laptop print screen says Save to PDF

[Delores8]

Help Please.  My laptop can no longer Print from the Internet, only from Word.   The print screen comes up "Save to PDF".  It will not list my printer as an option.  I have tried all the suggestions in the help screens.

[Max3Aj]

@Delores8, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with your HP Notebook - 17-x061nr where you can print from applications like Word, but when trying to print from web browsers (like Chrome or Edge), the print dialog only shows "Save to PDF" instead of your actual printer. Here’s a breakdown of why this might be happening and how to fix it:

Problem Overview

• Your web browser may not detect your printer due to:
  • The printer not being set as the default printer.
  • Corrupted or missing printer drivers specifically for browsers.
  • Windows or browser print settings defaulting to "Microsoft Print to PDF" or "Save as PDF".

Solutions to Try

1. Check Printer Connection

• Ensure the printer is powered on and properly connected to your laptop (either via Wi-Fi or USB).
• If it's a network printer, confirm that both your laptop and printer are on the same network.

2. Set Your Printer as Default

• Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
• In the Devices and Printers window:
  • Locate your actual printer (not "Save to PDF").
  • Right-click on it and select Set as default printer.
• This should help browsers automatically detect your printer.

3. Reinstall/Update Printer Drivers

Sometimes, browsers won't list a printer if the driver is corrupted.

• Go to HP's website → Search for your printer model → Download and install the latest full feature driver (not just the basic driver).
• Important: Avoid relying solely on "Windows Update" drivers; HP’s full driver is often necessary.

4. Reset Browser Printing Settings

If the browser defaults to "Save as PDF":

• Open a web page → Press Ctrl + P.
• Look for a dropdown or Printer selection at the top.
• Click and manually select your actual printer from the list.
• Print once — this should help the browser remember your last printer for future use.

In Chrome:

• After pressing Ctrl + P, click "Destination" → Click "See more..." → Choose your printer.

5. Remove "Microsoft Print to PDF" (Optional)

If "Save to PDF" is causing confusion, you can disable it:

• Open Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off → Uncheck Microsoft Print to PDF → OK.

(However, this step is optional; it's safe to leave it enabled if you prefer.)

If none of the above solutions work, it could indicate:

• The printer isn't fully installed across all applications (common with older printers on Windows 10/11).
• The browser itself may be malfunctioning — consider resetting or reinstalling the browser. 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support 

[Dean_2025]

I had a similar problem,. My printer (Brother MFC-985DW) 'suddenly' started saving documents as MS DOS applications with ,com as the file extension instead of .PDF. Or, windows print manager was saving them that way (Win 10-Home) I tried printing some documents from my bank account.. I wondered if  maybe my old laptop was to blame? (Acer Predator 15 -2017) Well, when I clicked save as PDF the 'save as type' window said PDF Plus Document. But, the 'file name' window auto generated a name which ended in 'Chase.com'. I erased the '.com' at the end and the document saved normally as a PDF file. I guess I Hadn't paid close enough attention earlier. I don't know why the name was generated that way, and frankly, I didn't think it was an issue, until now. And I still don't know how a document can be converted into an application simply by it being named incorrectly. I don't know if this helps but from my research  it seems like this issue is years old.and  I'm surprised it hasn't been resolved completely. I mean, .com should not have been a supported file format. I wonder, if I name my bank statement with mp3 at the end will it convert to music?

[Dean_2025]

By the way, I was using Chrome browser.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Dean_2025,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're stoked to have you on board! 

To help us get started on resolving your issue, could you please share the model name of your device?

We're looking forward to helping you get back up and running! 

Best regards,