Exporting or Saving as a PDF Function not working

Which QB Desktop year version?

Are you running it on Win 11?

2023 and running Windows 11

Windows 11 and running Quickbooks Desktop 2023

Thanks for getting in touch with the Community, Marie68. I appreciate your detailed information.

If you're unable to save a PDF from QuickBooks, and are encountering a "Error: QuickBooks can't complete the current action due to a missing component: Missing pdf file component." message, it can be fixed with the QuickBooks Print & Repair Tool.

Here's how:
 

1. Close QuickBooks and download a copy of the utility's most recent version, then run it.
2. Follow along with your on-screen steps to finish installing it and agree with our terms and conditions.
3. Once it's installed, double-click its icon to open the tool hub. If you can't find your app, perform a search in Windows for "QuickBooks Tool Hub" and select the program.
4. When it's open, click Program Problems, then QuickBooks PDF & Print Repair Tool. This process can take about a moment to run.
5. Try saving a PDF from QuickBooks again.

If you continue receiving the message and are unable to save PDFs, you'll want to try restarting your computer and resetting the temporary folder permissions.

Please don't hesitate to send a reply if there's any questions. Have an awesome Monday!

I have the same problem with Quickbooks Desktop and Windows 11.

Ran the QB Tool hub repair pdf tool.

Restarted

Checked the temp permissions.

Same problem continues.

I understand you've been facing challenges with the PDF saving function in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), Dave. It sounds like you've already put in a lot of effort to resolve the issue. I'm here to share insights about this.

We can create a new template for your form. From there, we can modify the template of the transactions. Once done, you can proceed to create your PDF. 

Here's how:

1. Go to the Lists menu.
2. Choose Templates.
3. On the page, click the drop-down button beside Templates.
4. Select New, then choose the Template Type.
    
5. Hit OK.
6. Then to check the available details, click Additional Customization.
7. Once done, hit OK to save the template.

However, if the issue persists, I recommend reaching out to your IT professional or Microsoft for help.

I've added these articles for more troubleshooting steps when you can’t print, email, or save as a PDF from QuickBooks Desktop.

• Troubleshoot PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop
• Fix printing issues in QuickBooks Desktop

Let me know if you still need further assistance with exporting or saving it as a PDF from QBDT, Dave. I'll be around if you need help. Have a wonderful day!

I am having the same issue on Windows 11 as Dave. I have tried all of the steps in the documentation (Tool Hub, changing temp permissions, new templates, starting and stopping the print spool and making sure it is set to automatic) None of them work. Is QuickBooks desktop supportored on Windows 11? The one thing I did notice is I can't choose to print a notepad to " XPS Document Writer,", as this doesn't exist on Windows 11. I can print a notepad to "Microsoft Print to PDF" though. Is there a way to tell QuickBooks to use the Microsoft Print to PDF instead? I also noticed that the tool hub log is looking for files on a Windows 10 machine. Does the tool hub work on windows 11?

Thank you for sharing the steps you've already tried to resolve the error, LauraInWaterloo. Providing the details of what you've attempted so far helps us understand the issue and efficiently assist you further.

I'd like to start by asking which version of QuickBooks you are currently using. Several QuickBooks Desktop versions and the QuickBooks Tool Hub are compatible with Windows 11. 

To provide more specifics, let me share these articles with you:

• System Requirements For QuickBooks Desktop 2022
• System Requirements For QuickBooks Desktop 2023
• System Requirements For QuickBooks Desktop 2024

You can also follow these steps to make sure you can select XPS Document Writer when printing PDF documents:

1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard.
2. Enter optionalfeatures and select OK.
3. Find Microsoft XPS Document Writer and make sure it's selected.
4. Select OK.

Once done, test the XPS Document Writer and print it outside QuickBooks by following these steps: 

1. Open Notepad.
2. Type Test. Select File and then Print.
3. Select the XPS Document Writer, and then Print.
4. Type a filename and save it to your desktop.
5. Go to your desktop and view the XPS document you printed from notepad.

Just in case you're unable to print to your XPS printer (or physical printer) from outside of the QuickBooks application, you'll need to contact your IT professional or Microsoft for help. This indicates a system-level printing issue.

To provide additional resources related to working with PDF documents within QuickBooks, allow me to share these articles as well:

• Stuck On "Installing ABS PDF driver..." While Installing QuickBooks Desktop
• Save QuickBooks Desktop PDF In Legal Size, Landscape, Or Portrait Orientation

Feel free to reply if you have any other follow-up questions related specifically to printing PDF documents within the QuickBooks. The Community is here to provide ongoing assistance and ensure you can fully utilize QuickBooks' PDF capabilities, LauraInWaterloo.

Thank you soooo much! That is so awesome! Doing these four steps solved my problem. I can now email invoices and save invoices as PDFs! (I was using Desktop Pro 2024 by the way).

1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard.
2. Enter optionalfeatures and select OK.
3. Find Microsoft XPS Document Writer and make sure it's selected.
4. Select OK.

Hi there, LauraInWaterloo.

Thanks for sharing your experience. We're happy to hear that our colleague resolved your issue with sending and saving invoices. Your experience is our topmost priority. 

We'll continually strive to improve our product to make your experience with QuickBooks even better. 

Feel free to post a new one if you still have other concerns. Have a great day!

That fixed my problem.

That's the fix!!!  No more pulling hair!!!

XPS Document Writer, is likely turned off in Windows 11. Open the control panel. to find it, go to the search bar in the  task bar at the bottom. When it opens, click on Programs. Then click on programs and features. 

On the left side, you should see a link to Turn Windows features on or off. Click on that.

A window will open titled Windows features. Some of the boxes next to the feature will be white and some will be blue with checkmarks. 

Scroll down to Microsoft XPS Document Writer and click the box to turn it on. 

I believe that Win 11 uses "Microsoft Print to PDF" by default but Quickbooks uses the XPS Document Writer so that HAS to be turned on.

I use QB desktop 2019. I recently bought a new computer. The pdf component does not load no matter how many times I run the Tool. I need to print pdf reports. How?

I appreciate the steps you've taken so far, @Madjim. Let me share some additional steps you can take to fix the printing issue you're experiencing. 

Since you've already run the QuickBooks Tool Hub and the issue still persists, we can proceed with the following steps to address this concern. These solutions are designed to resolve printing-related issues that users will encounter while using their QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) company file.

To resolve this matter, please follow the solutions provided below:

1. Restart and reset your temp folder permissions.
2. Test if you can print to your XPS (only for Save as PDF and Email issues).
3. Create a new template or form.
4. Update the Print Spooler service properties.

For more detailed steps, please check out this article: Fix PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop.

However, if the issue persists, I recommend contacting our customer care team. They have the necessary tools and expertise to conduct further investigations to find the root cause of this matter.

Additionally, you can read this article to learn more about personalizing your report to generate the data you need: Customize reports in QuickBooks Desktop.

The Community space is always here for you if you have additional questions regarding printing reports in QBDT. I'll be sure to help you as soon as possible.

After running the Tool Kit, still can't save or email as a .pdf.  Intuit apparently isn't too concerned about it. Anyone have a solution?

I appreciate you for performing the QuickBooks Tool Kit/Hub, @Missions Guam. I'll provide information to help you save or email as PDF in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT). 

To start, ensure that your QBDT version, along with the Tool Hub are compatible with Windows 11, you can check articles bellow for system requirements:

• System Requirements For QuickBooks Desktop 2022
• System Requirements For QuickBooks Desktop 2023
• System Requirements For QuickBooks Desktop 2024

Furthermore, since you've already utilized the QuickBooks Tool Hub and are still unable to save or email documents ad PDF, we need to performed the solutions below to rectify PDF-related problems. Here's how:

Step 1: Restart your computer and then try again. If this doesn't fix the issue, reset your temp folder permissions.

Step 2: Reset your temp folder permissions:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the RUN command.
2. Type %TEMP% and press Enter.
3. Right-click an empty area of the temp folder, and select Properties.
4. Select Security. Then, make sure all user names and groups in Security have Full Control.
5. Once the permissions have been set to Full Control, save as a PDF again in QuickBooks.

Step 3: Test if you can print to your XPS (only for Save as PDF and Email issues). Here's how:

1. Open Notepad.
2. Type Test and elect File. Then click Print.
3. Select the XPS Document Writer, and then Print. Note: If you don't see XPS Document Writer, you'll need to allow your computer to print to your XPS printer.
4. Type a filename and save it to your desktop.
5. Go to your desktop and view the XPS document you printed from notepad.

If you can't print to your XPS printer (or actual printer) outside of QuickBooks, you'll need to contact your IT professional or Microsoft for help.

Then, allow your computer to print to your XPS printer:

1. Go your Windows Control Panel and switch to Category View.
2. Select Programs.
3. In Programs and Features, select Turn Windows features on or off.
4. Check Microsoft XPS Document Writer in the list of services and select OK.

For Solutions 3 and 4, you can check this article: Fix PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop.

I'll also add this article to learn how to change the format of your PDF when saving or creating PDF files: Save QuickBooks Desktop PDF in legal size, landscape, or portrait orientation

Please inform me of any developments, @Missions Guam. If you have questions, feedback, or concerns about the saving email as PDF, feel free to reach out to the Community. I'm always here to help.

Thank you! This was the perfect fix! Fast and easy once I found your post!

Thank you Dan! The perfect fix! Nice and easy and effective.

Paul

I'm so glad to see you found the answers you were looking for here in the Community, pgmasson. That's one of the great things about this space - real QuickBooks users helping each other out with first hand knowledge and expertise. You know where to come if you ever need a hand again in the future. Take care!

YES!! Fixed the issue. Thanks a bunch.

Hi Jenop2 

This last option seemed to work for me. Once I enabled Mircorsoft XPS Document Writer, the error did not appear and I was able to print to PDF.

thank you,

JFF

We are pleased to hear that you found the information you needed within the Community, @jffdesign.

It's good to see that the solutions provided by my colleague successfully addressed your concerns about activating the Microsoft XPS Document Writer and resolved the error that prevented you from printing to PDF.

If you have any additional inquiries or need further assistance managing your data, our team is always available to help.