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A
amitbarkan73
Participant
October 11, 2010
Answered

printing a pdf file prints to prn instead of printer

  • October 11, 2010
  • 10 replies
  • 228379 views

Hello,

When I open a PDF file and try to print, it prints to prn file and saves the file to desktop. Even though the correct printer is selected. If I right-click on the file and say print, it goes to the printer, but then i can't chose pages, it prints the whole document.

This only happened recently and until then it was printing fine, nothing that I know of changed.

any help?

thank you.

    Correct answer Bernd Alheit

    In the print dialog disable the entry 'Print to file'.

    10 replies

    D
    danny_daniel_5234
    Participant
    March 21, 2025

    Gracias. Solucionado el problema

    S_S
    Community Manager
    S_SCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    April 23, 2025

    Hi @danny_daniel_5234,

     

    Hope you are doing well.

     

    Thanks for sharing about what worked for you.

    Please feel free to add your upvote to the solution that worked. This helps future users to get the solution quicker through searches.


    Regards,
    Souvik.

    D
    defaultii9gvwa7qs86
    Participant
    December 18, 2020

    Yes, that works... But being a C, C++, C# , html/css/jscript coder myself, who has done UI work, I didn't have any patience with a UI that would assume by default that when I select "print" that I would want it sent to a file.Not at all my idea of intuitive.

    But as acrobat dc is free and other pdf apps are also free and available, there was "no harm, no foul" to anyone.

    P
    Peter5EFA
    Participant
    October 2, 2020

    Thanks...  Saved my problem too!  But be sure to click on the "Advanced" button first!

    S
    simonwadey
    Participant
    January 26, 2020

    I have a HP printer and the print to file check box was un-checked so I removed the printer and then reinstalled it and problem solved dosent try to save as PRN any more.

    F
    Fahadd dipto
    Participant
    January 13, 2020

    I am facing also same issue..now its working..:)

     

    T
    TamerO
    Participant
    November 17, 2019

    Thank you. The inconvenienve solved out.

    A
    Anonymous
    August 16, 2019

    If "print to file" is unchecked and it's still printing to a PRN file, and even other programs are doing it, then check your printer port. The printer I was using was set to use a FILE port. Changing it back to the original WSD or TCPIP or USB port will fix it.

      K
      kevinrocks7777
      Participant
      March 8, 2020

      This did it for me. Printers and scanners >click your printer > Manage > Printer properties > ports tab > wsd

        W
        wayneb57837305
        Participant
        June 21, 2020

        Worked for me as well.  I didn't have the manage option but after going into advanced, ports, I was able to change it from Print to File to wsd, thanks again1

        A
        Anonymous
        January 17, 2016

        nevermind I found it it works..........

          A
          Anonymous
          January 17, 2016

          That solution does not work for me.  There is not print to file in my HP print dialog file

            Bernd Alheit
            Community Expert
            Bernd AlheitCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
            Community Expert
            October 11, 2010

            In the print dialog disable the entry 'Print to file'.

              buknoyrpg
              buknoyrpg
              Participant
              September 28, 2017

              please do help me, i have my hp printer and i could not print pdf file. every time i tried to print it automatically save as to desktop, please do give me a solution.thanks

              Nardush73
              Nardush73
              Participant
              July 20, 2018

              A solution was given earlier in this thread... In case you missed it: Go to the printer properties and tick-off the "Print to file" box.


              I have a canon and it's automatically printing to file, even when checkbox is unchecked.

              I removed the printer, reinstalled - and it keeps happening.

              Any ideas?

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