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Participant
October 22, 2025
Question

Unable to print color pdfs

  • October 22, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 150 views

I have done everything I can to try and fix this problem, including uninstalling and reinstalling Acrobat and nothing is working. I cannot print color pdfs. They always print in grayscale/black and white. I've checked whatever settings I can find, printed as image, you name it...still the same thing. I'm using Windows 11 Home and an HP printer. I'm so incredibly frustrated!

2 replies

Brad @ Roaring Mouse
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 24, 2025

What is you System? and printer model?

Did you also check your Printer's settings? These would override anything your set in Acrobat. 

Legend
October 24, 2025

Hi @Karen_Collins2848

 

Thanks for reaching out. 

Let us try a couple of things:

1. Please ensure your copy of Adobe Acrobat is updated. To check for any pending updates, launch Acrobat > Help > Check For Updates.

2. Create a PDF using Acrobat using a Picture, save it, and then try printing. Check if it prints the Grey scale. 

3. Open the same PDF in Google Chrome or another browser, and print, check how it prints

4. If printing from Acrobat and the browser prints in grayscale, check with your IT; they may have set printing to grayscale. 

5. If it is a personal machine that prints only the grey scale in Acrobat, let us know. 

 

Also, check the logs:

  1. Diagnostic logs: 
    Acrobat diagnostic logs (via Help > Collect Logs).
    • If you can't see the option, launch Acrobat > Help > Preferences 
    • Mac > Acrobat Preference.
    • General > Enable Troubleshooting, Click Ok. 
    • Try again.
  2. Launch Acrobat, reproduce the issue with your file.
  3. Once done, click Stop Monitoring.
  4. Copy the Log ID and share it with us.
  5. Also, let us know the version of Acrobat you are using: https://adobe.ly/4qpqUBQ

  6.  

    Name of the OS and version. 



Best regards,
Tariq | Adobe Community Team