To save as a PDF, you can use a PDF.net converter, the built-in features on Windows and Mac, Google Drive, third-party apps for Android, or the Print option on iOS.
Saving a document as a PDF allows you to preserve its formatting regardless of the device on which it loads. In addition, the PDF format is highly secure (e.g., you can add password protection or restrictions), making it suitable for business, school, and other similar uses.
This guide will help you learn more about saving as a PDF, as we share the easiest methods to streamline this process based on your preferred device.
Key Takeaways
- Knowing how to save as a PDF helps you preserve file formatting and make your documents easier to share and use while ensuring their security.
- You can use a PFD.net converter for Word, Print to PDF on PC, Print option on iOS, in-built ‘Save as’ feature on Mac, and Google Drive or third-party apps to save as a PDF on Android.
- PDF.net provides additional tools for editing PDF files after conversion, which help you adapt your documents for various uses.
How to Save as a PDF on Different Devices
Saving as a PDF on different devices is possible with the Print to PDF and Save as options, Google Drive, and other designated software.
Let’s examine each method more thoroughly:
Saving as a PDF on Windows
To save a PDF to a computer (but on Windows), you can use the Print to PDF or the Save as feature in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel.
Using the Print to PDF feature on Windows is easy; all you need to do is follow these steps:
- Double-click your file to open it.
- Select CTRL + P to open the Print menu.
- You will see the Microsoft Print to PDF option by default; click the Print button in the lower-left corner, which will automatically save your file as a PDF on your device.
Additionally, you can use MS Word to save as a PDF. Just right-click your document, choose Open with, and select Microsoft Word. Afterward, click File in the top-left corner and choose Save As. Select the destination folder, name your file, and select PDF under the Save as type menu; clicking on Save after that will finalize the process.
Another way to save as a PDF on a PC is to use PowerPoint or Excel. This process is similar to that for MS Word in both programs—open your document, select File, and choose the Save As option. Then, name your file, choose the location to save it, select PDF as the format, and click Save at the end.
Saving as a PDF on a Mac
You can easily save various documents (images in JPG and other formats, DOCX files, etc.) as a PDF on a Mac with the Preview option. Here’s how:
- Open your document.
- Click File and choose Print.
- Click the PDF button to open the drop-down menu and select Save as PDF.
- Add the title or any optional elements, such as the author, subject, and keywords, and click Save to end this process.
In addition to the built-in Save as option, you can use Preview and Pages to save files as PDFs. To do this, right-click your document, hover your cursor over the Open With menu, and select Preview or Pages.
Then, click File, choose Export as PDF on Preview or Export to on Pages, and select Save on Preview or Export on Pages after naming your file to finalize this process.
Saving as a PDF on a Mobile (iOS & Android)
To save files as a PDF on your phone, you can use the Print option on iPhone and Google Drive or third-party apps on Android. Let’s see how to do this on iOS:
- Open the document you want to save as a PDF and tap the share button.
- Scroll down and select the Print icon.
- Tap Print in the upper-right corner.
- Choose the Save to Files button to select a location for your PDF file and store it.
Here are the steps to follow if you want to use Google Drive to save as a PDF on Android:
- Open Google Drive, find your document, and tap the three dots menu on the right side.
- Scroll down and tap the Print button.
- As the Save as PDF option will be automatically selected, tap the PDF button on the right.
- Choose the folder to save your file and tap Save in the bottom-right corner.
There are plenty of third-party apps for saving documents as PDFs on Android, in addition to Google Drive. As not all of them are equally efficient, we recommend using reliable software, such as PDF.net, instead.
Convert Different File Types to PDF with PDF.net
Conversion is another way to obtain PDF files and save them in this format. For this purpose, you can use our tool to convert both images (such as PNGs) and document formats to PDF.
As DOC and DOCX files are among the most popular formats, we offer an easy way to transform them into PDF using the Word to PDF converter. In addition, to get PDFs from images, you can convert JPG to PDF or use the PNG to PDF conversion tool our platform offers.
The software is easy to use and allows you to streamline the format-changing process with several clicks. All you should do is open the conversion software you need, upload your document, activate the tool, and download your PDF file in the end!
With PDF.net, you can trust that your files are handled with the highest security standards. Our advanced encryption methods and strict privacy policies ensure that your documents are protected throughout the entire conversion process.
Above all, the technologically advanced PDF.net tools provide fast conversion (which is especially useful for large files) and keep your document formatting and quality intact.
Beyond Converting PDFs: What Else Can PDF.net Help With?
Effortlessly saving files as PDFs is only one of the services we offer; there are many other handy tools PDF.net has in store that can help you modify and improve your documents.
Let’s take a look at some other popular features for perfecting your PDFs it boasts:
- PDF editor. Before saving your file as a PDF, you can highlight, annotate, and modify the text in it. Additionally, you can draw on your document, place sticky notes, and create new fillable text forms.
- Chat with PDF. Chatting with PDF allows you to analyze your document using our AI tool. You can ask as many questions as you wish and request analysis in different formats.
- Sign PDFs. You can also use our tool to place a digital signature on your documents. We use encryption and audit trails to protect your files during and after the signing process.
Final Thoughts
Saving files as PDFs is important because this format offers easy sharing methods, high security, and great document quality with stable formatting.
Furthermore, finding the right tool to convert and save files to PDF is another crucial aspect for practical usage. This is why we recommend PDF.net, as its software allows for simple and fast PDF conversion and download. Besides that, you can use many other PDF.net tools to edit your documents and ensure they are suitable for different purposes (e.g., sharing via email).
FAQs on Saving Files as PDFs
#1. Why can’t I find the ‘Save as PDF’ option on my device?
You can’t find the Save as PDF option on your device because you may use software without the built-in ‘Save as PDF’ feature. Another reason for this may be using an unreliable or cheap PDF reader, which you can replace with highly functional PDF.net tools.
#2. How do I save a Google Docs file as a PDF?
To save a Google Docs file as a PDF, go to Google Drive, find the document, and open it. Then, use the Print option and select Save as PDF, which will convert and store your file on your device.
#3. Will saving as a PDF change my document’s formatting?
No, saving as a PDF will not change your document’s formatting if you use top-notch tools such as PDF.net. We use high-quality conversion to ensure your file formatting remains intact.
#4. Can I edit a file after saving it as a PDF?
Yes, you can edit a file after saving it as a PDF with PDF.net. We provide many tools that can help you modify PDFs, some of which allow you to change font style, size, and color, add or remove text, and add comments to your PDF.
#5. What’s the difference between ‘Print to PDF’ and ‘Export as PDF’?
The difference between ‘Print to PDF’ and ‘Export as PDF’ is that the former converts your document and prepares it for printing (removing certain elements such as bookmarks and different layers). On the other hand, exporting as PDF means converting any format to PDF while keeping all its elements.
#6. How do I convert scanned documents to PDF?
To convert a scanned document into a PDF, simply scan the document using a scanner or scanning app. Most scanning apps and devices automatically save the scanned file as a PDF. If not, you can use PDF.net’s converter tool to upload the scanned image and convert it into a high-quality PDF file with just a few clicks.
#7. Can I save web pages as PDFs?
Yes, you can save web pages as PDFs easily. On most browsers, you can choose the "Print" option and select "Save as PDF" instead of printing the page. This will preserve the layout and content of the web page as a PDF file. You can also use PDF.net to convert any web page URL into a PDF for a cleaner, more organized result.