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PDF Printing is Slow? Make it Faster in 5 Steps
Printing your PDF file as an image should fix this easily
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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The use of the PDF file format for transferring and saving documents is on the rise, thanks to its less susceptibility to data loss. However, things are not always straightforward, as some users complain that PDF is printing slowly.
This can be frustrating, as it wastes a lot of time for a usually fast process. Luckily, there are proven ways tospeed up printing on your PC, and we will show them to you in this guide.
Why are PDFs printing slowly?
Various factors can be responsible for slow PDF printing on Windows 10 and 11. Below are some of the potential causes:
How do I make my PDF print faster?
Below are some preliminary steps to apply before making changes to your PC in a bid to fix this issue:
If you still can’t fix the issue with the steps above, you can now proceed to the detailed solutions below:
1. Let the printer determine the color
If your PDF is printing slowly due to flattening, it might be because your printer is not in charge of color determination. You need to let your printer determine the color to improve your printing speed.
2. Print as an image
Adobe Acrobat has a feature that allows you to print your files as an image. This helps to speed up the printing process considerably and should fix the PDF printing slow on Adobe Reader issue.
3. Update/reinstall printer drivers
An outdated driver is one of the reasons PDF might be printing slowly on printers like HP LaserJet. Updating or reinstalling your drivers should restore normalcy in this case.
If the Windows driver updater cannot find the latest drivers, we recommend using a dedicated tool in Outbyte Driver Updater for the job. This tool will automatically scan and repair/update any faulty printer with little to no effort from you.
⇒Get Outbyte Driver Updater
4. Clear printing queue
If the printing queue is corrupt, your PDF files might print slowly. To fix this, you need to clear the printing queue and restart the required services.
5. Disable Postscript Passthrough
Another effective solution for the slow PDF printing issue is to disable the Postscript Passthrough feature on your printer. Note that this is not a universal solution and only works for printers that support only UPD PS drivers.
We have reached the end of this guide on how to fix the PDF printing slowly issue. With the information in this guide, you should now be able to fix the issue for good and improve your printing speed.
Similarly, ifPDF is not printing correctly on your PC, check our detailed guide to fix it.
Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.
More about the topics:PDF,Printer Errors
Ola-Hassan Bolaji
Windows Hardware Expert
A Computer Engineering graduate, he has spent most of his life reading and writing about computers.
He finds joy in simplifying complex topics into simple solutions for PC users. The quality of his work and providing step-wise tested and proven solutions to PC issues are all that matter to him.
Away from computers, he is either reading or watching football!
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Ola-Hassan Bolaji
Windows Hardware Expert
He’s a Computer Engineering graduate who has spent most of his life reading and writing about computers & operating systems.