How to Quickly and Easily Convert to PDF on iOS
PDF remains an indispensable document format largely because of its compatibility with different software platforms and applications, and certainly not least because of its remarkable mobility — after all, its name means Portable Document Format. So it’s only natural for iOS device users to be in need of a quick way to convert webpages, emails, photos, and the like to PDF for easy saving and sharing, for whatever reason or purpose. Thankfully, such a way exists. But unfortunately, it is all but hidden on iOS. It is our pleasure, then, to let you know how to convert to PDF on iOS using this AppAdvice guide.
This guide highlights two methods of converting to PDF. Both don’t require any third-party PDF conversion software since both are native to iOS. But one is evidently preferable to the other. We’ll discuss the more familiar but less advisable method first, so as to emphasize the comparative ease and flexibility of the lesser-known yet more recommended way.
The way that’s just OK
The 'Save PDF to iBooks' method
Available on iOS 9 or later, this method works with apps that include the “Save PDF to iBooks” option on the iOS share sheet, like Safari and Photos. Consequently, with this method, the PDF-converted file is saved in iBooks.
Don't have iBooks? Download it from the App Store
How to convert to PDF the so-so way
While viewing the document you’d like to convert to PDF, tap the share icon (usually at the bottom).
Swipe on the middle row of the share sheet until you see the “Save PDF to iBooks” option.
If you don’t see the “Save PDF to iBooks” option, it may be that it’s not yet enabled. Tap the “More” button in the middle row of the share sheet to turn it on in the list of activities. If you also don’t see the “Save PDF to iBooks” option in the list of activities, it means that the app doesn’t support the feature at all.
Tap the “Save PDF to iBooks” button.
A PDF file will then be automatically created and opened in iBooks, where you can view the document and scroll through its pages.
From iBooks, you can share the PDF via email or print it via AirPrint by tapping the share icon at the top.
The way you should be doing it
The 'Print as PDF' method
The preceding method is not bad. But in most cases, it’s not good either, since, for one thing, it mandates the use of iBooks and, for another, it offers nothing in the way of direct sharing beyond email. Fortunately, there’s a trick to creating PDFs out of webpages in Safari, images in Photos, emails in Mail, and other documents in compatible apps without much ado — your device just needs to be running iOS 10 or later, and the app in question just needs to have the Print capability.
How to convert to PDF the better way
While viewing the document you’d like to convert to PDF, tap the share icon (usually at the bottom).
If you’re viewing an email in Mail, tap the reply icon instead.
Swipe on the bottom row of the share sheet until you see the Print option.
If you don’t see the Print option, it may be that it’s not yet enabled. Tap the “More” button in the bottom row of the share sheet to turn it on in the list of activities. If you also don’t see the Print option in the list of activities, it means that the app doesn’t support the feature at all.
If you’re using Mail, simply look for Print in the menu.
Tap the Print button.
If you’re using Mail, simply tap the Print option in the menu.
On the Printer Options screen, pinch outward on the print preview.
A PDF version of the document is then automatically created and displayed for viewing.
From there, you can tap the share icon at the bottom to share the PDF via iMessage, email, and the other enabled sharing activities, such as “Add to iCloud Drive” and third-party ones like “Copy to Viber” and “Import with Dropbox.”
So there you have it. Who knew that simply pinching on the print preview would instantly result in the PDF conversion of a webpage, image, email, or whatnot? Not many of us iOS users, that’s for sure, seeing as this trick is scarcely, if at all, documented and hence not widely known.
But now that you’re aware of it, go ahead and use it as often as you can for your various PDF conversion and sharing needs.