Why Won’t My PDF Print in Color? Common Issues & Fixes

When a color PDF comes out black and white, it wastes time and ink. And it’s stressful if you need it for a client meeting, a presentation, or a school project. Most PDF printing issues come down to a small mismatch between your printer settings, your PDF viewer, and your operating system.

Below, we’ll share the quick fixes first. Then, we’ll walk step-by-step through solutions for Windows, Mac, and browsers, plus ways to use Smallpdf to test and prepare your files.

Quick Fixes for “PDF Not Printing in Color”

If you want fast answers, start here before you get into detailed troubleshooting. 1. Check printer color mode - Open Printer Properties and make sure the printer is set to print in color, not grayscale or black and white only. 2. Check color settings in the print dialog - In your PDF viewer or browser, open the Print dialog and confirm that color is selected instead of a monochrome option. 3. Try a different PDF viewer - Save the PDF and open it in a dedicated viewer, for example, Smallpdf PDF Reader, instead of printing directly from your browser.

4. Update printer drivers - Install the latest drivers from your printer manufacturer so your system and printer handle color jobs correctly.
5. Print another color document - Test with a simple color document or image to see if the problem is the printer or this specific PDF.

If one of these quick steps solves your PDF printing issues, you do not need to go further. If not, move on to the detailed sections below.

How To Print a PDF in Color on Different Devices

The steps for fixing a PDF not printing in color depend on your device and how you open the file. We will cover Windows, Mac, and browsers.

Windows: Check Printer and Viewer Settings

Start with a simple color print from Windows. 1. Open your PDF in a desktop viewer or Smallpdf PDF Reader. 2. Press “Ctrl + P” to open the print dialog. 3. Select your printer, then click “Printer Properties” or “Preferences.” 4. Look for a “Color” setting and make sure it is not set to grayscale or black and white. 5. Click “OK,” then click “Print.”

If the printer only offers grayscale or monochrome, it may be a black and white printer, or color mode might be disabled in the driver.

You can also try printing another color file, such as a JPG image, to confirm that the printer can handle color from the same Windows device.

Mac: Fix Color Printing from Preview or Other Viewers

On macOS, printing often happens through Preview or another viewer. 1. Open your PDF in Preview. 2. Go to “File” > “Print” or press “Command + P.” 3. Click “Show Details” if you only see a compact dialog. 4. Make sure the selected printer is your color printer. 5. Check any “Color” or “Media & Quality” settings and confirm that “Color” is enabled, not black and white. 6. Click “Print.”

If you still get a black and white print, try printing another color document from the same Mac. That tells you if the problem is with the PDF or with Mac printer settings.

Browsers: Fix Color Printing in Chrome, Edge, and Others

Printing directly from a browser is convenient, but sometimes browser print dialogs override color options.

Chrome and Chromium-based browsers 1. Open the PDF in the browser. 2. Press “Ctrl + P” (Windows) or “Command + P” (Mac). 3. Click “More settings” or expand advanced options. 4. Under “Color,” choose “Color” instead of “Black and white.” 5. Click “Print.”

Microsoft Edge and similar browsers 1. Open the PDF in the browser window. 2. Click the printer icon or press “Ctrl + P.” 3. In the print panel, confirm that your color printer is selected. 4. Look for a “Color” setting and switch it from grayscale to color if needed. 5. Click “Print.”

If color still doesn’t work from your browser, download the PDF and print it from a dedicated viewer such as Smallpdf PDF Reader or your system’s default PDF app. That removes any browser-specific limits.

Troubleshoot Common PDF Printing Issues

If your PDF not printing in color is still not fixed, work through these common causes one by one.

1. Check Printer Settings and Capabilities

Sometimes the problem isn’t the file, but the printer.

1. Confirm that the printer supports color: Check the model name online or in your manual. Some laser printers are black and white only, even if they look like color devices.

2. Check default printer preferences

• Go to your system’s printer settings panel.
• Open “Preferences” or “Properties” for your printer.
• Make sure the default mode is set to Color or Automatic, not Greyscale.

3. Run a printer color test page
4. Use the printer’s control panel or the driver utility to print a built-in color test page.
5. If the test page comes out in black and white, the issue is likely with the printer hardware, toner, or cartridges.

If your printer doesn’t pass its own color test, you may need to replace cartridges, check toner levels, or reset printer settings before you focus on the PDF.

2. Check PDF File and Viewer Settings

Even if the printer is fine, some PDF settings can force monochrome output. 1. Open the PDF in a reliable viewer such as Smallpdf PDF Reader. 2. Go to “File” > “Print.” 3. Look for options such as “Print in grayscale,” “Black & White,” or “Monochrome,” and make sure they are not selected. 4. If your viewer has a “Preview” area, check that the preview shows color content.

If the preview itself looks black and white, the PDF may be mostly grayscale, or the colors might be very dark or muted. In that case, test another color PDF to see how it prints.

3. Fix Driver and Software Problems

Outdated drivers can cause surprising behavior, including PDFs refusing to print in color.

1. Update printer drivers

• Visit your printer maker’s support page.
• Download the latest driver for your exact model and operating system.
• Install the driver and restart your computer.

2. Check for system updates: Sometimes, operating system updates fix printing issues. Install any pending system updates, restart, and try again.

3. Try another PDF viewer

• If you usually print from one app, switch to another.
• Open the same PDF in Smallpdf PDF Reader or your system default viewer and print again.

If the PDF prints in color from one viewer but not another, the issue is most likely with the first app’s settings or limitations.

Fix Color and Compatibility Problems in Your PDF

In some cases, the PDF file itself causes trouble, especially when color models or transparency are involved.

RGB vs. CMYK and Other Color Considerations

Home and office printers often expect color data in RGB, which is the same model used by screens. Professional print workflows sometimes use CMYK focused documents.

Most desktop printers can handle both, yet occasionally a complex file or export setting can cause unexpected black and white output.

You don’t need to become a color expert, but it helps to:

• Avoid extremely low saturation colors if you want clear color output.
• Recreate the PDF from the original program using standard export settings if the current file seems corrupted.

Use Smallpdf to Test and Prepare Your File

If you suspect the PDF itself is corrupt or not printer-friendly, you can use Smallpdf to test it.

1. Convert the PDF to another format

• Use PDF to JPG to create image versions of each page.
• Use PDF to Word to check if the content looks normal.

2. Print the converted file

• Print one JPG or a new PDF created from Word.
• If these print in color, the original PDF file was likely the issue.

3. Recreate a fresh PDF

• After you repair or rebuild the document in Word or another editor, convert it back to PDF using PDF Converter.
• Print the new file and confirm that the color output is correct.

These steps help you rule out file-specific problems without editing the original too heavily.

Advanced Tests When Color Still Doesn’t Print

If you’ve tried everything above and your PDF still isn’t printing in color still persists, it’s time for a few final checks.

Print Test Pages and Other Documents

1. Print a color image file, like a photo, from the same device.
2. Print a simple Word or Google Docs file with colored text.
3. Compare results:

• If all other documents print in color, focus again on the problem PDF.
• If nothing prints in color, the printer or driver still needs attention.

Recreate or Convert the Problem PDF

If a specific PDF refuses to cooperate: 1. Open the original source file if you have it. 2. Re-export it as a new PDF with standard settings. 3. Use Smallpdf to:

• Compress the new PDF with Compress PDF so it is lighter and often cleaner.
• Combine or separate pages if needed with Merge PDF and Split PDF. Then print again from a dedicated viewer. This often clears up issues caused by earlier exports or partial corruptions.

Make PDF Color Printing Work Every Time

A PDF not printing in color might feel like a small problem, but it can really slow down work when you need a document to match your screen. The good news is that the root cause is almost always in one of a few places: printer settings, viewer settings, drivers, or the PDF file itself.

By checking color mode, testing with different viewers, updating drivers, and using Smallpdf to convert or clean up tricky files, you can bring color back to your printouts and avoid last-minute surprises the next time you print an important PDF.

If you regularly share or print PDFs, our online tools can help you keep files light, searchable, and easy for your printer to handle, so color printing becomes a predictable step instead of a guessing game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I get my PDF to print in color?

Most of the time, the printer or viewer is set to grayscale or black and white. Check your printer properties and the print dialog in your PDF app, then confirm that color mode is selected. If that looks correct, test another color document and update your printer drivers.

Why is my color document printing in black and white?

A color document can still print in black and white if the printer defaults to monochrome, toner settings force grayscale, or the app you use to print has a “print in grayscale” option turned on. Open printer preferences, disable any grayscale options, and print a test page to confirm.

How to fix a color print problem?

Work step by step. First, check that your printer supports color and that the cartridges or toner are not empty. Next, confirm that color is turned on in the printer settings and your PDF viewer. Then update drivers and, if needed, try a different viewer such as Smallpdf PDF Reader to see if the problem follows the PDF or the app.

How to enable color printing?

Open your system printer settings, choose your printer, and open “Preferences” or “Properties.” Look for a section labeled Color, Quality, or similar. Change the setting from grayscale or black and white to color or automatic. Save the change, then print a simple color test page.

Why won't my printer allow me to print in color?

If you can’t find any color options, your printer might be a black and white model, or color mode might be disabled in the driver. Check the printer model specifications, confirm that color cartridges are installed, and reinstall or update the driver from the manufacturer’s site.

How do I get a document to print in color?

Make sure your document actually contains color, then open it in a reliable viewer. In the print dialog, select a color-capable printer, switch the color mode from grayscale to color, and print a single page first as a test. If you still see issues, use Smallpdf to convert the document to a fresh PDF or image file and try printing again.