Print job in print queue shows 'printing' and then 'printed' but printer does not print.

[be_clear]

I can print a partial page from HP Smart. If I print a PDF from File Explorer it prints half-ass, maybe half a page on one page and another half page (sometimes the same page) on a new page. I can print Word and other files, but PDFs seem to be the problem. I reinstalled Acrobat DC, to no avail.
I have a second OfficeJet 3863 printer, and can print the same troublesome PDF that refuses to print on the Envy 4500. I'm at the end of my wits, unable to understand this behaviour. The only thing I've changed is the hardware (upgraded to a better, newer motherboard and processor). Windows is activated and everything else is working fine, as before, except for the ENVY 4500. There's no longer support for this printer which has served me well for several years and should continue to do so. Any ideas will help.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @be_clear 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I can imagine how confusing it feels when the print queue shows “printed” but nothing comes out, especially since you’ve already tried reinstalling Acrobat DC and even tested with another printer. 

You’ve been very thorough in narrowing this down, so let’s focus on steps that can help the HP ENVY 4500 handle PDFs properly again.

 

Step 1: Confirm Driver Type

1. On your Windows 11 PC, open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Select your HP ENVY 4500.
3. Click Printer properties → Advanced.
4. Ensure the driver listed is HP ENVY 4500 series PCL-3.
5. If it shows “Microsoft IPP Class Driver,” reinstall the full driver package.

Step 2: Adjust PDF Print Settings

1. Open the PDF in Acrobat DC.
2. Go to File → Print.
3. In the print dialog, check Advanced settings.
4. Enable Print as Image.
5. Try printing again—this often resolves issues where PDFs split or print incompletely.

 

Step 3: Test with HP App

1. Open the HP App on your PC.
2. Select your printer and choose Print Documents.
3. Load the same PDF and print from here.
4. This bypasses some driver conflicts and can confirm if the issue is application‑specific.

 

Step 4: Run Printer Diagnostic

1. On the printer’s control panel, go to Setup → Printer Maintenance → Print Quality Report.
2. Confirm that the printer is able to produce a full diagnostic page.
3. If the page prints correctly, the issue is software‑side rather than hardware.

Step 5: Update Firmware

1. Visit the driver page above and check for Firmware updates.
2. Install the latest version available.
3. Restart the printer and PC, then retry printing the PDF.

By reinstalling the correct driver and using the “Print as Image” option, you should see PDFs print cleanly again. Since Word and other files print fine, this points to how the PDF data is being processed rather than a hardware fault.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[be_clear]

Thank you for your suggestions. However, none of them solved the problem. In fact, it seems to have become worse -- only with PDFs. I have  been monitoring the Print Queue window and noticed that the print jobs are 'deleted' immediately after 'printing' is displayed. Last, after having restarted the PrintSpool service, now the Print Queue window does not reflect the print jobs sent to the printer. I imagine I need a PC restart but I'm so annoyed at this that decided not to continue debugging.
Last straw: I suspected the Adobe Acrobat software was interfering to annoy me to the point to purchase a legit version. I completely removed Acrobat Pro DC (hacked version) and purchased the real McCoy, to no avail. 

[Hawks_Eye]

Thanks for the update @be_clear 

I understand how frustrating this must feel, especially after investing time in reinstalling Acrobat, monitoring the print queue, and even purchasing a licensed version of the software. 

You’ve already done a lot of careful troubleshooting, so let’s focus on a few more targeted steps that can help restore reliable PDF printing on your HP ENVY 4500.

 

Restart the Print Spooler with a Full Reset
Since restarting the service alone didn’t help, try a complete reset:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Locate Print Spooler, right‑click, and choose Stop.
3. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files inside.
4. Return to Services, right‑click Print Spooler, and choose Start.
   This clears any corrupted jobs that may be blocking PDFs.

Reinstall the Printer Using HP App
Remove the ENVY 4500 from Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
Then install the HP App from Microsoft Store and add the printer again. Printing through the HP App often bypasses spooler conflicts.

Test with Microsoft Edge PDF Viewer
Instead of Acrobat, open the PDF in Microsoft Edge and print directly. This uses a different rendering engine and can confirm if the issue is application‑specific.

Switch to “Print as Image” Permanently
In Acrobat DC, go to File → Print → Advanced → Print as Image. If this works consistently, set it as your default for PDFs.

Update Printer Firmware and Drivers
Visit the HP support page for your model: HP ENVY 4500 Drivers and Support.
Download and install the latest firmware and full driver package, then restart both printer and PC.

Check Windows Default Print Processor
Open Printer Properties → Advanced → Print Processor.
Ensure it is set to HP Print Processor rather than “WinPrint.” This can affect how PDFs are handled.

You’ve already shown great persistence in tackling this. At this stage, clearing the spooler files and reinstalling the printer through the HP App are the most promising steps to break the cycle of jobs disappearing from the queue.

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye