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Manually installing PDF Printer

zwie0005
New Here
Oct 04, 2012

Hi,
My name is Justin and i work for Desktop support for a company. Im currently having a issue with
installing  a PDF printer, we install Adobe Writer 9 Pro through the network using advertised
programs on Win XP. Whenever i install the application it does not seem to automatically install a
PDF printer on my pritner list. When i attempt to manually add it i get through all the steps
sucessfully, however upon clicking finish, it then opens a directory box which wants me to point it
somewhere, when i click cancel it then says something about inserting disk. Where i work discs are
dissallowed, can anyone tell me where it wants me to point it or any potential workaround that i
would not have to specify a path? My assumption is that it wants something from system 32 or
adobe's program files but it does not specify.
Thanks

TOPICS

Install update and subscribe to Acrobat

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2 Correct Answers
Rave
Adobe Employee

Oct 04, 2012
 Adobe
Please noteSupport
that theCommunity Searchfunctionality
Adobe PDF Printer Sign In
this commun to create PDF files  is only available with Adobe

Acrobat (paid version), and not with Adobe Reader (free version).Solution 1Repair the Acrobat
installation using the option in the Help menu.Solution 2Uninstall and then re-install Acrobat on your
Windows OS.Solution 3Manually install the PDF Printer Click Start >  Control Panel > Devices and
Printers Select Add a printer Select Add a local printer Check Use an existing port and select
Document...
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AnandSri
Adobe Employee

Jul 09, 2019

Hi,You may take help from the following updated Adobe article
Adobe PDF printer is missing | Manually install PDF printerThanks,Anand Sri.
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Rave
Adobe Employee
Oct 04, 2012

Please note that the Adobe PDF Printer functionality to create PDF files  is only available with Adobe Acrobat (paid version), and

not with Adobe Reader (free version).

Solution 1

Repair the Acrobat installation using the option in the Help menu.

Solution 2

Uninstall and then re-install Acrobat on your Windows OS.

Solution 3

Manually install the PDF Printer

Click Start >  Control Panel > Devices and Printers

Select Add a printer
Select Add a local printer
 Check Use an existing port and select Documents\*.pdf (Adobe PDF) from the drop down. 
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Click Next
Click the Have Disk… button
Click the Browse… button
Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 10.0\Acrobat\Xtras\AdobePDF
Select AdobePDF.inf from the list, then click the OK button
You will see many Adobe PDF Converters in the list, however count six down from the top
and click Next (you may need to try this numerous times to find the correct Converter from
the list that works with your version of Windows)

Name your printer, e.g. Adobe PDF

Follow the rest of the prompts and your PDF printer should now be installed correctly
If you are later prompted for the ADPDF9.PPD file, it can be found in the C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat

10.0\Acrobat\Xtras\AdobePDF\<OS version> folders.

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Harron_K__Appleman
Guide
Oct 26, 2012

Thank you very much for that, Rave -- especially the manual install procedure. Very
helpful.

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Cookie0003
Community Beginner
Jan 07, 2013

Hi Rave ~~
I also am having problems with my PDF Printer. It worked fine for years, then a few
months ago it disappeared from the printer list and now I can't print to PDF. I tried your
Solution 3, Mannually Install PDF Printer, as described above but my file structure for
Acrobat 6.0 doesn't look like what you described for Acrobat 10.0.
In Step 4, after checking 'Use an existing port', there is no 'Documents\*.pdf' to select
from the drop down.
In Step 7, there is no path on my c drive called C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat
6.0\Acrobat\Xtras
 I searched my entire harddrive and backup drive for a file named, AdobePDF.inf. There
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isn't one on there.
Can you send me the installation procedure that will work with Acrobat 6.0? I would be
so grateful. I am unable to use Solution 1 or 2 as my source disk is packed in one of a
garage full of boxes.
I am using a Dell XPS running Windows XP SP3. I usually use FireFox 17.0.1 browser, but
occasionally use IE 8.0.6001.
All updates are current.

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Bill12
LEGEND
Nov 12, 2014

You should be able to open Acrobat and go to Help>Detect and Repair. For updates
you will have to access them from ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/acrobat/.

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TdeV1
Engaged
Aug 14, 2013

How does this change for Version 11?

Note: I don't particularly want Adobe *.pdf to end up in
\Desktop or
\Documents
so can I just type in a directory of my own choosing?
Thanks.

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Bill12
LEGEND
Nov 12, 2014

Just check in the properties of the Adobe PDF printer and you can check to always ask
where to create the PDF.

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 mac817
New Here
Adobe Support
Nov 12,Community
2014 Search this commun Sign In

Can you please help me install adobe as a printer for windows 8. I have adobe 11.1.
Thanks

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Bill12
LEGEND
Nov 12, 2014

My guess is you have Reader 11.1, not Acrobat. If you have Acrobat 11.0.09 the printer
should automatically be installed. Reader does not include the print driver, the latter
simply being a PS printer driver. To get PDFs you also need Distiller that is part of the
Acrobat release.

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lucianom71444975
New Here
May 05, 2016

Please! I need to know how do it ( Manual install ) on Mac! ( El Captain )

I need " Print as Adobe PDF" in my preferences in Illustrator and photoshop but my
Virtual Adobe Print are missing
I reinstall Acrobat DC but Adobe PDF virtual print don't install!

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Tito Matheus
New Here
Oct 19, 2016

I have same problem in macOS Sierra (10.12.1). When install Acrobat DC, the "Adobe
PDF" printer don't install on my mac preferences. I need them for make a booklet
build on Indesign. (work with .ps and distyler after is very boring).
Have any way to install PDF Printer manually?

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MeenakshiNegi
Adobe Employee
Oct 19, 2016
 Hi Support
Adobe TitoMatheus,
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It is not possible as Adobe PDF printer is not available on Mac anymore. Please refer
this link to create Adobe PDF on Mac: Can't print PDF files on Mac OS X 10.6 to OS X
10.8
Regards,
Meenakshi

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petert32936811
New Here
May 25, 2017

Hi,
I'm having an issue installing the pdf printer driver on my computer. I tried the multiple
things that are stated above and nothing has worked. It seems when I did the windows
update my printer spool stooped working, so I had to uninstall and re-install all the
printer drivers. I have adobe cs6 and when I go to print settings, the print to pdf driver
would appear, now it does not. Any help would be much appreciated. 
-Al

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jmk909er
New Here
Jan 20, 2015

I have tried to install as a printer and these are not options that I have. I am using Adobe Reader XI,
Windows 7, Firefox
When I follow this step: Use an existing port and select Documents\*.pdf (Adobe PDF) from the
drop down.  Click Next
this is not an option that I have.
If I manually try to: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat
10.0\Acrobat\Xtras\AdobePDF
This is not an option that I have either.
What I am trying to do is save a gmail as a PDF. From all my searches online it looks like I can do it
if I can install PDF as a printer but I don't see a way to do this. Is there a way?
Thanks, Joe
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jhmaidan
New Here
Feb 05, 2015

Joe - Did you ever get help on this? I just recently downloaded the free trial for Acrobat
Adobe Reader X1 and the PDF printer did not automatically install to my printers and I
can't figure out to add it. Please let me know if you figured it out

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RahulTyagi_
Adobe Employee
Feb 05, 2015

Hey Jhmaidan,
As suggested By Rave, Adobe PDF Printer functionality to create PDF files is only available with Adobe
Acrobat (paid version), and not with Adobe Reader (free version).

Regards,

Rahul

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Bill12
LEGEND
Jul 22, 2015

Do you have Acrobat installed? The printer is part of Acrobat and Acrobat is required to
install the printer.

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billt13375411
Community Beginner
Mar 24, 2015
Using Windows 7 Pro
Adobe Support 64 bit trying toSearch
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pdf using print option. Pay for ability to create them
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but shouldn't need the subscription to do so.
"Use an existing port and select Documents\*.pdf (Adobe PDF) from the drop down.  Click
Next" --- Doesn't exist
"Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 10.0\Acrobat\Xtras\AdobePDF" ---
Doesn't exist
Any help greatly appreciated

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melisad37117138
New Here
May 07, 2015

I though that as well, but each slash / is a new file to open, First:Program Files (x86), then click
open: Adobe then click open: Acrobat 10.0\ and so on, you will find each step works accordingly.

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jr12fuller
New Here
May 11, 2015

I am using Windows 8.1.

When I get to this:
"Check Use an existing port and select Documents\*.pdf (Adobe PDF) from the
drop down.  Click Next"
There is no Adobe option to select.  How should I proceed?
Thanks,

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dnemeth01
New Here
Sep 21, 2015

Same here.  I have a new Windows 8 machine and cannot get files to print to PDF no
matter what I try.

None of the above thread works.

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melisad37117138
New Here
May 07, 2015

This worked to a tee

thank you!

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arlap14630015
New Here
Jan 14, 2016

Thank-you.  It worked like a charm, I have Adobe Acrobat 11 / Windows 8 and it was the first driver
on the list. 

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antoinea88979892
New Here
May 28, 2016

I already did that without your help.

The printer should not have disappeared in the first place.
It happened after an Adobe update. Probably a bug from your side.
Such a waste of time.

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kd6kfa
New Here
Jun 05, 2017
 Adobe
I have Adobe Support
Acrobat Community
8 Professional. It does everything need it to do so have no reason to upgrade. The only exceptionSign
Search this Icommun In
is that
the Adobe PDF Creator printer does not show up in my list of printers (I have Win 8.1). If I use Word, I can save to PDF, but
when using WordPerfect (v.X5), the built-in only saves the single page showing. So, I need to be able to "print" to PDF. Since the
Adobe PDF Creator is not on the list of printers, I can't do that. I have followed the instructions in the "correct" answer, though
there are 5 (not 6) Adobe PDF Converters listed under the Adobe manufacturer. In my case,
AdobePDF.inf is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\Xtras\AdobePDF. I
choose "replace the current driver". I get "unable to install printer. Double check the printer name
and make sure that the printer is connected to the network". If I "use the driver that is currently
installed, I get the same problem. I tried all five converters. What next?

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