How to Print to PDF Using an iPhone

Printing to PDF is a useful way of sharing a file in its original format. The process replicates how a file would appear on paper.
This copy is compatible with numerous apps and operating systems, making it easy to share.

 

In this handy guide, you will discover how to print to PDF on iPhone.

What you’ll learn.

 

Quick list: how to print to PDF on iPhone.

 

Any app on iPhone that supports printing will also let you print to PDF. On iPhone, the process is this:

  1. Share first. Look for the share icon (a box with arrow pointing upwards) then scroll down and tap Print.
  2. Preview your file. Click on the preview to maximise the image.
  3. Download your PDF. Tap the Share icon at the bottom of the screen choose where you want to save the PDF.

In detail: how to print to PDF on iPhone step by step.

 

Any app that integrates AirPrint will also let you print to PDF on iPhone. However, these aren’t always visible, and can often be hidden inside the normal printing modal interface. The exact location varies depending on which app you are using.

1. The first step when you print to PDF on iPhone is finding the Share icon. If you’re using the Safari browser, it will be at the bottom of the screen. The Share icon is a box with an arrow pointing upwards.

2. Once you’ve clicked the Share icon, you should be given a range of options to choose from. The Print option should be at the bottom of this list and selecting it will take you to a preview of how the saved file will appear.

3. Initially, you’ll see a small preview when clicking on the image. On an iPhone 6 or above, which features a 3D touch feature, you’ll be able to take a closer look at the file you want to save by tapping and holding your finger down on the document.

4. Once you’re in full screen preview mode, you will need to tap the screen once to reveal the toolbar with Share button, where you can follow the steps to print to PDF on iPhone.

5. Tapping the Share icon will reveal the system share sheet, which will display a variety of options for saving the file to one of your installed apps. This is how you will print to PDF on an iPhone.

6. This system share sheet will have several options for then saving the file to your device. These will include saving to the cloud (iCloud Drive), Share via email with a contact, or Save to a device which is compatible with PDF files.

7. To save as PDF, select the Add to iCloud Drive action. This will save a copy of the printout as a PDF in your iCloud document storage, which can then be imported into other apps.

Why should I print to PDF with an iPhone?

 

There are many reasons why it’s beneficial to use an iPhone to print to PDF.

 

  • Makes files easy to share with others. Printing to PDF makes it incredibly easy to share your files with others, as most apps have in-built functionality when it comes to reading PDFs. 
  • Helps preserve the file as it should be seen. No matter what device you use, the iOS Print to PDF function stores an exact replica of the file you were trying to save.  
  • Quick and easy to save. Once you’ve tried it out the first time, the process will only take seconds to complete. By doing this on an iPhone, you can easily share important files while you’re on the go.

FAQs.

 

In this section, we answer the main questions people have about the iPhone Print to PDF function.

 

How do I save a picture as a PDF on iPhone?


To save a picture as a PDF on your iPhone, you will first need to save it as a normal file, before opening your Files app and accessing the location where images are saved. 

 

From here, you will need to long press on the image thumbnail to bring up the menu. At the bottom of this menu list there will be a Create PDF option, which will enable you to save the image as a PDF.

 

Can you save an iPhone screenshot as a PDF?


The iOS 13 update added a new function which allowed users to save screenshots as PDFs on iPhone and iPad. However, this only works for screenshots of Safari pages.

 

After taking a screenshot, click the generated preview in the bottom left to open the screenshot editor, and click the Full page option. Then, click on the share icon to save as PDF.

 

To take a screenshot without the ads, switch to Reader mode by tapping and holding AA in the upper-left corner of the URL, then tapping it again to customise the text layout.

 

How do I open a PDF file on my iPad?


After saving a file via iPad print to PDF, you will need to ensure the Adobe Acrobat Reader app is installed so you can view them on your device.

 

Once downloaded, open the Adobe app to and go to the Menu. Under View, select Document index.

 

Press the file you would like to open and select Open in new tab. Once opened, select the Share icon from the bottom of the screen, and click Copy to Adobe Acrobat, which will load the file on your device.

 

Read our guide to saving a PDF on iPad.

 

Related Acrobat content.

 

Get more out of Adobe Acrobat with our tips and guides.

 

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