the Print to PDF feature only if it is enabled. As it comes under Optional Features in Windows, you have to manually turn it on in order to save documents in PDF format.
So, if you find that the Print to PDF option is missing, the very first thing you need to do is to ensure that it is enabled. If not, you can easily do it in a few steps.
Here’s how to do it:
- Firstly, press Win + R to open the Run command box.
- After that, type in optionalfeatures and hit Enter to open the Optional Features dialog box.
- Now, under Turn Windows features on or off, locate and click on the checkbox next to Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Next, click on OK to confirm your selection so that Windows can install this feature.
- After the installation process is finished, click Close.
Once you’ve installed the feature, restart your computer and head to the printer’s list to check whether you’re able to see the Print to PDF option. If not, move to the following method to restore the feature.
2. Add the Microsoft Print to PDF Feature Manually.
If you were unable to find the feature in the Windows features dialog box, another way to restore the missing Print to PDF feature on Windows 11 is by adding a new printer manually.
Here’s what you need to do:
- To start, open Settings by pressing Win + i.
- From the left pane, select Bluetooth & Devices.
- Now, scroll down and look for the Printers & Scanners option. Then, click on it once you find it.
- After that, select the Add Devices button present next to Devices. Your computer will now start looking for connected devices automatically.
- Then, click on Add manually next to the Printer that I want isn’t listed message.
- On the Add Printer dialog, select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings. After that, click on Next.
- From the Choose a printer port screen, select Use an existing port, and from its drop-down options, click on FILE: (Print to File). Then, choose Next.
- Now, from the next screen, click on Microsoft under Manufacturers.
- Then, select Microsoft Print to PDF present under Printers and click on the Next button again.
- Lastly, a default printer name will show up. If you wish to change it, type in the name for the new printer and then click OK.
After you’re done, head back to the printer’s interface and check for the Print to PDF option. If it’s still not available, head to the next method.
3. Use Device Manager to Remove and Reinstall the Print to PDF Driver.
Sometimes, the problem of a missing Print to PDF feature may lie within its driver. So, another way to troubleshoot the error on Windows 11 is to remove the installed driver. After that, reinstall it using the Device Manager.
To do so, follow these steps below:
- Begin by opening the Run command box by pressing Win and R simultaneously.
- After that, type in devmgmt.msc and click on OK to open the Device Manager.
- From the Device Manager window, locate and expand the Print queues.
- Now, right-click on Microsoft Print to PDF and choose the Uninstall device option.
- A confirmation box will appear. Click on Uninstall again.
- Lastly, follow the steps given in the first method to head to the Windows Features window and reinstall the Microsoft Print to PDF feature.
4. Use the Command Prompt to Reinstall the Feature.
If you can’t access the Microsoft Print to PDF feature on Windows 11, the DISM in Command Prompt allows you to fix the issue. For this, you have to disable the feature and then enable it.
Follow the steps below to do it:
- First step is to open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Next, type in the following command to disable the feature.
DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart
- Now, paste the following command below to enable the Print to PDF option.
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart
5. Reinstall Print to PDF Driver With Powershell.
Another way to reinstall the Print to PDF feature is by using Windows Powershell. It is similar to the Command Prompt, so you can use either one of the methods to restore the missing Print to PDF feature on Windows 11.
Here’s all that you need to follow:
- To begin, launch the Windows Powershell as an administrator.
- Now, copy and paste the following command below to disable the Print to PDF feature.
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features- After that, you can enable it again by pasting this command:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features
When the Microsoft Print to PDF feature is reinstalled, head back to check whether you can access the feature or not.
This brings us to the end of the guide on how to fix the missing Print to PDF feature on Windows 11. We hope that you’ve gathered enough knowledge by reading this guide to resolve the issue. In cases of further queries, use the comments section below. We’ll try our best to help.
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