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How to Print PDF Documents in C# (.NET Guide)

Introduction: The Simple Request That Isn’t So Simple

Every developer has faced it at some point: a request lands on your desk that sounds trivial at first. “We just need the system to print PDF files.” You nod, assuming it will take no more than an hour. After all, printing PDF files programmatically has been around forever. But as soon as you dig in, you realize printing PDF files in C# is not as straightforward as it sounds.

Imagine you’re building an application that generates monthly invoices for customers. Your job is not only to generate PDFs but also to print a PDF document silently on a network printer without user interaction. Suddenly, the “easy” task involves dealing with printers, printer resolution, page sizes, scaling, and sometimes even users who don’t have Adobe Reader installed.

That’s where this article comes in. We’ll walk through practical approaches to printing PDF files programmatically in C#, starting from quick-and-dirty native tricks to robust .NET printing library solutions. We’ll also share some real-world lessons on what works well, what breaks, and how to make the right choice for your project.

Why Printing PDFs in C# Is Tricky?

At its core, a PDF isn’t just text and images, it’s a structured document format designed for consistent rendering across devices. That consistency is both its strength and its complication. To print a PDF document, your application must either.

  • Hand the file off to a PDF viewer (like Adobe Reader, Edge, or Foxit) and ask it to print the PDF document.

  • Render and print the PDF content directly, which requires interpreting the PDF file.

The first approach is easier but fragile, while the second requires more coding or a dedicated .NET library. Developers usually pick based on their needs, and we’ll explore both.

Method 1: Printing PDF Files with Native .NET Approaches

The simplest way to print a PDF document in C# is to let Windows handle it. Every PDF file is already associated with a default application, and you can tell Windows to print a PDF document silently.

Here’s the minimal code example:

  
using System.Diagnostics;
namespace CSharpPrintPDF
{
    internal class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            string pdfPath = @"D:\invoice.pdf";
            ProcessStartInfo psi = new ProcessStartInfo()
            {
                FileName = pdfPath,
                Verb = "print", // tells Windows to print using default PDF app 
                UseShellExecute = true,
                CreateNoWindow = true,
                WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
            };
            Process.Start(psi);
        }
    }
}

This works by launching the associated PDF application in “print” mode, sending the PDF pages to the default printer.

Pros

  • No external .NET library needed.

  • Uses whatever PDF app is installed in the program files.

  • Minimal code to start a print job.

Cons

  • Limited control to print specific pages.

  • Depends on the system having a PDF viewer installed.

  • Silent printing may not always bypass the print dialog.

Output

When you run this code with a physical printer, the document is sent directly to that printer. If the chosen printer is "Microsoft Print to PDF," you will see a "Save As" dialog, but the printing process bypasses manual steps and starts the print job automatically.

Microsoft Print1-

Method 2. Printing PDFs with IronPDF Library

For developers building applications where PDF printing is a central feature, such as generating reports, invoices, or tickets, relying on external viewers quickly becomes a headache. Instead, you want programmatic control: specifying printers, managing page settings, and handling errors gracefully.

This is where libraries like IronPDF come in. IronPDF is primarily known for generating and editing PDFs, but it also supports direct PDF printing in C#.

Installation

Installing IronPDF is straightforward through NuGet. Install IronPDF through NuGet Package Manager Console in Visual Studio.

Install-Package IronPDF

Once installed, you can start printing PDF files programmatically immediately.

PDF files2-

Hello World Example

Instead of printing an existing PDF, imagine generating PDFs on the fly from an HTML string standard for invoices or reports and then sending them to a printer.

  
using IronPdf;
namespace CSharpPrintPDF
{
    internal class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Step 1: Generate PDF from HTML
            var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
            var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Monthly Invoice</h1><p>Customer: John Doe</p>");
            string pdfPath = @"D:\invoice_generated.pdf";
            pdf.SaveAs(pdfPath);
            // Step 2: Print PDF directly
            pdf.Print(); // Sends to default printer
        }
    }
}

Here’s what happens in this code: first, RenderHtmlAsPdf() takes a simple HTML string and converts it into a PDF document. You can extend this HTML with tables, logos, or dynamic content. Then, PDF.Print() sends the document directly to the default printer.

This workflow removes dependency on external PDF viewers and allows full control over the printing process, print quality, and printed pages.

Output PDF Document

PDF Document3-

Output - Print a PDF file

Output4-

Using IronPDF for this workflow addresses several real-world challenges.

  • Consistent Rendering: The PDF generated is exactly what you see in your HTML, avoiding the variability of different PDF viewers.

  • Silent Printing: Print() works in the background without prompting the user, ideal for automated workflows.

  • Error Handling: You can catch exceptions and handle missing printers, connectivity issues, or invalid PDFs within your C# code.

Advanced Printing and PDF Capabilities

Once you move beyond basic printing, real-world workflows often require more control. For real-world workflows, you may need to print multiple PDF files, print specific pages, or adjust printer resolution. IronPDF supports all of these with advanced PDF functionality.

Here’s an updated example demonstrating advanced printer settings along with other PDF features.

Code example

using IronPdf;
using IronPdf.Editing;
using System.Drawing.Printing;

namespace CSharpPrintPDF
{
    internal class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            var Renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

            // Sample data: multiple invoices
            List<string> invoiceHtmls = new List<string>
            {
                "<h1>Invoice #001</h1><p>Customer: Alice</p>",
                "<h1>Invoice #002</h1><p>Customer: Bob</p>"
            };

            foreach (var html in invoiceHtmls)
            {
                // Generate PDF from HTML
                var pdf = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);

                // Apply a confidential watermark
                pdf.ApplyWatermark(
                    "<h2 style='color:red'>CONFIDENTIAL</h2>", // Watermark text
                    30,                                       // Font size
                    VerticalAlignment.Middle,                 // Vertical alignment
                    HorizontalAlignment.Center                // Horizontal alignment
                );

                // Configure advanced printing options
                PrinterSettings settings = new PrinterSettings()
                {
                    PrinterName = "Microsoft Print to PDF", // Set your printer
                    Copies = 2,                             // Number of copies
                    FromPage = 2,                           // Page range start
                    ToPage = 4                              // Page range end
                };

                // Get a PrintDocument with settings applied
                PrintDocument document = pdf.GetPrintDocument(settings);

                // Send PDF to printer
                document.Print();

                // Optionally save a copy for records
                string path = $@"D:\Invoices\Invoice_{Guid.NewGuid()}.pdf";
                pdf.SaveAs(path);
            }
        }
    }
}

What this code achieves in practice.

  1. Batch Printing: Multiple PDFs are generated and printed sequentially.

  2. Custom Printer Settings: You can specify printer, number of copies, and page range.

  3. PDF Manipulation: Watermarks are added programmatically before printing.

  4. Automation Ready: The process runs without user interaction, ideal for scheduled workflows or server-side printing.

  5. Record Keeping: Saving each PDF ensures you have a copy for auditing or backup purposes.

This demonstrates printing PDF files programmatically with full control over print quality, printed pages, batch print jobs, and saving copies for records.

AI Assistant5-

IronPDF is compatible with all .NET versions and works across multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and cloud environments like Azure, AWS, and Docker. Developers can explore its features using the free version to test PDF generation and printing, and when scaling to production, commercial licenses provide the full set of capabilities for automated workflows and advanced printing needs.

Conclusion

Printing PDFs in C# may look simple, but real-world needs such as silent printing, batch jobs, watermarks, and custom settings quickly add complexity. Native approaches are suitable for quick tasks, but programmatic PDF libraries offer complete control, consistent rendering, and error handling. Understanding both methods lets developers build reliable, automated printing workflows that scale from a single invoice to complex batch jobs. Explore these approaches in your next project and streamline PDF printing with confidence.

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