Adobe PDF not populating in available Printers (Windows 11)

Report · Jun 11, 2025

I'm unsatisfied with the available printer options for the native Windows Print to PDF.

-Hence, the need for Adobe PDF in the Printers.

After installing Acrobat v2025.001.20531 I checked the Printers list and Adobe PDF wasn't listed in the drop-down menu of available Printers.

This, the only support page on the subject, offers no explaination:

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/print-to-pdf.html

This YouTube video from a year ago offers a fix:
https://youtu.be/AM6zjo2Fiks?si=qhwlY0chEmKavBoi

But, neither of the video's suggestions (to run Acrobat Repair Installation and to manually install the Printer). At the 1:34 timestamp, the exisiting Port didn't include either of the Adobe PDF ports listed.

Thanks for your help!

Report · Jun 11, 2025

Hello @corey5EE9!

I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out.

The Adobe PDF printer is only available in Acrobat Pro or Standard, not in the free Reader. Also, the printer may not appear if the installation was customized or if certain components were skipped, or the Adobe PDF Printer may not install automatically, particularly if permissions, security software, or GPOs block it.

If you have feedback to share, you can use the Adobe Wish form to file a feature request directly with the product team.

Manually Add the Adobe PDF Printer:

Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Click Add a printer
Choose The printer that I want isn’t listed
Select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings
Use the port Documents\*.pdf (Adobe PDF) or create a new port
Choose Adobe PDF Converter from the list (under Manufacturer: Adobe)
Complete the wizard and name it “Adobe PDF.”

If Documents\*.pdf or other Adobe ports are missing, you can create a new port:

Select “Create a new port” → “Local Port”

Enter: Documents\*.pdf

Then follow the driver path above using AdobePDF.inf

Please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.20531 (Win) | 25.001.20529 (Mac), planned update June 10, 2025. Check for any pending updates from the Menu > help > check for updates, install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and try again.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

Anand Sri,

Report · Dec 04, 2025

Hello Anand,
I am having this same issue and I just read your suggestion. When I enter in Documnets\*.pdf for local port name, I can the error message: "The system cannot find the path specified."

Also when you refernece "Then follow the driver path aboce using AdobePDF.inf, what path are you referreing to? For 64-bit version of Adobe, I cannot locate the AdobePDF.inf file anywhere on the computer. Please advise on these 2 items. I am really stuck here and need to get Adobe PDF pritner installed and working. Thank you.

Report · Dec 12, 2025

Hello Troy49841

I hope you are doing well, and I am sorry for the trouble you had.

Please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.20997. Planned update: December 9, 2025. 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.

You’re trying to create a new port > Local Port and typing Documents\*.pdf. That string isn’t a valid filesystem path, so Windows throws “The system cannot find the path specified.” The Documents\*.pdf entry is meant to be selected from the “Use an existing port” dropdown, not typed as a new port.

Suggestion:

Devices & Printers > Add a printer > The printer that I want isn’t listed.
Select 'Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings'.
Select Use an existing port and pick Documents\*.pdf (Adobe PDF) from the list. (Do not create a new local port.)

If Documents\*.pdf (Adobe PDF) If it does not appear in the existing ports list, install the Adobe PDF Printer driver first (section 2 below), then return and repeat these steps.

Where is AdobePDF.inf on 64‑bit Acrobat?
On Windows 11, the Adobe PDF Printer driver files are installed by Acrobat under the Xtras folder. The AdobePDF.inf you need should be here: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat Beta\Acrobat\Xtras\AdobePDF

(In some environments, you may instead see it under C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat\<version>\Acrobat\Xtras\AdobePDF\ The INF remains in Xtras\AdobePDF even on 64‑bit systems.)

Add the printer with Have Disk:

Add a printer > Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
Use an existing port > pick Documents\*.pdf (Adobe PDF).
Click Have Disk… > Browse… to the Xtras\AdobePDF folder above.
Select AdobePDF.inf > OK.
You’ll see multiple Adobe PDF Converter entries; select the 6th one from the top (you may need to try another if Windows rejects it). Next, name it Adobe PDF and complete the process. Note that the options may differ according to your OS and environment.

If AdobePDF.inf is missing entirely, if you don’t find the Xtras\AdobePDF folder (or it’s empty), Acrobat likely didn’t lay down the printer driver. Close all Adobe applications, including Acrobat. Open the Task Manager and close all Adobe-related processes. Use the Acrobat Cleaner tool to remove the installed Acrobat, restart the machine, and install Acrobat.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

Report · Dec 15, 2025

Hello Anand,

Thank you for the reply and the suggestions. I have followed all the steps outlined including running the Adobe Cleaner and reinstalling. It appears that with the installtion of Adobe Acrobat version 25.001.20997 which is the version I currently have, it does not lay down the printer driver at all. AdobePDF.inf file is no where to be found on my comptuer.

This version installs the files to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat\Acrobat DC\Acrobat. There is no Xtras folder installed anywhere in this path. That folder simply does not exsist. Therefore, I cannont located the AdobePDF.inf file so I cannot install the driver. There is nothing referenceing Adobe in C\Program Files (x86) because I installed a 64-bit version of this software.

It seems as if Adobe changed something with this versoin which no longer allows for installing the Adobe PDF Printer. Can you please confirm or provide additional steps, if any to rectify this situation. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Troy

Report · Dec 16, 2025

Thank you for sharing the details. Please try the suggestion from this article, and let us know if that doesn't work: https://adobe.ly/3YuTQeV

Regards,

Anand sri.