PDF prints as gibberish characters or grey blocks
Classic. The driver cannot render the font, or the PDF uses fonts it didn't embed.
Try this first
- 1Open the PDF in Acrobat Reader, not in the browser. At print: 'Advanced' > tick 'Print as image'. Slower but works almost always.
- 2No luck? Ctrl+P and pick 'Microsoft Print to PDF' to re-save the file. Then print the new one.
- 3Stubborn? Open in Chrome or Edge and print from the browser. Different render engine, different outcome.
- 4Form PDF? Save as 'Flattened' so fields become static text and the printer treats it normally.
When to bring us in
Happens with every PDF? The driver or PDF reader has an issue. Fifteen minutes of diagnosis usually fixes it.
See also
- Printer suddenly not foundFor everyone at once: print server or network. For one person: local Windows driver or expired authorisation.
- Print job stuck in queue, nothing happensA stuck queue blocks all subsequent prints. Cleaning takes two minutes.
- Scanner no longer sends emails (scan-to-email)Almost always: the account the scanner uses had its password expire, or the mail provider blocks old protocols.
None of the above fits?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.