One of the more common reasons a PDF fails to print is that it is too large for the printer to handle. If a PDF will not print, check its file size. File sizes that are too large can lock up the printer's memory, causing the printer to freeze and the job to become “stuck.”
The following is a simple way to fix this issue using Adobe Acrobat:
- Open the pdf that will not print with Adobe Acrobat
- Click on the File menu
- Select Save as Other → Reduced Size PDF...
- From the Make Compatible With menu, choose Retain Existing
- Save the file
The file should now be small enough to pass through the printer without issue.
Why does this happen?
Printers store print jobs locally before printing them. The memory space that printers have available for this is relatively small and is used for every job the printer receives. Printers are designed to flush this memory periodically, but this is not reliable.
Before printing, the printer waits for the job to download completely. When this cannot happen due to a lack of sufficient storage space, the print job in question becomes "stuck."
I want to learn more
More information on reducing PDF sizes (including how to fine-tune the adjustments to suit your needs) can be found at this link: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/optimizing-pdfs-acrobat-pro.html