How to Print to PDF in Windows 11/10 without using any software

Windows 11/10 allows you to Print to PDF natively, using Microsoft Print to PDF, which is built into Windows 11 and Windows 10. Now, you no longer need to use any third-party software to print files to PDF. In this article, we will show you how to print to PDF in Windows 11/10 without using any software.

Print to PDF without any software

Microsoft Print to PDF in Windows 11/10

Microsoft Print to PDF is a feature, built into Windows 11/10, that lets you create a PDF file from several file formats. If you do not have a printer, you can still use this feature to save your files into PDF format, so you can print them later.

microsoft print to pdf windows 10

If you right-click on a file and select Print, you will see Microsoft Print to PDF as one of the print options available. Select that option and click on the Print button. Windows will save your file in PDF format.

If you do not find this option, it might be disabled on your system by mistake.

microsoft print to pdf windows 10

To verify this, Open Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners. Here, under Printers, you will see Microsoft Print to PDF.

Microsoft Print to PDF Windows 11

If you are a Windows 11 user, open your system Settings and go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. See if the Microsoft Print to PDF is available there. If you do not see this feature there, it is disabled and you have to enable it in order to use it.

Microsoft Print to PDF missing

If the Microsoft Print to PDF feature is missing or not available on your system, you can enable it through the following steps:

Windows Features in Control Panel

  1. Open the Control Panel.
  2. Select the View by mode to Category.
  3. Select Programs > Programs and Features.
  4. Now, click on the Turn Windows features on or off link on the left side.

Alternatively, you can also search for Windows Features in Windows 11/10 Search and select the Turn Windows features on or off option from the search results.

microsoft print to pdf windows 10 2

When the Windows Features window appears on your screen, look for the Microsoft Print to PDF feature. Make sure that its checkbox is selected. If not, select the checkbox and click OK.

You may have to restart your Windows 11/10 computer after enabling this feature through the Windows Features.

Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF

If the Microsoft Print to PDF feature is not working, uninstalling and reinstalling it can fix the issue. For this, you can use the following instructions:

Remove Microsoft Print to PDF

Open the Printers & scanners page in Windows 11/10 Settings and select the Microsoft Print to PDF option. Now, click Remove. Restart your computer and then open the Windows Features screen. You will find the Print to PDF checkbox deselected. Select it and click OK. Windows will search for the required files and then install this feature. You may have to restart your computer again after the installation is finished.

Make Microsoft Print to PDF as default on Windows 11

You can also make this feature as default on your Windows 11 computer. The following instructions will help you with that:

Set Microsoft Print to PDF as default

  1. Open Windows 11 Settings.
  2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
  3. Select Microsoft Print to PDF and click on the Set as default button.

If you do not see the Set as default button, turn off the Let Windows manage my default printer option under Printer preferences on the Printers & scanners page.

Hope this helps!

How do I print to PDF without Adobe?

Windows 11/10 has a built-in feature, called Microsoft Print to PDF. You can use this feature to save your files in PDF format. After saving the files to PDF format, you can easily print them. This feature is available in Settings on the Bluetooth & devices page.

How to enable Print to PDF in Windows 10?

By default, Microsoft Print to PDF is installed on Windows 11/10. If it is installed on your system, there is no need to enable it. You can also make this feature as the default on your system. However, if this feature is not available on your system, you have to install it to enable it. You can install it through Windows Features.

This post will help you if you ever need to cancel a jammed or stuck Print Job queue.

Updated on May 9, 2024 Tags: PDF, Printer

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AnandK@TWC

Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, a 10-year Microsoft MVP (2006-16) & a Windows Insider MVP (2016-2022). Please read the entire post & the comments first, create a System Restore Point before making any changes to your system & be careful about any 3rd-party offers while installing freeware.