How to Convert a File Into PDF

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. Open the file you want to convert....

Using Print to PDF on Windows

  1. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 1How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 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.
    1. 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.
    2. 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. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 2How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 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.
    1. Don't be alarmed if you don't have a printer attached to your computer—you're not actually going to print anything.
  3. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 3How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 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.
    1. If you're using a text document or an XPS document, skip this step.
  4. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 4How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 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. 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.
  5. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 5How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 5
    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.
  6. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 6How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 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.
    1. 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. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 7How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 7
    Select a save location. On the left side of the window, click the folder in which you want to store your PDF.
    1. For example, if you want to save your PDF on the desktop, you'd find and click Desktop in the left-hand sidebar.
  8. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 8How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 8
    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.

Using Preview on Mac

  1. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 9How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 9
    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:
    1. TIFF files
    2. Photos (.jpg, .png, .bmp, and so on)
  2. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 10How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 10
    Select the file. Go to the location of the file you want to convert, then click once the file to select it.
    1. If you want to select multiple photos, click each photo you want to use while holding down Command.
  3. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 11How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 11
    Click File. It's in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  4. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 12How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 12
    Select Open With. This is in the File menu. A pop-out menu will appear.
  5. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 13How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 13
    Click Preview. You'll find it in the pop-out menu. Doing so prompts your file to open in Preview.
  6. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 14How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 14
    Click File again. The drop-down menu will reappear.
  7. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 15How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 15
    Click Export as PDF…. This is in the drop-down menu. A pop-up window will display.
  8. Enter a name. In the "Name" text box, type in the name you want to use for your PDF file.
  9. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 16How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 16
    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.
  10. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 17How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 17
    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.

Using the File Menu on Mac

  1. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 18How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 18
    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:
    1. Text files (.txt)
    2. Microsoft Office documents (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx, and so on)
    3. Apple documents (e.g., Numbers, Pages, and so on)
  2. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 19How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 19
    Open your document. Double-click the document you want to convert to open it in its program.
  3. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 20How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 20
    Click File. This is in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  4. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 21How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 21
    Click Print. It's in the File drop-down menu. Doing so opens the Print window.
    1. Don't be alarmed if you don't have a printer attached to your computer—you're not actually going to print anything.
  5. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 22How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 22
    Click the "PDF" menu. This is in the lower-left side of the window. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
  6. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 23How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 23
    Click Save as PDF. It's in the drop-down menu.
  7. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 24How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 24
    Enter a name. In the "Name" text box, type in the name you want to use for your PDF file.
  8. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 25How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 25
    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.
  9. How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 26How to Convert a File Into PDF Picture 26
    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.
5 ★ | 2 Vote