How to Convert a File Into PDF

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Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: October 21, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using Windows Print to PDF

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Using Mac Preview

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Using the Mac File Menu

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Tips

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Warnings

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

Method 1 of 3:

Using Windows Print to PDF

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1
Open the file you want to convert. Go to the location of the file you want to convert into a PDF, then double-click the file to open it.
- 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)
2
Open the "Print" menu. The fastest way to do this is usually by pressing Ctrl and P at the same time, but you might need to click File and then click Print in the resulting menu.
- Don't be alarmed if you don't have a printer attached to your computer—you're not actually going to print anything.
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3
Click the current printer's name. It should be near the top of the menu below the "Printer" or "Printers" heading. A drop-down menu will appear.
- If you're using a text document or an XPS document, skip this step.
4
Click Microsoft Print to PDF . It's in the drop-down menu. Doing so selects your computer's "Print to PDF" feature as the method with which you'll "print" your document. ^{[1]
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- 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.
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.
6
Enter a name for your document. In the "File name" field, type in whatever you want to name the PDF version of your document. ^{[2]
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- 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.
7
Select a save location. On the left side of the window, click the folder in which you want to store your PDF.
- For example, if you want to save your PDF on the desktop, you'd find and click Desktop in the left-hand sidebar.
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]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Mac Preview

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1
Know which files you can turn into PDFs with Preview. While it isn't an exhaustive list, common file formats that can be converted into PDFs include the following:
- TIFF files
- Photos (.jpg, .png, .bmp, and so on)
2
Select the file. Go to the location of the file you want to convert, then click once the file to select it.
- If you want to select multiple photos, click each photo you want to use while holding down ⌘ Command .
It's in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. ^{[4]
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This is in the File menu. A pop-out menu will appear.
You'll find it in the pop-out menu. Doing so prompts your file to open in Preview.
The drop-down menu will reappear.
This is in the drop-down menu. A pop-up window will display. ^{[5]
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8

Enter a name. In the "Name" text box, type in the name you want to use for your PDF file.
Click the "Where" box, then click the folder in which you want to save your PDF in the resulting drop-down menu.
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.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using the Mac File Menu

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1
Know which files you can convert into PDFs with the File menu. The File menu can be used to convert the following documents into PDFs:
- Text files (.txt)
- Microsoft Office documents (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx, and so on)
- Apple documents (e.g., Numbers, Pages, and so on)
Double-click the document you want to convert to open it in its program.
This is in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. ^{[6]
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4
Click Print . It's in the File drop-down menu. Doing so opens the Print window. ^{[7]
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- Don't be alarmed if you don't have a printer attached to your computer—you're not actually going to print anything.
This is in the lower-left side of the window. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu. ^{[8]
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It's in the drop-down menu. ^{[9]
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In the "Name" text box, type in the name you want to use for your PDF file.
Click the "Where" box, then click the folder in which you want to save your PDF in the resulting drop-down menu.
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.