How to Save Any Document as a PDF (Phone and Computer)

PDFs are the safest way to send documents. They look the same on every phone and computer, they print properly and people can't easily change them. Schools, banks, embassies and employers often ask for them.

The good news is you don't need to pay for anything. Your phone and computer can already do it.

On a Windows computer

From Word, Excel or PowerPoint

1. Click File, then Save As (or Export).
2. Choose PDF as the file type.
3. Click Save.

From anything else (web pages, photos, other apps)

1. Press Ctrl + P to print.
2. For the printer, choose Microsoft Print to PDF.
3. Click Print and pick where to save it.

On a Mac

1. Press Command + P to print.
2. At the bottom of the print box, click the PDF button.
3. Choose Save as PDF.

In Google Docs or Google Sheets

Click File, then Download, then PDF document.

On Android

1. Open the document, photo or web page.
2. Tap the menu (three dots) and choose Print or Share, then Print.
3. Change the printer to Save as PDF.
4. Tap the PDF button to save.

On iPhone

1. Open the document or page and tap Share.
2. Tap Print.
3. Pinch outward on the preview with two fingers. It opens as a PDF.
4. Tap Share again and choose Save to Files.

Scanning paper documents

Need to send a paper form as a PDF?

• iPhone: open the Notes app, tap the camera icon and choose Scan Documents.
• Android: open Google Drive, tap + and choose Scan.

Both crop and straighten the page so it looks like a proper scan.

Too big to send?

If the PDF is too large for email, use a free compressor like iLovePDF or Smallpdf. Avoid uploading private documents like IDs or bank statements to online tools if you can. Use the desktop apps instead.