How to enable the Print to PDF option in Excel?

To enable Print to PDF in Excel, ensure the "Microsoft Print to PDF" printer is installed. You can add the printer from Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add Printer. In Excel, use File > Print, then select "Microsoft Print to PDF" as the printer to create a PDF.

Why is my Excel not converting to PDF?

Excel may be unable to convert to PDF for several reasons, including a missing PDF printer, an invalid file name, complex content, a restricted save path, or an outdated version. Please check the file for special characters, simplify the file content, and ensure that "Microsoft Print to PDF" is installed and set as the printer.

Excel Print to PDF Not Working? How to Fix It

Introduction:

In Microsoft Excel, we can use the Print to PDF feature to convert a file to a PDF. However, this feature may not work properly at times. Therefore, this article will explore how to fix the "Excel Print to PDF not working" issue.

Why Is Excel Print to PDF Not Working?

Print to PDF is a built-in feature that lets you convert various file types, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, images, and emails, to PDF format. You may have used this feature frequently in the past, but suddenly find that it is not working properly. Why is the Print to PDF feature not working in Excel? The reasons are as follows.

The Print to PDF feature is not installed. The "Microsoft Print to PDF" printer driver may not be present in your Windows system. More info: Microsoft Print to PDF missing.
The file name or save path contains invalid characters. Characters like \ / : * ? " < > | can cause the save process to fail.
Excel internal error or crash. During printing, Excel may encounter internal errors, especially when processing complex files.
Corrupt or outdated printer driver. The driver for "Microsoft Print to PDF" may be damaged or outdated.
The Excel file contains complex formatting or content. Large datasets, charts, macros, or images may cause rendering issues during PDF export. You may find Excel Print to PDF not printing all pages.

Quick Fix When Excel Can't Print to PDF

If you find yourself in either of the following two situations, you can try the quick fix: use a professional Excel to PDF converter, such as SwifDoo PDF.

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1. Want to convert the file to PDF as soon as possible.

As mentioned above, many reasons can cause the Excel Print to PDF not working problem. Therefore, it may take some time to resolve this issue. If you are in a hurry, you can try other conversion methods.

2. Your Excel file is large or contains complex formatting.

The Print to PDF feature is very efficient when converting simple documents, but it struggles to handle large or complex documents effectively.

In other words, instead of struggling with Excel, it is better to use a faster method to complete the task. With SwifDoo PDF, a professional PDF converter, you can easily convert Excel to PDF without losing formatting. Whether it's a lengthy PDF file or one containing complex elements, SwifDoo PDF can process it efficiently.

Click the button to get SwifDoo PDF and start converting.

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1. Launch SwifDoo PDF. Go to Convert and choose Office to PDF.

2. Click Add Files to add the Excel document. SwifDoo PDF can convert multiple Excel files to PDF, so you can add all the documents you want to convert.

3. Confirm the location and click Start.

As you can see, SwifDoo PDF has a simple workflow. You can complete the task in a few clicks. After conversion, you can edit the PDF as needed! SwifDoo PDF can help you edit text and images, add annotations, delete unwanted pages, and more. Try it now.

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How to Fix Excel Print to PDF Not Working

Here are some common fixes you can try when you can’t use the Print to PDF feature in Microsoft Excel.

Fix 1. Enable or Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF

Follow these steps if Excel Print to PDF is not showing.

Open Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
Ensure that 'Microsoft Print to PDF' is checked.

If not listed, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Then, click "Add device" and select "Add manually."
Click Add a local printer or network printer with the manual settings to continue.
Select Use an existing port and choose PORTPROMPT: (Local Port).
Select "The printer I want isn't listed" > Choose Add a local printer.
Under 'Manufacture,' please select 'Microsoft'; under 'Printers', select 'Microsoft Print to PDF'.

Fix 2. Use a Valid File Name and Path

When saving or printing, choose a simple location (e.g., Desktop).
Use a short file name with no special characters (only letters, numbers, dashes, underscores).
Avoid symbols like \ / : * ? " < > |.

Fix 3. Simplify the Excel File

Try printing just one worksheet or a small range of worksheets.
Remove unnecessary images, charts, conditional formatting, or macros.
Clear print area: Go to Page Layout > Print Area > Clear Print Area.

Fix 4. Choose a Valid Save Location

Save the PDF to a local folder, such as C:\Users\YourName\Documents or Desktop.
Avoid using external drives, cloud sync folders, or network paths.
Make sure you have the write permission to the folder.

Fix 5. Reinstall or Update the PDF Printer Driver

Open Device Manager > Print queues.
Right-click "Microsoft Print to PDF" and click "Uninstall".
Reboot your computer.
Windows will usually reinstall the driver automatically.

Fix 6. Update Microsoft Excel

Open Excel.
Go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
Wait for updates to install and restart Excel.
Try printing to PDF again.

Conclusion

That’s all about how to fix Excel Print to PDF not working. Hope these methods can help you overcome your difficulties. If the function still does not work, you can use SwifDoo PDF to complete the conversion. Additionally, you can contact Microsoft Support for further assistance.