How to Convert a File Into PDF

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher.

This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.

This article has been viewed 397,513 times.

This wikiHow teaches you how to turn a text, photo, Microsoft Office, or XPS file into a PDF (Portable Document Format) file. You can do this on both Windows and Mac computers by using built-in features.

Things You Should Know

If you have a Windows PC, open the file and use the Print menu to print the file to PDF.
For macOS, open the file in Preview and use the file menu to export the file as a PDF.
If you use a Mac computer, you can also open the file and use the Print menu to save the file as a PDF.

Method 1 of 3:

Using Windows Print to PDF

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

If you want to add multiple photos to one PDF, instead do the following: select each photo you want to use by holding down Ctrl while clicking them, right-click one of the selected photos, and click Print in the resulting drop-down menu. You can then skip the next step.
If you want to create a PDF of an HTML file, open the HTML file in Notepad by right-clicking the HTML file and then clicking Edit in the drop-down menu.

Remember that you can only convert these types of files:
• Text files (.txt)
• Microsoft Office documents (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx, and so on)
• Photos (.jpg, .png, .bmp, and so on)
• XPS files (.xps)

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Don't be alarmed if you don't have a printer attached to your computer—you're not actually going to print anything.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

If you're using a text document or an XPS document, skip this step.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

If you're using a text document or an XPS document, you'll just click Microsoft Print to PDF in the "Select Printer" section near the top of the window.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Click Print . It's usually at the bottom of the menu, though you'll click Print at the top of the menu if you're using a Microsoft Office program (e.g., Microsoft Word). A File Explorer window will appear.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Since you're creating a PDF version of the document, you can name the PDF the same thing as the original document and store it in the same location if you wish.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

For example, if you want to save your PDF on the desktop, you'd find and click Desktop in the left-hand sidebar.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Click Save . It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your changes and create a PDF version of your file in your selected save location. [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source

Advertisement Method 2 of 3:

Using Mac Preview

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

TIFF files
Photos (.jpg, .png, .bmp, and so on)

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

If you want to select multiple photos, click each photo you want to use while holding down ⌘ Command .

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Click File . It's in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. [4] X Research source

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n"> Select Open With . This is in the File menu. A pop-out menu will appear.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n"> Click Preview . You'll find it in the pop-out menu. Doing so prompts your file to open in Preview.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n"> Click File again. The drop-down menu will reappear.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Click Export as PDF… . This is in the drop-down menu. A pop-up window will display. [5] X Research source

Enter a name. In the "Name" text box, type in the name you want to use for your PDF file.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Select a save location. Click the "Where" box, then click the folder in which you want to save your PDF in the resulting drop-down menu.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Click Save . It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will convert your document into a PDF and then store it in your selected save location.

Advertisement Method 3 of 3:

Using the Mac File Menu

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Text files (.txt)
Microsoft Office documents (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx, and so on)
Apple documents (e.g., Numbers, Pages, and so on)

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n"> Open your document. Double-click the document you want to convert to open it in its program.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Click File . This is in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. [6] X Research source

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Don't be alarmed if you don't have a printer attached to your computer—you're not actually going to print anything.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Click the "PDF" menu. This is in the lower-left side of the window. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu. [8] X Research source

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n"> Click Save as PDF . It's in the drop-down menu. [9] X Research source

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n"> Enter a name. In the "Name" text box, type in the name you want to use for your PDF file.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Select a save location. Click the "Where" box, then click the folder in which you want to save your PDF in the resulting drop-down menu.

Fair Use (screenshot)
\n">

Click Save . It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. Doing so will convert your document into a PDF and then store it in your selected save location.

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Advertisement

If you're in a hurry, you can use an online converter such as SmallPDF to convert multiple files into PDFs.

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Please provide your name and last initial Thanks for submitting a tip for review!