In the evolving digital landscape, the ability to convert documents into PDFs is indispensable. Over the years, Windows has ingeniously introduced a virtual printer that lets users transform any page into a PDF-compatible document. This tool is especially beneficial for those without physical printers, as it offers a quick and convenient way to save documents in the universally accessible PDF format. Leveraging the “Print to PDF” feature available in the Windows Print menu, users can effortlessly transform conventional Word files or other text-based documents into PDFs. If you find yourself with oversized PDF files, tools like PDF Compressor come to the rescue, making files more manageable. Undoubtedly, Windows 11, with its myriad of enhancements and novel features, presents a blend of excitement and slight challenges for its user base. However, if you ever find yourself in a situation where the Microsoft Print to PDF printer has been inadvertently deleted or is missing from Windows 11, worry not. By executing a few simple commands, you can seamlessly reinstall it on your PC or laptop. Through this risewindows guide, we’ll walk you through the process of reinstalling the Microsoft Print to PDF feature on Windows 11.
How to Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF printer on Windows 11?
Follow these steps to reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF printer on Windows 11:-
Step 1. First, open Command Prompt with administrator rights.
For that, click on the Start button on the Taskbar and then type Command Prompt in the search box. Right-click on the Command Prompt in the search results and select the Run as administrator option.
Step 2. In the elevated command prompt window, type the following and hit Enter from the keyboard to stop the print spooler service:-
net stop spooler
Step 3. Then execute the following command to uninstall or disable the PDF printer feature:-
dism /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart
Step 4. After that, the above command will remove the Microsoft Print to PDF from your Windows 11 PC. Next, copy and paste the following text on the command prompt window and hit Enter from the keyboard to reinstall it on your PC:-
dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart
Step 5. Finally, you have reinstalled Microsoft Print to PDF printer on your PC. Then, it’s time to start the print spooler service. Without this service, you can’t print any document virtually or physically. For that, copy and paste the following texts in the Command Prompt and then hit Enter from the keyboard to execute the command:-
net start spooler
After completing all the steps, Microsoft Print to PDF printer will appear in your printer list. You can use this printer to print any document as a PDF. Just press Ctrl + P from the keyboard, select Microsoft Print to PDF printer from the list, and then click on the Save button to get the desired document in a PDF file.
Also Read: How to Enable Auto Lock on Windows 11/10 PC for All Users after Inactivity?
Conclusion
The Microsoft Print to PDF feature is an essential tool for Windows users, allowing easy conversion of documents into the universally accepted PDF format. If you find this feature missing from your Windows 11, the above guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough to reinstall the Microsoft Print to PDF printer. By following these steps, you can swiftly restore this useful function and continue transforming your documents into PDFs.
