User profile for user: FarmerMD
FarmerMD Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

"Print to Desktop" Printer Option Missing after Big Sur Upgrade

I finally updated to Big Sur after using Mojave for many years. After the update, I am now missing "Print to Desktop" under printer options drop down list. All of my other printers are there, just missing this option. I used this feature a lot. Was this an Apple feature or was it something installed by another software program that did not carry over in the update?


Yeah, I know I can save as a PDF but this isn't as convenient as the "Print to Desktop" was.

Posted on Dec 26, 2024 8:08 AM

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User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
127,384 points

Posted on Dec 26, 2024 8:46 AM

The Print to Desktop is likely an optional Automator Print Plugin. If it is not on that Print… PDF menu, then you click Edit menu… at the bottom of the preceding menu, and if Print to Desktop appears there, select it and click OK, if you don't want to change the default action from Save as PDF. I didn't have Parallels Desktop installed on this Mac or any prior operating system.


The Automator print plugin could be as simple as a single action from the Files & Folders library > Move Finder Items where you choose Desktop and decide whether to select Replacing existing files.


Mine looks like this where I have added the optional AppleScript to ensure that the PDF file extension is not hidden. This works on macOS Sequoia v15.2 from the File menu > Print… panel > PDF > PDF to Desktop menu item.



I believe when Automator saves these Print Plug-ins, they are placed in your /Users/$USER/Library/PDF Services folder.

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User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
127,384 points

Dec 26, 2024 8:46 AM in response to FarmerMD

The Print to Desktop is likely an optional Automator Print Plugin. If it is not on that Print… PDF menu, then you click Edit menu… at the bottom of the preceding menu, and if Print to Desktop appears there, select it and click OK, if you don't want to change the default action from Save as PDF. I didn't have Parallels Desktop installed on this Mac or any prior operating system.


The Automator print plugin could be as simple as a single action from the Files & Folders library > Move Finder Items where you choose Desktop and decide whether to select Replacing existing files.


Mine looks like this where I have added the optional AppleScript to ensure that the PDF file extension is not hidden. This works on macOS Sequoia v15.2 from the File menu > Print… panel > PDF > PDF to Desktop menu item.



I believe when Automator saves these Print Plug-ins, they are placed in your /Users/$USER/Library/PDF Services folder.

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"Print to Desktop" Printer Option Missing after Big Sur Upgrade

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