Why Is Microsoft Print to PDF Missing After Windows 11 24H2 Fresh Install?

How Can You Fix the Broken PDF Printer in Windows 11 24H2 Build?

I've been helping people with Windows problems for years. Today I want to talk about something that's been bugging many users lately. When you install Windows 11 24H2 fresh, the Microsoft Print to PDF feature just disappears. It's there in the settings, but it doesn't work.

This problem started showing up around March 2025. I've seen it happen to lots of people. They install Windows 11 24H2, try to print to PDF, and nothing happens. The printer isn't there anymore.

What Is Microsoft Print to PDF?

Let me explain what this feature does first. Microsoft Print to PDF is a built-in printer that comes with Windows 10 and Windows 11. When you want to save any document as a PDF file, you just print it. But instead of sending it to a real printer, you choose "Microsoft Print to PDF" from the list.

It's simple. It works. And people use it all the time.

The printer doesn't have fancy options like some other PDF makers. But it gets the job done. You can turn any document, webpage, or image into a PDF file in seconds.

The Problem Started in March 2025

I first heard about this issue in late March 2025. People were posting on Microsoft's forums. They said the PDF printer was missing after fresh installs of Windows 11 24H2.

Here's what happens:

• You install Windows 11 24H2 fresh
• You go to print something
• Microsoft Print to PDF isn't in the printer list
• You check Printers and Scanners - it's not there either
• But the Windows Features box shows it's turned on

This is confusing. The feature says it's enabled, but it doesn't work.

Multiple Reports Confirm the Issue

I found several forum posts about this problem:

March 27, 2025: Someone posted on Microsoft Answers. They reinstalled Windows 11 24H2 Build 26100.1742. The PDF printer was gone. They couldn't find it anywhere.

May 19, 2025: Another person had the same problem. Fresh install in May 2025. No PDF printer in the list.

May 14, 2025: A moderator posted about this issue too. They described the missing PDF printer driver problem.

Reddit discussions: People on Reddit are talking about this too. They're sharing fixes and workarounds.

The pattern is clear. Fresh installs of Windows 11 24H2 are missing this feature.

What Causes This Problem?

I dug into this issue. Here's what I found.

The main cause is a bug in cumulative update KB5058411 from May 13, 2025. This update broke something important. Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.4061 is missing files needed for the PDF printer driver.

Microsoft forgot to include the right security hashes for some driver files. Without these hashes, Windows can't verify the files are safe. So it won't install the driver.

When you try to fix this with Windows' built-in repair tool (DISM), you might get error code 0x800F0922. This error confirms that files are missing.

Account Type Matters

Something interesting came up in my research. The type of account you create during installation affects this issue.

One person noticed this pattern:

• Create a local account using "start ms-chx:localonly" = PDF driver missing
• Create a local account using "bypassnro.cmd" = PDF driver works fine

The bypassnro.cmd method doesn't work in newer builds anymore. Microsoft removed that file. But you can still create local accounts during installation.

Here's how to do it:

1. During Windows 11 installation, press Shift+F10 when it asks about network
2. Type these commands in the console:

   reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
   shutdown /r /t 0

This should let you install Windows 11 24H2 with a local account and keep the PDF driver working.

How to Fix the Missing PDF Printer

If you're already stuck with this problem, don't worry. I have several ways to fix it.

Method 1: Manual Driver Installation

This is the most reliable fix I've found.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator
2. Remove the broken feature first

   Dism /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features"

3. Restart your computer
4. Get the driver files from a working Windows 11 system
   • Look in this folder: C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\
   • Find the folder named: prnms009.inf_amd64_5555b7fbfa8487e2
   • Copy this entire folder to your broken system
5. Install the driver
   • Find the prnms009.inf file in the copied folder
   • Right-click on it
   • Choose "Install"
6. Turn the feature back on in Windows Features

Method 2: Use the ISO Installation Files

The driver files are actually on your Windows 11 installation media. You just need to find them.

Look for this file on your ISO:

ISO\Sources\install.wim\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\ntprint4.inf_amd64_[Hash]\NTPRINT4.INF

You can install the PDF driver using this INF file.

Method 3: Let Windows Update Handle It

This is the easiest method, but it doesn't always work.

1. Go to Settings > Printers & scanners
2. Click "Add printer or scanner"
3. Choose "Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings"
4. Select "Use an existing port: PORTPROMPT:"
5. When it asks for drivers, choose "Get from Windows Update"
6. Wait a few minutes
7. Look for "Microsoft Print To PDF" in the driver list

One person reported this worked for them. Windows Update found and installed the missing driver automatically.

Safety Warning About Downloaded Files

Some websites offer ZIP files with the missing driver files. I don't recommend downloading these. Here's why:

• You don't know if the files are clean
• They could contain malware
• Microsoft hasn't verified these downloads
• It's safer to get files from a working Windows system

Always try to get the driver files from a legitimate source. Use a working Windows 11 computer if you can. Or use the files from your original installation media.

Prevention Tips

If you haven't installed Windows 11 24H2 yet, here are some tips:

• Create a local account during installation using the registry method I mentioned
• Check for the PDF printer immediately after installation
• Make a backup of the driver files once everything works
• Wait for Microsoft to fix this in a future update

My Experience Helping Users

I've helped several people with this problem. The manual driver installation method works best. It takes about 15 minutes if you have the driver files ready.

The Windows Update method is hit or miss. Sometimes it works perfectly. Other times, Windows Update can't find the right driver.

Most people don't want to mess with command prompts and driver files. I understand that. But right now, these workarounds are the only way to fix this problem.

What Microsoft Should Do

This is clearly a bug in Windows 11 24H2. Microsoft needs to:

• Fix the missing security hashes in the next cumulative update
• Include all required driver files in fresh installation images
• Test the PDF printer feature before releasing updates
• Provide an official fix or workaround

Until Microsoft fixes this properly, we're stuck with these manual workarounds.

The missing Microsoft Print to PDF feature in Windows 11 24H2 is a real problem. It affects fresh installations and makes life harder for users who rely on this feature. The good news is that the workarounds I've shared do work. The bad news is that regular users shouldn't have to deal with this kind of technical problem.

If you're facing this issue, try the Windows Update method first. It's the easiest. If that doesn't work, you'll need to manually install the driver files. I hope Microsoft fixes this soon. Until then, these solutions should help you get your PDF printer working again.

Remember to be careful when downloading files from unofficial sources. Always verify that files are clean before installing them on your system.