"Print to PDF" is one of the most useful features built into every modern operating system — and one of the least discovered. Instead of sending a document to a physical printer, you redirect the output to a PDF file. The result is a clean, portable document that looks exactly like it would on paper, but lives as a file on your device.
You can use it to save webpages as PDFs, convert Word documents without Microsoft Office installed, archive emails, or capture receipts. Here is how to do it on every major platform.
How to print to PDF on Windows
Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in "Microsoft Print to PDF" printer that works with any application.
- Open the document, webpage, or file you want to save as a PDF.
- Press Ctrl+P to open the print dialog.
- In the printer list, select Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Adjust any settings (page range, orientation, margins) as needed.
- Click Print.
- Choose where to save the PDF file and click Save.
If you do not see Microsoft Print to PDF in the list, it may have been disabled. To re-enable it, open Settings → Apps → Optional Features → Add a feature, search for "Microsoft Print to PDF", and install it.
In Google Chrome on Windows: Press Ctrl+P, then change the destination to Save as PDF. Chrome offers extra options like background graphics, headers and footers, and paper size that the Windows system dialog does not.
How to print to PDF on Mac
Mac has offered print-to-PDF since macOS 10.3 — it is hidden behind a small button in the print dialog that many people never notice.
- Open the file or webpage you want to save.
- Press Cmd+P to open the print dialog.
- In the bottom left corner, click the PDF dropdown button.
- Select Save as PDF.
- Choose a name and location, then click Save.
The PDF dropdown also offers options like "Open PDF in Preview", "Send PDF via Mail", and "Save PDF to iCloud Drive" — useful for quick sharing without even saving to your local drive first.
How to print to PDF on iPhone and iPad
iOS makes it easy to save almost any content as a PDF via the Share sheet.
- Open the document, webpage, or email you want to save.
- Tap the Share button (the box with an arrow pointing up).
- Scroll down and tap Print.
- On the print preview screen, use a two-finger pinch-outward gesture on the preview to convert it to a PDF.
- The PDF opens in the Files app — tap the Share button again to save or send it.
In Safari specifically, you can also tap Share → Save to Files and select PDF as the format for the current webpage.
How to print to PDF on Android
Android uses a Print menu similar to iOS, though the steps vary slightly between manufacturers.
- Open the app with the content you want to save.
- Tap the three-dot menu and select Print (or Share → Print, depending on the app).
- In the printer dropdown at the top, select Save as PDF.
- Tap the PDF icon or Download button to save the file.
In Chrome on Android, you can press the three-dot menu → Share → Print → Save as PDF. This works for any webpage and is the fastest way to archive online content as a PDF.
When to use Print to PDF versus a conversion tool
Print to PDF is ideal for webpages, emails, and anything you can open in an app. However, it has limitations: the output quality depends on how the application formats the page for print, and some apps (especially older ones) produce poorly-formatted results.
For Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint files, a dedicated converter produces much better results — preserving formatting, fonts, and page breaks precisely. Filero's Word to PDF tool, Excel to PDF, and PowerPoint to PDF use LibreOffice on the server side for accurate, high-fidelity conversions without needing Microsoft Office installed.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my PDF look different from the original document?
Print to PDF captures what the application would send to a printer. If the app is not optimised for print — for example, a webpage with a complex layout — the PDF may cut off content, change fonts, or reflow text. For documents where exact formatting matters, use a dedicated converter instead of the system print dialog.
Can I print multiple pages of a webpage to one PDF?
Yes. The print dialog lets you set a page range or print all pages. If the webpage is very long, increasing the paper size (e.g. to A3) or reducing the scale percentage can help fit more content per page and reduce the total page count.
How do I save an email as a PDF?
In Gmail, open the email and click the three-dot menu in the top right, then select Print. In the print dialog, choose Save as PDF. In Outlook on Windows, press Ctrl+P and select Microsoft Print to PDF. The result is a clean PDF of the email including any inline images.
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