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Issues
- My printer shows "Stopped — Filter Failed" when I try to print a PDF on my Mac.
- I'm getting an "Unable to convert PostScript file" error when printing from macOS.
- PDF printing stopped working after I updated macOS — how do I fix it?
- My printer queue says "Filter Failed" — what does that mean and how do I clear it?
- Printing worked fine before a macOS upgrade, but now it fails every time.
- How do I fix printer errors that appeared after upgrading to macOS Sequoia or Tahoe?
- My Mac can't print PDFs — the job sits in the queue with an error and never prints.
- Do I need to reset my printing system after a macOS upgrade?
Environment
This article applies to Bowdoin-issued Macs that show filter or PostScript errors when printing PDFs:
- Who: Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students on Bowdoin-managed Macs.
- What: "Stopped — Filter Failed" or "Unable to convert PostScript file" errors in the macOS print queue, most commonly triggered after a macOS upgrade.
- Devices: Bowdoin-issued MacBook Pro running macOS Sequoia (15.x) or Tahoe (26.x).
- Why it happens: Major macOS upgrades sometimes change the printing architecture or break compatibility with previously installed printer drivers, causing PostScript processing to fail.
Resolution
The fix is a two-step process: reset the macOS printing system to clear the broken configuration, then reinstall your printers using Print Deploy.
Administrator access required: Resetting the printing system requires admin permissions. If you are a faculty or staff member without admin access, use the Privileges app to temporarily elevate your permissions before proceeding. See Privileges for MacOS - a solution for Administrator permissions requirement in the Related Articles section.
Step 1 — Reset the printing system
Resetting removes all installed printers and clears any corrupt queue or driver state. Full step-by-step instructions are in Resetting the printing system in macOS in the Related Articles section.
In brief:
- Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
- Right-click or Control-click anywhere in the printers list and choose Reset Printing System.
- Confirm by clicking Reset, then enter your administrator password when prompted.
- Wait for the list to empty, then restart your Mac.
Note: Resetting the printing system removes all installed printers. You will need to reinstall them in Step 2.
Step 2 — Reinstall your printers using Print Deploy
- After your Mac restarts, open the Print Deploy app from your Applications folder.
- Find and install the printer(s) you need.
Printer not appearing in Print Deploy? If your printer is not listed in Print Deploy, you can add it manually: open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click the Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax button (+), and select the printer from the list. See How to install or delete a Bowdoin printer in the Related Articles section for full instructions.
Step 3 — Verify PDF printing
- Open a PDF in Preview and print it to the reinstalled printer.
- If the job prints successfully, the issue is resolved.
Still getting errors? Try this workaround: in the print dialog, choose Save as PDF to create a new PDF copy, then print that copy. This re-processes the file through macOS's PDF engine and can bypass PostScript conversion issues. If errors persist, contact the Service Desk.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
Additional Resources