How to create PDFs on an iPhone: A handy guide

Have you ever been on the go and needed to share files or photos quickly? You might need to share a document with a colleague, save a webpage for future reference, or compile images into a single file.  

In such situations knowing how to create a PDF on your iPhone can prove to be a surprisingly handy skill. Portable Document Format (PDFs) are a universal file format designed to preserve the layout and formatting of a document across different operating systems and software applications. 

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PDFs function as digital representations of documents and capture everything – text, formatting, and even images – exactly as the creator intended, no matter what device you open them on. This makes them ideal for sharing a wide variety of content, including documents and image collections.  

Plus, PDFs preserve the layout, so you don’t have to worry about your carefully crafted content looking messy on the other end. In this guide, we’ll explain how to easily and quickly create PDFs on iPhone and help you share your files effortlessly. 

How to create PDFs on iPhones

Whether you want to share a document or compile images, PDFs offer a secure and universally compatible way to do so. There are two ways to create PDFs on iPhone, and we’ll walk you through both methods for creating PDFs on your iPhone. 

1. Create PDFs on iPhone using the Print menu 

This method works for many content types, including web pages, emails, notes, and even images. To create PDFs on your iPhone using the Print menu, simply: 

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i. Open the content you want to convert to a PDF. This could be a webpage in Safari, a document in an app like Pages, or an image in your Photos app. 

ii. Tap the “Share” button. 

iii. Locate the “Print“ option in the share menu.  

iv. In the print preview, you’ll see a representation of your content as a PDF.  

v. Tap the “Share” icon again located at the top right corner of the print preview screen. 

vi. Choose “Save to Files” from the new share menu. 

vii. Select the destination folder where you want to save your PDF. You can also create a new folder if needed. 

viii. Tap “Save” and your PDF will be saved in the chosen location within the Files app. 

2. Create PDFs on iPhone using third-party apps 

While the “Print to PDF” method works well for most content, some might prefer the versatility of dedicated PDF creation apps. These apps often offer additional features like editing and annotation capabilities. Here’s a general process on how to create PDFs on iPhone using dedicated PDF apps: 

i. Download and install a PDF creation app such as PDF Expert, Adobe Acrobat, etc. 

ii. Open the app and locate the “Create PDF” option. 

iii. Choose the source of your PDF content (existing file, scan, web content) 

iv. Follow the in-app instructions to finalize and save the PDF 

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You can also rename your PDF before saving it by tapping on the file name field in the “Save to Files” menu. By following these steps, you’ll be able to create PDFs on your iPhone in a matter of minutes, allowing you to share and store information conveniently.