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mxbsst
mxbsst
Participant
May 25, 2026
Answered

Converting word.docx file to PDF with lossless image compression on MacOS 2026

  • May 25, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 101 views

Hi all,

 

I have the following problem. I want to convert my thesis, a word '.docx' file, to PDF without loss of image quality. Unfortunately, I have not found a way to do so (without losing the cross-references links). I have Microsoft 365 on MacOS Tahoe 26.4. Additionally, I also have access to Acrobat Pro, as well as to a windows PC if really necessary (i.e., if only a windows solution is available). The images themselves are high quality inside word, but the problem only occurs upon conversion to PDF. I have already tried several solutions/settings suggested online, such as:

  • Save as PDF in Mac printer menu (→ loss of cross-references)

  • High fidelity + do not compress is selected in word settings → still loss of quality

  • I have tried Acrobat PDF conversion online → loss of quality

  • I have tried Acrobat PDF conversion on Mac → loss of quality

  • I have tried LibreOffice export → loss of cross-references and formatting issues

If you have any suggestions, please let me know; I am desperately in need for a solution!

 

Best,

Max

    Correct answer Anand Sri Bhattacharya

    Hello @Max,


    I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out. We're sorry for the trouble you had.


    Recommended workflow (Windows PC + Word + Acrobat Pro):

    Copy the thesis .docx to the Windows PC. Install Acrobat Pro on it (your existing subscription/license should activate on a second machine, please confirm in your account at https://adobe.ly/3RthcRX).

    Open the file in Word for Windows. Confirm the Acrobat tab is visible in the ribbon. If it's missing: File> Options> Add-ins → Manage: COM Add-ins> Go… and tick Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin.

    Also, please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: Version: 26.001.21563. Planned update, May 18, 2026. Check for any pending updates by navigating to Menu > Help> Check for Updates. Install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and try again. And the latest version of the Office suite.

    On the Acrobat ribbon, click Preferences. In the Settings tab:

    • Conversion Settings: choose Press Quality (this preset embeds full-resolution images at 300 ppi without lossy JPEG downsampling for typical document content) or High Quality Print for a smaller file.

    • For truly lossless images, click Advanced Settings> Images panel and, for Color Bitmap Images and Grayscale Bitmap Images, uncheck Downsample and set Compression to ZIP (lossless). Save as a new preset (e.g. "Thesis - Lossless"). It will save to C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe PDF\Settings\ and become selectable in the Preferences dialog.

    • Tick Create Bookmarks, Add Links, and Enable Accessibility and Reflow with tagged Adobe PDF.

    • Please note that these steps may vary depending on the OS, version of the app, and the Office suite.

    • Switch to the Word tab in the same Preferences dialog and tick Convert cross-references and table of contents to links plus Convert Word Bookmarks. Click OK.

    • Back in the Acrobat ribbon, click Create PDF. Save and verify: bookmarks panel populated, all cross-references clickable, images sharp at zoom.


    I hope this helps, and let us know how it goes.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.

    3 replies

    lifebylinda
    lifebylinda
    Participating Frequently
    June 16, 2026

    Hi, 

    i have in MS Word in the Acrobat ribbon no “Preferences” or “Settings” Tab

     

     

    T
    Community Manager
    Tariq Ahmad DarCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    June 16, 2026

    Hi ​@lifebylinda 

     

    Thank you for sharing the screenshot. Looking at your Acrobat tab in Word, the ribbon is showing only two options without the full PDFMaker toolbar including Preferences. On Windows this typically means the full PDFMaker COM add-in has not loaded correctly.

     

    Please try the following to restore the full toolbar:

    In Word go to File > Options > Add-Ins. At the bottom where it says Manage, select COM Add-Ins and click Go. Look for Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin and make sure it is checked. Click OK, restart Word and check whether the full Acrobat ribbon now appears with the Preferences option.

    If the add-in is listed as inactive or disabled, please also check under Disabled Items in the same Add-Ins menu and re-enable it from there.

    Please let us know what you see and we will take it from there. If possible, share screenshots. 

    ~Tariq

    lifebylinda
    lifebylinda
    Participating Frequently
    June 16, 2026

    Hi Tareq,

    yes, it is activated. See on the screenshot. i also tried to disable it and activate it again. But the result is the same. i have only these 2 opinions after activating.

     

     

      mxbsst
      mxbsstAuthor
      Participant
      May 26, 2026

      Hi,

       

      Thank you. The weird thing is, it only happens to Helvetica regular and not to bold, light, oblique etc.

      Anand Sri Bhattacharya
      Community Manager
      Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      May 26, 2026

      Try replacing the fonts and check. Let us know how it goes.

      ~Anand Sri.

      Anand Sri Bhattacharya
      Community Manager
      Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
      Community Manager
      May 25, 2026

      Hello @Max,


      I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out. We're sorry for the trouble you had.


      Recommended workflow (Windows PC + Word + Acrobat Pro):

      Copy the thesis .docx to the Windows PC. Install Acrobat Pro on it (your existing subscription/license should activate on a second machine, please confirm in your account at https://adobe.ly/3RthcRX).

      Open the file in Word for Windows. Confirm the Acrobat tab is visible in the ribbon. If it's missing: File> Options> Add-ins → Manage: COM Add-ins> Go… and tick Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin.

      Also, please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: Version: 26.001.21563. Planned update, May 18, 2026. Check for any pending updates by navigating to Menu > Help> Check for Updates. Install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and try again. And the latest version of the Office suite.

      On the Acrobat ribbon, click Preferences. In the Settings tab:

      • Conversion Settings: choose Press Quality (this preset embeds full-resolution images at 300 ppi without lossy JPEG downsampling for typical document content) or High Quality Print for a smaller file.

      • For truly lossless images, click Advanced Settings> Images panel and, for Color Bitmap Images and Grayscale Bitmap Images, uncheck Downsample and set Compression to ZIP (lossless). Save as a new preset (e.g. "Thesis - Lossless"). It will save to C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe PDF\Settings\ and become selectable in the Preferences dialog.

      • Tick Create Bookmarks, Add Links, and Enable Accessibility and Reflow with tagged Adobe PDF.

      • Please note that these steps may vary depending on the OS, version of the app, and the Office suite.

      • Switch to the Word tab in the same Preferences dialog and tick Convert cross-references and table of contents to links plus Convert Word Bookmarks. Click OK.

      • Back in the Acrobat ribbon, click Create PDF. Save and verify: bookmarks panel populated, all cross-references clickable, images sharp at zoom.


      I hope this helps, and let us know how it goes.

      Regards,

      Anand Sri.

      mxbsst
      mxbsstAuthor
      Participant
      May 26, 2026

      Hi, this worked to preserve image quality. However, I now have the problem that my font (Helvetica) is turned into random letter jibberish. So all my text is unreadable.

      Anand Sri Bhattacharya
      Community Manager
      Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      May 26, 2026

      Hi @Max,

       

      Glad the image fix worked! The gibberish text you're now seeing is a font‑substitution issue. Please note that Helvetica is a Linotype/Monotype-licensed font that ships as a system font on macOS, but it is not bundled with Windows, not part of Microsoft Office, and not included in Adobe Fonts (Creative Cloud).

       

      Suggestions:

       

      Verify font embedding in the output PDF. Once the new PDF is generated, in Acrobat Pro: 

       

      Let us know how it goes.

      Regards,

      Anand Sri.

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