LegacyPrinterSupport.dmg(search this on Apple Downloads)
Once mounted, the PPD is inside: LegacyPrinterSupport.pkg → open with Pacifist → browse to Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/Resources/ADPDF9.PPD.gz
Final verdict: The ADPDF9 PPD is still usable, but only for very specific legacy PostScript workflows. For 99% of users, the built-in macOS "Generic PostScript Printer" PPD works better and is already installed.
If you need step-by-step screenshots, let me know. Hope this helps others avoid the malware traps.
Cheers
Downloading and installing the ADPDF9.PPD file is a common workaround for Mac users who need to enable custom page sizes or specific print features in Adobe InDesign, especially when "Adobe PDF" is missing from the PostScript printer options. Adobe Help Center The Story: Fixing the "Device Independent" Headache Imagine you're trying to use InDesign's Print Booklet
feature on your Mac. You go to print, but everything looks wrong—your custom page sizes are grayed out because the PPD is stuck on "Device Independent." This usually happens because newer macOS versions (starting way back with Snow Leopard) changed how the Adobe PDF printer works, often removing it entirely.
To fix this, you don't need a new printer; you just need to "manually" give InDesign the correct instructions: the ADPDF9.PPD How to Download and Install ADPDF9.PPD
Follow these steps to restore your custom print options in InDesign: Download the File : You can download the ADPDF9.PPD file directly from the Adobe InDesign Support Page Create the Folder Navigate to your InDesign application folder: /Applications/Adobe InDesign [Your Version]/Presets/ Create a new folder inside "Presets" and name it exactly case-sensitive Install the PPD Extract the ADPDF9.PPD from the downloaded zip file. file into that new Adpdf9 Ppd Download Mac
folder. You may need to enter your Mac password to authorize this move. Verify in InDesign Restart InDesign. File > Print dropdown menu, you should now see Adobe PDF 9.0 as an option, which will unlock custom page sizes. Troubleshooting Tips Permissions
: If InDesign still doesn't see the file, try moving the file to your desktop first and then dragging it into the folder to ensure it copies correctly. Version Specifics
: This fix works for most versions including InDesign CC 2018 through 2022 and 2025. Modern Alternatives : For most standard tasks, Adobe recommends using File > Export
to "Adobe PDF (Print)" instead of printing to a PostScript file, as it is more reliable on modern macOS. PPD for InDesign 2021 - Adobe Community
The ADPDF9.PPD (Adobe PostScript Printer Description) file is primarily used on Mac to enable specific features in Adobe InDesign, such as the Print Booklet function. It allows you to select "Adobe PDF" as a PPD, which supports custom page sizes and proper imposition that standard "Device Independent" settings often lack. How to Download and Install ADPDF9.PPD on Mac
Follow these steps to correctly place the file so InDesign can recognize it:
Download the File: You can download the ADPDF9.zip file directly from the Adobe Help Center.
Extract the PPD: Locate the downloaded ZIP file and double-click to uncompress it. You should see a file named ADPDF9.PPD. Do not change this filename, as it must remain all capitalized for some systems to recognize it correctly. Prepare the InDesign Folder: Quit Adobe InDesign if it is currently running. LegacyPrinterSupport
Open Finder and navigate to your InDesign application folder, typically: /Applications/Adobe InDesign [Version]/Presets/.
Create the PPDs Folder: Inside the Presets folder, create a new folder named exactly PPDs (this name is case-sensitive).
Install the File: Drag and drop the ADPDF9.PPD file into your new PPDs folder. You may be prompted to enter your Mac's administrator password to authorize this move. Verify in InDesign:
Launch InDesign and go to File > Print (or Print Booklet > Print Settings). Set the Printer to PostScript® File.
You should now be able to select Adobe PDF 9.0 (or similar) from the PPD dropdown menu. Troubleshooting Tips
Updates Removing Files: Adobe updates sometimes delete custom presets. If the option disappears after an update, you will need to re-create the PPDs folder and re-insert the file.
Alternative Location: In some older workflows, users also place the file in the system-level folder: /Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/Resources/.
Custom Page Sizes: If your page sizes are greyed out, ensure the PPD is correctly selected; using "Device Independent" instead of the Adobe PPD is the most common cause of this issue. If you'd like, let me know: Which version of InDesign or macOS you are using Once mounted, the PPD is inside: LegacyPrinterSupport
If you are getting a specific error message (like "Error 404" or a runtime error)
Some users search for “Adpdf9” as a virtual PDF printer for Mac. Note that macOS has a built-in PDF creator (no driver needed).
| Goal | Recommended Action |
|------|--------------------|
| PDF creation | Use macOS “Save as PDF” – no PPD needed |
| Old PostScript printer | Try “Generic PostScript” PPD first |
| Missing ADPDF9.PPD | Check /Library/Printers/PPDs/ or use Adobe CS disc |
| Download from web | Only from manufacturer or OpenPrinting – avoid all “driver sites” |
macOS has changed dramatically over the years.
If you cannot find the exact adpdf9.ppd, use macOS’s built-in “Generic PostScript Printer” PPD.
Before searching the web, check if the file is already on your Mac.
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Content:
Once you have the file (e.g., ADPDF9.ppd), follow these installation steps.