How to save web pages as PDFs on iPhone and iPad

It's handy to save web pages and articles as a PDF file for later reading. This article will show you the fastest way to create a PDF on your iPhone or iPad and then save the file with a service like Pocket.

How to save a full page screenshot as a PDF file

In iOS 13, iPadOS13 and above, you can take screenshots of entire web pages in Safari and save it as a PDF file in the Files app.

There are two notable points about this new method:

1. The PDF file creates a continuous page without page breaks.
2. Instead of a regular PDF file, with a width of A4, this PDF file is the width of the iPhone or iPad you're viewing.

If you want to create a PDF of a website cleaner, without ads or formatting, you first need to convert it to Reader Mode. To do this, touch and hold AA in the upper left corner, then press again to customize the text layout.

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Open the website on your iPhone or iPad and take a screenshot. If using an iPhone X-style device with a notch or iPad Pro with Face ID, press and hold the side button and the volume up button until you see the screenshot animation.

If using an iPhone or iPad with a Home button, press it along with the power button to take a screenshot.

You will see a screenshot preview in the lower left corner, touch it.

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Now you are in the screenshot editor, touch the Full Page .

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The whole page appears. You can use the scroll bar to the right of the screen to navigate. Because you're in the screenshot editing screen, you'll see the entire caption so you can draw on the PDF or use the arrow to highlight something.

You can save the PDF to the Files app or export it to any other application. To save it to the Files app, tap Done .

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In the dialog that pops up, touch Save PDF to Files .

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Next, select the location where you want to save the PDF file, you can choose to save locally, save in external memory or cloud storage account. After selecting a location, touch Save .

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If you want to send the PDF file to an application such as an attachment in Mail or Books, touch the Share button (box with arrow ahead). Select the application you want to send the PDF file.

How to save web pages as PDFs from Share Sheet

If you prefer the traditional method of saving web pages as PDFs, you can find it in the Share Sheet. This method creates familiar paging PDF files of A4 size.

In iOS 13, iPadOS 13 and above, a new option lets you choose between regular PDF and PDF Reader.

Open the page in Safari and touch the Share button.

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At the top of the Share Sheet, you'll see the title of the page, and touch Options below it.

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If necessary, switch to the Reader PDF option to create a shortened version of the site, suitable for reading long articles on iPad.

After selecting the PDF option you want, touch Done .

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Now you will go back to the Share Sheet, tap on Save to Files .

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Next, select the output folder and then touch Save .

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You can access Files and touch the file to view it. Tap the Share button to open the PDF in the Apple Books app or a third-party PDF reader.

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How to save web pages as PDFs from all browsers using Shortcuts

If you use a third party browser, you don't have the same PDF creation options as Safari. However, you can use the Make PDF shortcut, create a PDF file using the URL from all applications.

Open the Shortcuts app on iPhone or iPad and touch Gallery .

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Here, touch the Search field and then type Make PDF .

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Tap the plus (+) button next to the Make PDF option.

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Touch Add Shortcut .

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Keyboard shortcuts are added to Gallery and appear directly in Share Sheet if using iOS 13, iPad 13 or later devices. If the device is running iOS 12 or below, touch Run Shortcut in the action bar to access the shortcut.

Visit the website and then touch the Share button.

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In the Share Sheet, scroll down and touch Make PDF .

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You should see the shortcut working. After creating the PDF, you can preview it. Touch the Share button.

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Select Save to Files to save the PDF file to iCloud Drive or to a local storage. You can also choose an action, like Copy to Books, to open the PDF directly in the Apple Books app. If you use a third-party PDF reader, you can also select it.

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How to save web pages as PDFs in iOS 12 and earlier

If your iPhone or iPad runs iOS 12, you can use the Create PDF action to convert webpages into PDF files.

Open the website in Safari and touch the Share button.

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Next, access the Actions list (the second horizontal scroll list) and touch Create PDF .

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Now you can preview the PDF file, scroll down to see the entire website and then touch Done .

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If you want to share a PDF file to a specific application, tap the Share button to open Share Sheet, then tap Save File To .

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Now, select the location where you want to save the file, then touch Add .

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The PDF file is now in the specific location you selected. Open the Files app and then touch the file to open or share it.

I wish you successful implementation!