How to create a PDF from any application
You don't need special software to create a PDF. Every major platform has a built-in way to export any document, webpage, or image as a PDF — here's how to do it on Windows, macOS, and in the most common apps.
Almost every application you already use can export to PDF — no extra software needed. Here's how to do it from the most common tools, on every platform.
Windows (any application)
Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in "Microsoft Print to PDF" virtual printer. Any application that can print can create a PDF this way — no additional software required.
- 1Open the document, image, or webpage you want to save.
- 2Press Ctrl + P (or go to File → Print).
- 3In the printer list, select Microsoft Print to PDF.
- 4Click Print.
- 5Choose where to save the file, give it a name, and click Save.
macOS (any application)
On macOS, every application's print dialog has a built-in PDF export option — no extra steps, no third-party software.
- 1Open the document or page you want to save.
- 2Press Cmd + P (or File → Print).
- 3At the bottom-left of the print dialog, click the PDF dropdown button.
- 4Select Save as PDF…
- 5Choose a location, give it a name, and click Save.
Microsoft Word
Word has a dedicated export feature that gives you more control than printing to PDF.
- 1Open your document in Word.
- 2Go to File → Save As.
- 3Choose the folder where you want to save the file.
- 4In the File Format (macOS) or Save as type (Windows) dropdown, select PDF.
- 5Click Save.
On Windows you can also go to File → Export → Create PDF/XPS for additional options like minimum file size or standard quality.
Google Docs
- 1Open your document in Google Docs.
- 2Go to File → Download.
- 3Select PDF Document (.pdf).
- 4The file is saved to your default downloads folder automatically.
The same method works in Google Sheets and Google Slides — each exports the full document or presentation to a single PDF file.
Any web browser
Saving a webpage as PDF is useful for invoices from supplier portals, government documents, order confirmations, or any page you need to keep a permanent copy of.
- 1Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (macOS).
- 2In the printer list, choose Save as PDF (Chrome, Edge) or click the PDF button at the bottom-left (Safari, Firefox on macOS).
- 3Adjust orientation or margins if needed, then click Save.
LibreOffice
- 1Open your document in LibreOffice Writer, Calc, or Impress.
- 2Go to File → Export as PDF…
- 3A dialog lets you adjust quality, compression, password protection, and accessibility settings.
- 4Click Export, choose a location, then click Save.
LibreOffice's PDF export offers more advanced options than most tools — including the ability to embed fonts manually, set document metadata, and restrict printing or copying.
From photos or images
Need to turn a photo or scanned image into a PDF?
- Windows: Open the image in the Photos app → click the print icon (or press Ctrl+P) → select Microsoft Print to PDF → Save.
- macOS: Open in Preview → File → Export as PDF…
- iPhone: Open the image in the Photos app → tap Share → tap Print → pinch outward on the preview to detach a PDF → tap Share to save or send it.
- Multiple images into one PDF (macOS): Select all images in Finder → right-click → Quick Actions → Create PDF.
Tips
- Check the result before sending. Open the exported PDF and verify the layout — page breaks, images, and fonts can sometimes shift depending on the export settings.
- For digital sharing: choose "Screen" or "Web" quality to keep the file size small.
- For printing or archiving: use "Press" or "High quality" to preserve sharpness and detail.
- Password protection: LibreOffice and Word let you set a password on the exported PDF — useful for sensitive documents.
Once you have your PDF, learn how to sign it electronically without printing a single page.