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rpuentesa
Participant
Jun 6, 2013 12:56 PM UTC
Answered

Printing a pdf opens "save as" instead.

I have never had this happen, but whenever I attempt to print a pdf, it opens a "save as" box instead.  So I've saved the pdf to my desktop, but after it's opened again I select print and the same "save as" box pops up again.  The ONLY way I've been able to print is by right-clicking the pdf file from my desktop.  Only then does it actually print.

I'm using Adobe X Reader (version 10.1.7).  Why doesn't it allow me to print a pdf when the app is open?

    Brave_friends4152Correct answer
    Participant
    Sep 29, 2025 11:32 PM UTC

    Had same problem but no box to uncheck in dialogue box, it was Microsoft Edge causing the issue. Had to delete MS Edge as default printing browser and change to Chrome. Microsoft Edge sucks, tries to hijack everything 

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    41 replies

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    Shertonia5EB6
    Participant
    Apr 15, 2021 10:41 PM UTC

    I have this same issue and my print to file is not checked.

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      Ledell5C9E
      Participant
      Jul 13, 2021 4:00 AM UTC

      Mine just starting doing the same thing this morning, was fine yesterday now its rubbish. I even uninstalled and reloaded my Acrobat DC Pro and still the same issue of asking me to save the file. My "print to file"box is unchecked as is the "print to image". I have tried printing with the image box ticked as suggested somewhere along the line and still nothing. Who has time to save every file everytime you want to print, this is ridicualous. Even the help desk chat person was useless in any help. 

       

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        Bernd Alheit
        Community Expert
        Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        Jul 13, 2021 5:03 AM UTC

        What happens when you use Acrobat Reader DC?

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        defaulttl1ok9k9tkin
        Participant
        Feb 22, 2021 5:59 PM UTC

        This was happening to me when I did Save As from Chrome.

         

        From Chrome go to Settings under the Hamburger menu
        Advanced
        Site Settings
        Additional Content Settings
        PDF Documents
        Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome - Turn ON

         

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        MaryinOttawa
        Participant
        Feb 23, 2021 8:14 PM UTC
        I have one question for you. What is the hamburger menu?

        Just curious.
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        defaulttl1ok9k9tkin
        Participant
        Feb 23, 2021 8:37 PM UTC
        Websites use three lines as a menu, quite often on mobile devices. Chrome uses 3 dots in the top right corner next to your profile picture. Both are commonly referred to as a hamburger menu. I've pasted in a small pic below, not sure if it will be posted in the reply.

        [cid:57846637-f770-4673-954b-55437094ef1b]
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        Teresa5C91
        Participant
        Jan 28, 2021 7:40 PM UTC

        Nope - this did not fix the problem at all 😞   

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          Edwin98A5
          Participant
          Jan 6, 2021 9:37 PM UTC

          None of those suggestions work.

          There is no, Print to File option.

          What else can I do??

          Thanks.

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            John262641105ay8
            Participant
            Sep 23, 2022 5:56 PM UTC

            Go File-Print and hit "Advanced" option - I found Print to File Box there and was able to uncheck it.

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            Richelle264290849lyt
            Participant
            Mar 27, 2024 9:26 PM UTC

            Thank you!  This works!

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            Anonymous
            Nov 18, 2020 2:51 AM UTC

            THANK YOU Bernd Alheit!  I got a new printer and everything was so easy up until the point when it sent me to "Save as" . . .  One hour of surfing the internet and looking at different forums and I still couldn't fix my problem.  Then I found your thread and your easy fix worked.  OMG finally peace for me. Thanks again SO MUCH.  🙂  Kathy

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            abusman
            Participant
            Jul 10, 2020 11:44 PM UTC

            some people dont have the option for print to file.

            I found my own way, I hope it works for you guys.

            step 1: go to print page  [File->Print or command-p (mac) or control p (windows)]

            step 2: hover over to destination and choose your printer name.

                           If you do not see your printer name, then click see more options. then choose your printer name

            step 3: Print

            My pdf files open up on google chrome on windows 10. so this might or might not work for you. but it did for me. 

             

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              daniel0D4C
              Participant
              Sep 7, 2020 7:33 AM UTC

              NICE ONE, SOMETIME I JUST OVERLOOK CHEKING THE OBVIOUS....

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              Bernd Alheit
              Community Expert
              Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              Jun 6, 2013 3:22 PM UTC

              In the print dialog disable the entry "Print to File".

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                Redruthd
                Participant
                Jun 6, 2013 3:55 PM UTC

                You're amazing, thank you, all fixed, who would have thought it was so easy, I'm sure this i something I enabled myself without meaning to, and without knowing that option exists it's almost impossible to fix, so simple, but such an enormous help, thank you for taking the time to read the posts and reply!

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                Redruthd
                Participant
                Jun 6, 2013 1:47 PM UTC

                I have exactly the same issue, have had for months, had new printer in meantime, this has not helped. Don't mind printing from the file, except that it doesn't give you the option for b+w printing to save on coloured ink, which is a pain for things like boarding passes, which are usually very colourful!

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