Microsoft Print to PDF is already included with Windows 11 and Windows 10. You normally do not download a separate installer or printer driver. Instead, enable the Windows optional feature, then confirm that the virtual printer appears under Printers & scanners.
This guide covers the current Windows 11 and Windows 10 Settings paths, the classic Windows Features dialog, DISM and PowerShell commands, and recovery steps for cases where the feature is enabled but the printer is missing.
What “installing” Microsoft Print to PDF actually means
Microsoft Print to PDF is a built-in Windows optional feature. When enabled, Windows installs or registers the components required for a virtual printer that saves print output as a PDF file.
It is not normally a standalone printer package that you download from Microsoft’s website. Windows may retrieve optional-feature content through Windows Update, so the computer should be connected to the internet when you install it through Settings.
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The internal Windows feature name is:
Printing-PrintToPDFServices-FeaturesIts display name is Microsoft Print to PDF.
Install Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows 11
On current Windows 11 versions, use the Optional features page:
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Optional features.
- Under Add an optional feature, select View features.
- Search for Microsoft Print to PDF, or scroll through the list.
- Select the checkbox beside it.
- Select Next.
- Review the selected feature and select Add.
- Restart Windows if it requests a restart.
Windows may take a few minutes to download and apply the feature. Do not close Settings while the installation is still processing.
Open the Windows 11 page directly
If you cannot find Optional features, press Win + R, enter the following command, and press Enter:
ms-settings:optionalfeaturesSome older Windows 11 builds place Optional features under Settings > Apps instead of Settings > System. The labels can also differ slightly after a major Windows update.
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Install Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows 10
Windows 10 uses a different Settings layout:
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Select Optional features.
- Select Add a feature, or select the + button beside it.
- Find Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Select it, then choose Install or Add.
- Restart if Windows asks you to do so.
Depending on the Windows 10 build, the page may instead be at Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features.
Windows 10 support status: Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. An existing Windows 10 installation and Microsoft Print to PDF can continue to work, but Windows 10 no longer receives normal free security fixes, software updates, or technical support from Microsoft.
Use the Windows Features dialog
The classic Windows Features dialog is a useful fallback on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. It is also the quickest way to re-enable the feature if its checkbox is cleared.
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- Press Win + R.
- Type
optionalfeatures. - Press Enter.
- In the Windows Features window, locate Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Select its checkbox.
- Select OK.
- Restart Windows if prompted.
If the checkbox is already selected but the printer is missing, refresh the feature:
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- Open
optionalfeaturesagain. - Clear the Microsoft Print to PDF checkbox.
- Select OK and restart if requested.
- Open the Windows Features dialog again.
- Select Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Select OK, then restart if necessary.
This disables and re-enables the underlying Windows feature. It is more useful in this situation than repeatedly selecting Add device.
Enable or reinstall it with Command Prompt
Use this method when Settings does not list the feature or when the feature is selected but its printer registration appears to be broken.
- Open Start and search for Command Prompt.
- Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
- Run the disable command:
DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart- After the command finishes, run the enable command:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart- Restart Windows if DISM reports that a restart is required.
/Online targets the Windows installation currently running. /NoRestart prevents DISM from restarting the computer automatically; it does not guarantee that a restart is unnecessary.
Enable it with PowerShell
Windows PowerShell provides the same feature reset using Windows’ DISM PowerShell commands.
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- Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
- Run:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" -NoRestartThen run:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" -NoRestartRestart Windows when prompted or when the command reports that a restart is pending.
Check the feature state
To inspect whether Windows considers the feature enabled, run:
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Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features"The result shows the feature state and can indicate whether a restart is required. A feature state of Enabled does not always mean that the printer registration is currently visible, so verify the printer in Settings as well.
Confirm that Microsoft Print to PDF was added
After enabling the feature, check the installed printers:
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute| Windows version | Printer settings path |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners |
| Windows 10 | Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners |
Look for Microsoft Print to PDF. To test it:
- Open a document, image, or webpage.
- Press Ctrl + P, or open the application’s Print command.
- Select Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer.
- Select Print.
- Choose a folder and enter a PDF filename.
- Select Save.
If the printer appears in Settings but not in an application that was already open, close and reopen that application. Some applications do not refresh their printer list until they restart.
What to do if the feature is enabled but the printer is missing
First, restart Windows and check Printers & scanners again. If the printer is still absent, disable and re-enable the feature using the Windows Features dialog, DISM, or PowerShell as described above.
Only after refreshing the feature should you try the manual printer wizard:
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners on Windows 11, or Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners on Windows 10.
- Select Add device.
- Wait for Windows to finish searching.
- Select The printer that I want isn’t listed.
- Select Add a new device manually.
- Choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
- Select Use an existing port.
- Choose
PORTPROMPT:. - Choose Microsoft as the manufacturer.
- Select Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer.
- Complete the wizard.
If Microsoft Print to PDF is not in the driver list, select Windows Update on the driver-selection screen and wait for the list to refresh. This is a recovery workaround, not the normal installation method. The optional Windows feature should be enabled first.
Fix error 0x800F0922 during installation
Windows 11 24H2 had a documented Microsoft Print to PDF problem associated with update KB5055627. The printer could disappear, enabling the feature could fail with 0x800F0922, and the driver could fail to install in:
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C:WindowsSystem32DriverStoreFileRepositoryMicrosoft later addressed that Print to PDF issue with KB5060829. On an affected Windows 11 24H2 computer:
- Install the latest available Windows updates.
- Restart Windows.
- Try the Windows Features disable-and-enable procedure.
- If necessary, use the PowerShell commands shown earlier.
Do not assume that every 0x800F0922 error concerns Microsoft Print to PDF. Microsoft has also documented unrelated update failures with this code, including one caused by insufficient free space in the EFI System Partition. The error must be interpreted in context.
When Windows Update or company policy blocks installation
Optional features are Features on Demand. Windows may need to obtain their files through Windows Update. If Windows Update is disabled, blocked, or unable to reach Microsoft’s servers, the installation can fail even when the feature is listed.
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On ARM-based PCs, including some Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft recommends using Windows’ built-in printer installation workflow rather than printer-manufacturer installer programs. That warning concerns manufacturer installers; it does not mean Microsoft Print to PDF requires a separate ARM download.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common mistakes to avoid
- Searching for a standalone download: Microsoft Print to PDF is normally installed as a Windows optional feature.
- Using Device Manager: Device Manager is not the normal installation route for this built-in printer.
- Using the wrong Settings path: Windows 11 and Windows 10 use different layouts, and older builds may place Optional features elsewhere.
- Repeating Add device without refreshing the feature: If the feature is enabled but registration is broken, disable and re-enable it first.
- Testing in an open application: Close and reopen the application so it reloads the printer list.
- Assuming all 0x800F0922 errors have the same cause: The code can indicate unrelated Windows update or storage problems.
FAQ
Is Microsoft Print to PDF free?
Yes. It is a built-in Windows optional feature and does not normally require a separate purchase or download.
Where is Microsoft Print to PDF in Windows 11?
Open Settings > System > Optional features, select View features, and search for Microsoft Print to PDF. You can also press Win + R and run ms-settings:optionalfeatures.
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- Bright white paper (92 GE; 104 Euro) offers great contrast for crisp printing and vivid color
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Where is Microsoft Print to PDF in Windows 10?
Open Settings > Apps > Optional features. On some builds, use Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features. Select Add a feature and install Microsoft Print to PDF.
Why does the feature show as enabled but the printer is missing?
The Windows feature can be enabled while its printer registration is broken. Disable and re-enable Microsoft Print to PDF through Windows Features, DISM, or PowerShell, restart Windows, and check Printers & scanners again.
Do I need to download a Microsoft Print to PDF driver?
Normally, no. Windows supplies the feature and its components. Avoid third-party downloads that claim to be the official Microsoft Print to PDF installer.
Can I reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF with a command?
Yes. In an elevated Command Prompt, use DISM to disable and enable Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features. PowerShell can do the same with Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature and Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature.
Why is Microsoft Print to PDF not appearing in Word or another app?
Check Settings > Printers & scanners first. If it is listed there, close and reopen the application because some programs do not refresh their printer lists while running.
The Bottom Line
Use Settings > System > Optional features on current Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Optional features on Windows 10, and add Microsoft Print to PDF. If it is already enabled but missing, disable and re-enable the feature, restart Windows, and then verify it under Printers & scanners. There is normally no separate Microsoft download to install.
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